HIPPO
ENERGY
Smile and relief for hospitalized children
PROJECT .
REFERENT
The “Hippo-Energy” project began with the installation, in the Isola Margherita department of the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Turin, of an aquarium containing dozens of African cichlid fish, the same fish present in the tank of the Hippo habitat Underwater of the Zoom biopark, where the hippopotamus family is also visible underwater.
Hospitalization due to a long treatment process causes experiences of suffering, fear and anger. Hence the need to soothe the state of emotional stress through activities complementary to assistance.
The proposed initiative intends to structure educational activities and multisensory experiences both remotely with live connections from the Zoom park, and in proximity to the aquarium installed, in the ward and at Casa Ugi, on the one hand to help reduce anxiety related to the diagnosis , treatment and hospitalization, on the other hand to provide children with moments of leisure, increasing the number of normal life experiences throughout the period spent in hospital.
ACTIVITIES.
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Live connections with the Park: children can discover the animals of the park following the live stories of the Zoom keepers in the different habitats.
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Guided tours and activities; inside the Biopark (for patients out of therapy or whose health conditions allow it)
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Experiential notebook created at the end of 2022 delivered during the in-person activities carried out at the UGI house and at the Isola Margherita department of the Regina Margherita Hospital. The activities accompanying the reading are carried out together with the psychologists of Regina Margherita and are aimed at exploring the internal emotional aspects through comparison with the animal world, and are part of a study that aims to investigate the benefits of such activities. Joy, sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise which are our primary emotions, are the common thread, since it is around them that our inner world is created thanks to which it is possible for us to relate to ourselves and others. The comparison with the animal world allows children to express thoughts, desires and fears more easily, which will make the proposed activities increasingly effective and useful.
This research work was born with the aim and opportunity of being able to replicate it in other hospital structures, both pediatric and otherwise.
