ITA 06 - OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY
Project Location
The Parish of S. Basilio is located in the north of Milan, in a multi-ethnic and multicultural neighborhood with 24.9% of foreigners and a significant presence of elderly people (mostly Italians).
In the Parish, the three Comboni Missionary Sisters, with the Parish Priest and some volunteers, carry out the following activities:
Listening Center: operational four days a week and one afternoon (open desk). The service also includes home visits for particularly problematic cases. In recent years, the number of those asking to be supported has increased.
Distribution of food with monthly expiry for each family (about 100).
Italian language school for migrants active for more than 10 years, takes place over 4 days a week in two time slots: afternoon 5:30-7:30 pm and evening 7:00-8:30 pm.
Project description
The long-term goal of the project is to make the Parish a meeting place, exploration of differences, containment of illegality through aid and proposals aimed at promoting Communities capable of inhabiting essential places and hubs in the life of men/women and building bonds of trust and mutual respect. We want to achieve this by offering concrete support so that families and people experiencing hardship can regain dignity, promoting social integration and safeguarding the right to health.
In particular, with regard to the listening center, we try to find a solution to their problems together with people, helping them in finding a job, informing them about the services offered by the area, supporting expenses (utilities) that they cannot pay. The Parish Community supports the initiatives of the Listening Center through the work of volunteers and occasional food collections. The “Banco Alimentare” (food bank), which we have been a member of for years, has recently greatly reduced the monthly supply of food, not guaranteeing basic necessities that must therefore be purchased in supermarkets. We have also included the distribution of personal hygiene products (to promote people's dignity). As well as Panettone at Christmas for every family!
The collaboration with the various services in the area (social workers - job centres - food hubs, "Lawyers for Nothing" and many other associations ...), and the diocesan Caritas has matured and has allowed good collaboration and support for professional skills, but the economic aspect still remains a critical point.
As for the Italian language school, last year we had more than 240 students of 35 different nationalities; a small financial contribution is asked (from those who can) as registration fee. In addition to teaching the Italian language, the volunteers' gaze has the horizon of solidarity and, in collaboration with the WELCOME CENTRE offices of Municipio 2 and some voluntary services present in the area, tries to support students in the bureaucratic aspect of documents, in medical and legal assistance and in finding a job also through advertisements on websites.
Since this year, we have tried to network with schools in nearby parishes and schools in the area (municipal and otherwise) for an exchange of experiences, materials and educational and training courses.
Objectives
- Ensure financial assistance for a dignified life for people/families experiencing hardship
- Promote social integration, respect and valorization of multiculturalism
Beneficiaries
Direct: About 100 economically disadvantaged families and about 200 immigrant adults
Indirect: families and society
Local participation
The Parish makes its premises available for both the listening center and the Italian language school. Volunteers actively collaborate by participating in food collection days and Italian language school lessons.
Referents sisters of the project: Sr. Fernanda Pellizzer and Sr. Gabriella Ferazzini
Project's costs