ORISS (Interdisciplinary Organisation for Development and Health) is non profit-making organisation founded in 1990 by some individuals who engaged themselves in knowledge processes, experimentations and translations of know-hows expressed by other cultures.

Its main objective is to contribute to the development and to the health of the human community. Development “…. meant not as an economic and technological progress alone, but as a process which creates conditions, material and not material, necessary to the realisation of the human species potentiality in harmony with the surrounding environment in which it evolves”. Health intended as “ not the only absence of a disease, but the full physical, mental and social well-being” (Art. 2 of the Statute).

Directive Committee

Iside Baldini, Stefano Bertoletti, Piero Coppo, Mauro Gallevi, Lelia Pisani

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ORISS is pursuing these aims through:
- the promotion of gatherings, debates, training courses, seminars and congresses;
- the processing, broadcasting and publication of pamphlets, books, magazines, periodicals, posters and any other printed and audio/visual material;
- the promotion of studies, researches, trips and training activities;
- the co-operation with similar Italian and foreign organisations as well as with specialist institutions;
- the delivery of services (consulting, preventive, therapeutic activities, or other);
- the planning and realisation of co-operative interventions in Italy and abroad.

ORISS is supported by the associates’ Assembly which directs its activities and every 5 years elects the Chairman as well as the Directive Committee. The Directive Committee nominates the Editing Committee who is in charge of the edition of the journal I Fogli di ORISS (ORISS Papers) and of a book collection.

Editing Committee

Iside Baldini, Massimo Cappitti, Stefania Consigliere, Piero Coppo, Mario Pezzella, Antonio Tricomi

Up to today ORISS is counting about forty associates who are engaged in “borderline places and languages” amongst various disciplines (anthropology, psychology, medicine, psychiatry), cultures, know-how, levels of action and of experience. On behalf of the organisation, the associates, who are professionals from the teaching, health and culture fields, promote informative and training activities for social, health and education operators. These activities aim to the dialogue with the other and to the managing of the conflicts that this dialogue can lead to. ORISS promotes as well co-operative activities for the exploitation of the “traditional medicines”.

You can join ORISS paying the annual fee which allows you to receive the journal. You can then take part to the informative meetings and gatherings, and you will have priority to attend the activities organised by the Association.

Elements for a Manifesto, published in ORISS Papers (7/8, 1997, 7-17) and hereby available, it constitutes ORISS' first declaration of intents and provides some methodological guidelines. The Manifesto published in the issue 19/20 of 2003 updates and states ORISS' position at the light of the most recent events.

Anybody can take part to the current debate promoted by the Association (visit the web page "Temi") sending comments. Those ones considered of relevance will be published on the web page.

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