Cittadinanza Onlus

What Cittadinanza Onlus does

Cittadinanza Onlus (now Cittadinanza ETS) is an Italian nonprofit association founded in 1999 and headquartered in the Rimini area, with a registered office in Poggio Torriana and operational office in Rimini. Its mission is to restore the dignity of citizenship to people with disabilities and mental health conditions living in poverty in low-income countries. The organisation operates service programmes across three countries: Kenya (Paolo's Home day care and rehabilitation centre in Kibera, the Kivuli Centre in Dagoretti, and the newer Riruta rehabilitation centre), Ethiopia (a mental health outpatient clinic and physiotherapy services at St. Luke Hospital in Wolisso, delivered with partner VCBRA), and India (the Best New Life Shelter in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, for children with intellectual and physical disabilities). Core services include physiotherapy, psychological support, nutritional programmes, school inclusion, family empowerment, and community-based rehabilitation, delivered through a mix of directly operated centres and trusted local implementing partners.

The organisation's service delivery model is built on community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and is anchored by long-standing local partnerships — Koinonia Community in Kenya (since 2008), VCBRA in Ethiopia (since 2018), and Best New Life Shelter in India — supplemented by Italian volunteer clinical expertise from AUSL Romagna. Notable operational metrics include 1,500+ children with disabilities helped since inception, 705 children reached by Paolo's Home since 2008, 138 children followed by VCBRA in Wolisso, 30–33 daily visits at the Wolisso mental health clinic, and recent programme outcomes such as 73% of children achieving expected weight gain in the Kibera/Riruta nutritional programme and 90% showing notable physical appearance improvement.

Cittadinanza's revenue model is donation-driven and Italian-centric. It draws on individual donations (one-time, regular, in memory, birthday, and gift donations), the Italian 5x1000 tax designation, CSR partnerships with companies such as Myo S.p.A. and Rivierabanca, community fundraising events (notably Sapori della Solidarietà cooking competitions), and testamentary bequests. Institutional project funding comes from Regione Emilia Romagna (DESK, AIM and BRIDGES projects), Fondazione Prosolidar (Riruta centre), Tavola Valdese (EMBRACE 2), and Fondazione Irma Romagnoli. Total event yield has grown from €3,520 in 2019 to €17,485 at the 2026 Sapori della Solidarietà, and the 2024 opening of the Riruta centre suggests institutional grants are scaling alongside the programmes. The organisation is governed by a small board led by President Maurizio Focchi and Director Alessandro Latini, with 17 employees.

Name

Cittadinanza Onlus

Legal name

Associazione Cittadinanza Onlus

Website

https://cittadinanza.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cittadinanza Onlus is an Italian nonprofit that delivers mental health and disability rehabilitation services to children and families in low-income countries through directly operated centres and local partners in Kenya, Ethiopia, and India, funded primarily by Italian individual donations, 5x1000, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Mental Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPADAIAM

Injury Prevention, Disability & Rehabilitation Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Global Health & Population Programs

Keywords

• Disability rehabilitation services
• Mental health support
• Community-based rehabilitation
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Inclusive education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Poggio Torriana

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time or regular donations, with various options including free donations, regular donations, memorial donations, birthday celebrations, and gift donations. Italian tax benefits apply: 30% tax deduction up to €30,000 or 10% income deduction without limit.
2. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of their tax return to the organization, providing a recurring funding stream from individual tax filings.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors support through CSR programs, matching donations, and event partnerships. Companies can engage through social responsibility initiatives and direct support.
4. Event Fundraising: Organized fundraising events such as Sapori della Solidarietà cooking competitions, solidalty gas initiatives, and other community events generate donations and awareness.
5. Testamentary Bequests: The organization accepts legacy gifts and testamentary bequests from supporters.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cittadinanza Onlus is an Italian nonprofit humanitarian organization that operates rehabilitation, mental health, and disability inclusion programs for children and adults in low-income countries. Its service portfolio includes day care and physiotherapy centers (Paolo's Home in Nairobi, Best New Life Shelter in Vellore), hospital-based mental health and physiotherapy services (St. Luke Hospital in Wolisso, Ethiopia), and community-based rehabilitation delivered through local NGO partners across Kenya, Ethiopia, and India.

Product overview

Cittadinanza Onlus is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that operates a portfolio of disability and mental health service programs across three countries (Kenya, India, and Ethiopia). The core programs include Paolo's Home (rehabilitation center in Nairobi), Best New Life Shelter (education and training center in Vellore, India), and St. Luke Hospital Programs (mental health and physiotherapy in Wolisso, Ethiopia). These are supported by specialized services including nutritional programs, female empowerment initiatives, school inclusion support, and community-based rehabilitation delivered through local partnerships. The organization also operates a donation platform to receive supporter contributions. The programs work holistically to provide medical care, rehabilitation, social inclusion, and family support for children and adults with disabilities in low-income contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paolo's Home (Kenya Program) Day care and rehabilitation center for children with disabilities in Kibera and Riruta, Nairobi (Kenya) providing physiotherapy, meals, educational activities, family support, and school inclusion programs.
• Best New Life Shelter (BNLS) — India Program Center for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities in Vellore, Tamil Nadu (India) providing education, vocational training, and rehabilitation services.
• St. Luke Hospital Programs (Ethiopia) Mental health outpatient clinic and physiotherapy services at St. Luke Hospital in Wolisso (Ethiopia) including community-based rehabilitation delivered through partner VCBRA.
• Nutritional Program (Kibera and Riruta) Food assistance and nutrition support for malnourished children with disabilities at project centers in Kibera and Riruta, Kenya, including hot meals at the day centre and food packages for families.
• Female Empowerment Program Economic empowerment and skills training for mothers of children with disabilities, including sewing courses, savings groups, and microcredit access to support family income generation.
• School Inclusion Program Support for children with disabilities to attend mainstream schools, including assessments, school placement assistance, and ongoing educational support.
• Donation Services Online donation platform allowing supporters to contribute to programs for children with disabilities in Ethiopia, India, and Kenya, with tax-benefit options for Italian donors (free, regular, memorial, birthday, gift, and legacy donations).

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of children achieved expected results (weight gain) through nutritional programs
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Vision Community Based Rehabilitation Association (VCBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Ethiopia implementing community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for children with disabilities in Wolisso and Ambo areas. Conducts home visits, community sensitization, and connects families with hospital services.
• St. Luke Hospital (Wolisso, Ethiopia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital hosting the mental health outpatient clinic and physiotherapy services. Cittadinanza supports equipment, training, and operational costs for disability and mental health services.
• Best New Life Shelter (Vellore, India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for children with intellectual and physical disabilities in Arcot, Tamil Nadu, directed by Catherine Inbarajan. Provides education, rehabilitation, vocational training, and family support.
• MITI AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the nutritional program for malnourished children in Kibera and Riruta, implementing dietary interventions and family health education.
• AUSL RomagnamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian health authority providing psychiatric expertise through volunteer missions and training programs for Ethiopian healthcare workers. Partners include psychiatrists from Rimini, Forlì, and Ravenna.
• Myo S.p.A.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor that doubled donations up to €5,000 at Sapori della Solidarietà 2026 event.
• Slow Food RavennaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner for Sapori della Solidarietà cooking event, providing culinary expertise and venue support.
• GuidarePilotareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafe driving school that organized solidalty driving course at Misano circuit, with proceeds supporting Paolo's Home.
• Local Health Authorities (Emilia-Romagna)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian health authorities supporting projects through expertise and funding.
• Associazione Amani for AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Centre for street children, co-located with Paolo's Home in new facility.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lega del Filo d'Oro: Italian NGO supporting people with deafblindness and multiple disabilities through rehabilitation, education, and family support. Comparable in beneficiary population (children with disabilities) and Italian donor base.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): Large international NGO focused on disability inclusion and rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable in mission, community-based rehabilitation methodology, and multi-country African operations.
• Light for the World: International disability-focused INGO working on eye health, rehabilitation, and inclusive education in low-income countries, with significant programs in Africa. Comparable in community-based approach and disability inclusion focus.
• Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi: Italian foundation providing rehabilitation and care services for people with disabilities, including children. Comparable in its mix of clinical rehabilitation and social inclusion programming.
• CBM Italia: Italian branch of CBM, an international disability-focused INGO working on prevention, treatment, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in low-income countries. Directly comparable in beneficiary focus and partnership with local organizations.
• AIFO - Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau: Italian NGO focused on disability, leprosy, and rehabilitation in low-income countries. Operates a similar model of rehabilitation and community-based inclusion programs, making it the closest direct peer in mission and structure.

Regional players

• CUAMM - Medici con l'Africa: Italian NGO operating hospitals and health programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia and Kenya. Comparable in Italian institutional funding base and African health delivery footprint.
• AVSI Foundation: Italian development NGO with multi-country programs in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Comparable in Italian donor base, institutional funding model, and presence in East Africa.

Emerging players

• Amref Health Africa: Africa's leading health NGO, focused on community health, with growing disability and rehabilitation programming. Operates in Kenya and Ethiopia and is comparable in community-based health delivery in the same geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Fondazione Telethon: Large Italian biomedical foundation funding research on rare genetic diseases; comparable in its Italian donor base and tax-advantaged giving structures (e.g., 5x1000) but operates at much larger scale and does not directly deliver rehabilitation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cittadinanza-onlus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cittadinanza Onlus