About us
About us
We’ve been fostering education and rights for children since 1988, ensuring they can grow up to achieve their dreams.
We put a smile on the faces of children like Versia, Francesco, Amina, Laxman and many others who have received support from our community. In over thirty years of work, we’ve helped around 800,000 children.
Our organisation works in Italy and around the world to provide every child with a good education, the security of a family and a community where they can grow up and develop their potential.
Because children can change the world.
Vision
A future that didn’t exist before.
For every child around the world.
Mission
We support education and training for children with innovative, practical solutions that improve their physical and mental wellbeing. We work all over the world, in emergency situations and on an everyday basis.
With courage and transparency.
The Helpcode team
Our team shares the same goal: making children happy all over the world.
Governance and administration
Our Shareholders’ Meeting and Management Board decide the course of action we take, delegating the management of all the organisation’s operations to our General Secretary. Our work is monitored and verified by the Auditor, Regulatory Authority and Supervisory Body.
The Management Board
The Board of Directors is the strategic management and oversight body of Helpcode. It consists of 3 to 7 unpaid members and serves a three-year term. Board members do not hold any permanent operational role within the organization, but they provide strategic direction and ensure that all applicable laws and regulations are observed by the organization. They also ensure that Helpcode operates effectively and efficiently, in line with its Statute and the approved operational and budgetary goals.
Giorgio Zagami
President
After graduating in economics at the University of Genova, Giorgio moved to the United States to attend the Johnson & Wales University’s Management Development Program. During his career Giorgio has been working in major international companies where he developed several successful business models.
In early 2000 Giorgio decided to apply the experience and the skills acquired in his professional life to support Helpcode as a volunteer. He steadily increased his involvement in Helpcode’s activities becoming a member of the board in 2003. His knowledge of the organisation and his passion made him the best candidate to become president of the organisation in 2016. In this position Giorgio works to develop Helpcode presence and reputation in Genova, Liguria and beyond. Giorgio is also founder and president of Helpcode Switzerland.
Enzo Scalia
Board member
Alessandro Cavo
Board member
Alessandro follows the tradition of a 5 generation family involved in pastry business. Thanks to this passion and expertise, Alessandro was personally involved in the re-opening of the Marescotti pastry shop, an historical shop in Genova, which had been closed for almost 30 years.
Alessandro is also ASCOM Confcommercio Vice President, President of the Public Shop Confederation, member of FIPE Confcommercio National Council and member of Italian Historical Shop Association (under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage).
Alessandro has been member of the Helpcode board since 2016.
Anna Maria Saiano
Board member
The Board of Auditors
The Board of Auditors is primarily responsible for reporting on financial management, verifying proper accounting practices, and preparing reports on the final balance sheet.
The Supervisory Body
The Supervisory Body monitors compliance with the law and the Statute, adherence to solidarity and social utility goals, and the application of sound management principles. It specifically oversees the adequacy and proper functioning of the organizational, administrative, and accounting structures.
Among its duties is also certifying that the social report has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines outlined in Article 14 of Legislative Decree 117/2017.
The Supervisory Body
The Supervisory Body under Legislative Decree 231/2001 consists of two members appointed for a three-year term. It was established when the organization adopted the model provided for in Legislative Decree 231/2001, which governs the liability of entities for administrative offenses. Helpcode asks all stakeholders to respect the principles set out in its Code of Ethics and in the Organizational, Management and Control Model required by this regulation.
One of the tools provided by the 231 Model is whistleblowing protection, which allows employees to report any violations of the Code of Ethics or the Model itself, as well as any fraud, crime, offense, or other misconduct committed by individuals within the organization.
Help Code Italia has introduced a series of reporting channels, including:
– by post: OdV 231 Help Code Italia ETS, Via XXV Aprile 12/B, 16123 Genoa (GE)
– Supervisory Body email: odv@helpcode.org
– dedicated email: safeguarding@helpcode.org
In compliance with Legislative Decree No. 24/2023, Helpcode has set up the Trusty platform for reporting misconducts, guaranteeing confidentiality and protection to the whistleblower. The platform can be accessed at this link: https://helpcode.trusty.report/
The world of Helpcode
The organisations that have signed a memorandum of understanding with us and act as our affiliates.
The
Helpcode Network
The organisations we plan and work with and the associations we are part of.
Annual report
We understand that you need to trust us. And we want to prove that you can: read our reports, which explain how we use your money in complete transparency.
Institutional donors
The government agencies, institutions and bodies that fund or co-fund our projects.
We are authorised to work with DG ECHO, having received ECHO Certificate from 2021 to 2027.