A life for others

Marisa Siccardi, born in 1935, was born across the border, in France, to a family of workers, and then grew up in Savona. He dedicated his life, from a young age, to others; a life spent for the least, in the care of others, in the fight for the rights of the sick and in the promotion of a professional culture aimed at the development of a professional policy. She was, and still is, a courageous and altruistic nurse, who has always dedicated herself to assisting those most in need, in difficult years and contexts and in dangerous war zones. His commitment, dedication and professionalism have always demonstrated a great sense of humanity and equality. The experience of war will mark his childhood and after the war he will enter the world of work, still a teenager, due to family needs. During her life she will discover her passions and the desire to help the working class of her city will grow in her. Her inspiring story reflects the personal and professional sacrifice, the great generosity that many people like her bring into the world, providing care, help and comfort to those who need it most, even in the most difficult and dangerous contexts.

Video table of contents

  1. Childhood and war
  2. Adolescence and the post-war period
  3. The decision to become a nurse
  4. 1955: start of studies to become a nurse
  5. The beginning of her work as a nurse and her experience with children affected by polio
  6. The 1960s: the experience as head nurse at the CTO in Florence and the relationship with disability
  7. 1970s: the fight for the rights of people with disabilities
  8. Experience in the psychiatric field
  9. The experience in Australia with the Genoese Navy
  10. Interest in Italian and international politics and the political implications of healthcare
  11. Volunteering: the fight for AIDS prevention and the fight against drugs
  12. 1970s – Membership of the International League for Peoples' Rights and Liberation, interest in Afghanistan, international and professional politics
  13. The experience with teaching and the relationship with students
  14. Enriching encounters
  15. The importance of creating a professional culture that includes respect for others and a vision of international and professional politics
  16. The importance of one's personal and professional integrity and authenticity: do not be afraid to report injustices
  17. The use of cinema, drawing and photography in the training of nurses
  18. 1984: a document on nursing's contribution against hunger and for world peace
  19. The experience in Irpinia with nursing students after the earthquake
  20. The experience in Sarajevo
  21. The experience at the CTO in Florence with children from Libya
  22. The love for animals and pet therapy with hospitalized children
  23. The meeting with the writer Luce D'Eramo during her illness
  24. The importance of truth and informed consent for the patient

Interview information

Geographic information

Country: IT

Region: piemonte

City: Torino

People

Marisa Siccardi

Date of birth: 06-12-1935
City: Francia
School: Professional qualification
Profession: Nurse
Languages: italiano

Document by: Bussone Elisabetta, Mercandelli Stefano
Video by: Davide Porporato, Andrea Icardi
Created: 02-02-2024

Questo video fa parte del seguente archivio
Knowledge of healing

Knowledge of healing

The archive “knowledge of Healing” was created with the aim of giving space to the narration of the places of healing from a particular point of view: that of the patients and the medical staff. A point of view which differs from the statistical one that official relations use to describe the medical field. This is how we find new stories about how throughout time the relationship between patients and medical staff has changed, how knowledge has helped to bring change by offering the chance to critically revisit the training methods nowadays used.

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