Donnexstrada, a direct Instagram to go home without being afraid anymore

«Faced with the news of the femicide of Sarah Everard, kidnapped and killed on her way home to England after so many other cases of rape and murder of too many women, I have reached an emotional climax. And I felt the need to take the field to transform frustration into action ». So he tells Laura De enrollment, psicologa clinical roman; which, about a month ago, launched the project Donnexstrada. With a impactful Instagram message: “We want to go home and not be killed”

.Donnexstrada, go home in the evening live on Instagram

A call to action to ensure the safety of women on the street, but also of all the victims of discrimination, which was immediately filled with likes and consensus. But above all collaboration proposals, to the point of becoming a collective with volunteers and professionals in various cities of Italy.

«Carry out the mapping of the dangerous streets of Rome, to establish the suspended taxi service for those who cannot afford it, to increase the rides of safe nightspots. But also to start training seminars for professionals and an awareness campaign for everyone. Stipulate an agreement of understanding with the police, universities and feminist associations ».

A great team that works 24 hours a day

«These are the ambitious goals – says the young psychologist with a professional experience to International House of Women – which it has set itself from the beginning and now, in the medium to long term. And we are taking steps to implement them ».

His team is divided into a “hardcore” group, led by her, flanked by ten other young professionals, including psychologists, sociologists, social workers and law students, and a “softcore” group with volunteers, including some men, who offer support and communication support.

«We have chosen the whistle as our symbol – he explains – as, for us, it has both a practical and metaphorical meaning: it can be used to attract people’s attention in case of danger, decreasing the phenomenon of social de-responsibility, but it is also a symbol of identity, support and action to admonish violence ».

Donnexstrada non it replaces the institutions, it is not an emergency service, but mainly of prevention. It is currently active in Rome, Milan and Bologna, but the activity that allows it to be operational throughout the country, as it is digital, are the Direttexstrada on Instagram.

“Thinking about the phone calls we often make to friends when we have to cross a section of the road alone, I reflected on the times when it happens at night or in times when we cannot disturb others and I came up with the idea of offer this service h24 using the social network more widespread and usable, that is Instagram »says Laura explaining how it works: if a girl is on the street and doesn’t feel safe, she can contact them privately and one of the team will start a direct one, private or public, at the discretion of the interested party.

Service offered to anyone who wants company during the journey, whether it is short or long, day or night, as it is crossing a desolate road, feels followed or victim of catcalling, immediately registered a great success, attesting to the most original activity.

“Among the many, I had a live broadcast with an Apulian girl who felt she was being followed; I reassured her and advised her to take off her headphones, turn up the volume and show that she was making a video. When the line suddenly went down, I got so worried that I suspended the live broadcast and contacted her: fortunately it was just a technical problem and, in the meantime, she had met friends along the way “recalls the creator of the collective. pointing out that they receive numerous requests, they cover the whole day doing shifts and if someone already knows that in the evening he will have to take a dangerous road, he can write to her with a little notice so that they can organize themselves.

Try to make it at least walking down the street without fear, a right and a freedom for all, is the main objective of Donnexstrada which, in order to reach every target, is also operational on other social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, presenting every Tuesday some insights to raise awareness on current issues, while every Friday they activate a question box to collect opinions and testimonies of abuse, harassment, catcalling, violence . On the other hand, psychological support and psychotherapy at controlled prices are always active.

The commitment of the Donnexstrada collective is unstoppable: in fact, to also start the creation of purple dots, or bars, pharmacies or any adherent “safe spot” along the road, where a girl who comes home at night on foot can find shelter, if she feels she is being followed or is afraid.

“We are working hard to help make the roads safer, we hope for as many cities as possible starting from Rome, even if the need for collaboration with institutions is undeniable. For example, there are often structural variables such as lack of lighting, which municipalities would have to cope with. But it is important to remember that everything starts from education and a society can be defined civil and emancipated only if it respects the other and ensures freedom for all “ Laura concludes, reiterating the slogan “we don’t want to be brave, we want to be free”.

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