born from lived experience
We are parents of a young girl with Down syndrome.
We have lived the crises, the burnout, the search for a moment of true regeneration. Rinfresca exists because that search shouldn't be a private burden carried alone.
Vision
A world in which families of people with special needs share a balanced well-being pathway, where everyone can express their potential.
Mission
Creating healing, capacity-building and self-advocacy programs, starting with families of people with intellectual disability, to support everyone's self-determination.
Values
- Inclusion
- Empathy
- Collaboration
- Honesty
- Reliability
- Precision
- Integrity
Management
The founding team.
Anique Vered Sachy
Chief Executive Officer
Twenty years across communities, organisations and institutions on five continents. Specialises in partnerships, interdisciplinary research, pedagogy, curation and high-profile event production. Co-led Horizon2020 consortia totalling €1.3M. Current research focus: methodology for Self-Advocacy Art contributing to neurodiversity and disability rights movements. Raised in an award-winning family business in accessible tourism.
Marco Sachy, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Senior researcher with 20+ years as manager and consultant in the digital sector. Before Rinfresca full-time from January 2025, Marco was Associate Science Director at Data61, the Australian Federal Government's research agency (CSIRO), spanning AI, quantum, robotics and cybersecurity. Earlier: 5 years as Project Officer at the European Commission Joint Research Centre on blockchain for public services, energy communities and nuclear safeguards. Raised €1.13M in Horizon2020 grants at Dyne.org. Certified Holistic Operator.
Collaborators
Practitioners shaping the programs.
Fabrizio Rota
Music-therapy
Drummer and teacher since 1978. Trained with leading musicians in Rome since 2005 across jazz and commercial fields. Graduating student in Music-therapy in the Globality of Languages led by Professor Stefania Guerra Lisi.
Rosy Sinicropi
Art-therapy
Photographer based between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Conducts self-portrait workshops as autobiographical, personal and collective analysis. Student of Spanish artist Cristina Nuñez. Has run photography-as-self-narration work in schools, prisons, refugee centres and with Gaza Strip, West Bank and Ukrainian women refugees.
Luca Diana
Massage therapist
Specialises in bioenergetics and massage therapy — pain respite, posture, anti-cellulite and therapeutic physiotherapy. Developed a paired-learning method designed for family caregivers and their recipients with special needs.
Advisors
Eleven advisors across four countries.
Contributors to Rinfresca's business development since July 2022 — vision, business model, marketing, financial structure, and disability-sector strategy.
Chris Wilborn
AustraliaRealise Business Consultant
Vision, business model, fundraising strategy
Andrea Comastri
AustraliaCEO, Hotel Etico
Training for intellectual disability + hospitality services
Charlotte Newman
UKCEO, Carefree
Respite care services, UK context
Wayne Wanders
AustraliaChartered Accountant, Realise
Budget forecast, business model
Tiani Chillemi
AustraliaCEO, Public!
Audience development, marketing & sales
Mikey Leung
AustraliaCEO, Digital Storytellers
Digital marketing, impact storytelling
Alessandra Cialoni
ItalyChartered Accountant
Corporate structure, financial & fiscal management
Domenico Gaiga
Italyex-Director, Il Gabbiano cooperative
Training for intellectual disability + hospitality
Luca Panzeri
ItalyEntrepreneur
Budget forecast, business development
Alberto Villa
ItalyMBA, VC partner
Investment strategy and corporate structure
Donald W. Harper
USA & ChinaMBA, Prof. of Management — Beijing Normal & HK Baptist University
Income statement, sales projections, growth strategy
Partnerships
The network that powers the pathway.
Accommodation providers
Italian destinations starting our Respite Retreat programming.
La Fiorida
4-star agri-tourism with spa, the only one in Europe with a Michelin-starred restaurant. First Respite Retreat test, June 2026.
Locanda del Gallo
Boutique hotel north of Rome with spa, pool and hiking trails in the surrounding woods.
Ca' Zennare
Agri-tourism with renovated apartments — tranquility plus proximity to the Adriatic and Venice.
Programming partners
Specialised workers and disability cooperatives delivering capacity-building activities.
Il Gabbiano
Social cooperative with personal training, craft workshops, swimming pool with heated shallow access, neuropsychiatric clinic, occupational and speech therapy. 40+ years in the area.
Il Tortellante
Project of chef Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana) and family, inspired by his son with autism. Artisanal pasta-making workshop for young adults with intellectual disability.
B2B partnerships
Disability organisations and care networks scaling Rinfresca's services to their members.
Dynamo Camp
Summer camps for families with serious illnesses and disabilities. B2B partner for programming services serving excess demand.
EuroCarers
European caregiver network — subsidised Respite Retreats for members.
Contact UK
Leading disability organisation — Micro-respite services in UK capitals.
La Mongolfiera
Disability and care association partnership for procurement of subsidised packages.