Salvo and Gaia. A Gift Worth a Life!

This is a 6-episode cartoon in which the main characters set out on a journey on their “medicycle” to discover the “fantasticous” human body, wondering how it works and, in some cases, how to “fix” it. The sensitive topic of organ, tissue and cell donation was addressed as part of a broader debate on health education, which is fundamental to guide “tomorrow’s adults” towards healthy habits, by encouraging kids to think about how our body is structured, the right lifestyles to best preserve it and the gratuitousness of giving. The cartoon comes with a mini book for children, where this subject is explained with age-targeted tone and language. It also includes a book for teachers providing additional info on the organizational and regulatory features of Italy’s transplantation system. www.salvoegaia.itwww.salvoegaia.it

Target: primary school students and teachers
Products: health promotion campaign, educational multimedia laboratories, film productions, production of printed, digital and multimedia materials, the website.

Health Promotion Campaign 
“Salvo and Gaia, A Gift Worth a Life!” is an info-educational tool that was produced as part of the National Campaign for Organ, Tissue and Cell Donation and Transplants sponsored by the Italian Health Ministry in conjunction with the National Transplant Centre and relevant national associations. The aim is to spread the culture of donation also among very young kids. The sensitive issue of organ, tissue and cell donation was included in the broader debate on health education. 
This initiative was launched in 2012 and is still active: it includes repeatable activities and ISS researchers are available to give presentations in schools. 

Educational Multimedia Laboratories
Educational multimedia workshops include 2 interactive games: 

• Everything in place! Enables kids, especially smaller kids, to understand each organ’s function and position. 
• Microexploring! Enables kids to look deeper into our organs, all the way down to the molecular level: anatomy, functioning and fun facts about how they are made and function.

Games are available online, and also work on mobile devices. http://www.salvoegaia.it/giocaescopri.html

Launched in June 2018 with more than 2000 users so far, they are available in paper and digital format. 
This initiative is repeatable and ISS researchers are available to give presentations in schools.

Film Screenings
Entire schools have viewed Cartoon screenings in movie theatres all over Italy. Local coordinators from Regional Transplant Centres and volunteer workers from local associations led the discussion during these events. Salvo and Gaia is available for principals and teachers to include in their school curricula. The Cartoon was launched on 21 January 2016 and has already been viewed by 15 schools, involving 100 teachers and 1700 kids.
ISS researchers are available to give presentations in schools, but funding is needed.

Production of Printed and Digital Material 
Printing and distribution of the “Salvo and Gaia” kit (cartoon DVD, mini book for children and teachers). Produced in 2012, it can be replicated, but is no longer available. Used by more than 10,000 children and 1000 teachers.
ISS researchers are available to give presentations in schools, but funding is needed.

Website
The www.salvoegaia.it website was developed to distribute cartoons, books, games and promotional material to teachers, parents and children.
Launched in September 2015, it is still available. ISS researchers are available to give presentations in schools

Organization of Reference: National Transplant Centre
Contact Person: Emanuela Grasso