LONG TERM EVS in Malo, Italy
In the Social Cooperative "L’Orsa Maggiore"
A long-term EVS project to be held from the 1st of September 2017 until the 30th of June 2018 (10 months).
The organization and the project
L'Orsa Maggiore is a social cooperative that was born and works since 1990 following the initiative and with the collaboration of the association “Gruppo Contro l’Esclusione”, an association of relatives of young people with disabilities. It works mainly in the area of Malo (VI) and it is a non-profit association. Training and work integration of people that live in situations of discomfort are the objectives of the cooperative: its aim is to make possible, after an adequate preparation, the passage from a protect environment to the usual work environment (public and private companies). Through the work the cooperative creates integration, focusing on the individual and its needs. Today l’Orsa Maggiore is a reference point for associations of voluntary activity, groups, educational institutes, training schools for operators that want to deepen the topic of disability. In these years of activity, the Cooperative welcomed more than 150 people in a situation of disadvantage, living mainly in the areas of ASL 4 Alto Vicentino and ASL 6 Vicenza. More than half of these could be integrated as employee in working context outside the structure. At the moment the cooperative occupies approximately 60 people.Since 2013 the cooperative manages an apartment for the autonomy and integration of people with disabilities, called “Gruppo Appartamento” placed in Malo. The project's main goal is the one of offering to people with disabilies the opportunity to experience the housing independence. The aim is the development of an innovative action of support to those adult people that after a specific educational intervention turn out to be able to face and aspire to a context of independent life. The building is close the Orsa Maggiore 's offices, a closeness which offers the possibility to activate work educational paths, directed to increase personal and working autonomy and, if possible, also the economic independence. The idea for the project was prompted from a cooperatives' network of Alto Vicentino's area, to strengthen activities "outside the walls", getting in contact and collaboration with schools of the area and young people from informal groups, in order to offer new occasions for social inclusion and to guest and spread the culture of reciprocal respect and of acceptance of the differences. In this term during the last years it has been very important the enthusiasm and the new cultural point of view brought from the evs volunteers.
ACTIVITIES AND TASKS
The activities of the organisation relevant for the project regard the social inclusion of people with fewer opportunities (focusing above all on people with disabilties), the development, enhancement and empowerment of capabilities and autonomy (in the work indisability's area), the spread and dissemination of the role and activities carried out by L'orsa Maggiore.
The activities in which volunteers will be involved by supporting educators’ work are:
• ACTIVITIES IN THE PROJECT “GROUP APARTMENT”: a project of housing autonomy designed for people with mild disabilities, followed 40 hours a week by an equipe of educators and volunteers, with the aim of develop basic abilities for an independent life.
• ACTIVITIES OF CREATIVE LABORATORY AND RECREATIONAL: carried out with the aim of developing and enhancing social and communication competences and discover personal abilities, as well as residue autonomies.
• ACTIVITIES WITH SCHOOLS to increase awareness among youngs and their families (and so the local community) about the common values of solidarity, respect, self determination, social justice and the civil rights in general.
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
• Food: provided by the hosting organization according with the volunteer; lunch available in the canteen inside the receiving organization.
• Accommodation: In a flat located in Santorso (another little town, 20/30 minutes by bus to Malo) shared with other 3 evs volunteers. Double room bedroom.
• Working hours: 31 hours/week (1 of tutoring) + 2 hour/month of mentoring.
• Day off: Free weekends (Saturday and Sunday). In case activities will carried out in the weekend (it might happen just a few times) two consecutive day off will be given during the weekdays.
• Holidays: 2 days/month (they can be gathered and enjoyed maximum in 15 consecutive days) and a week during Christmas period. Others holidays could be planned by agreeing with the tutor.
• Pocket money: 120 Euro/month, paid every month by cash
• Local transport: the organization provides bus tickets to reach the organization in 30 minutes. It provides also a bicycle. Bus and train tickets bought by the volunteer and related to the EVS activities will be refund.
• Language support: it will be organised an Italian language course for the volunteer with a professional teacher. Also the volunteer will have the chance to use the Online linguistic support, an online course provided by EU
• Trainings and support: guaranteed by the sending, receiving and coordinating organizations
• Hosting guests: it is forbidden to host people that don’t belong to the project without the permission of the association.
• Insurance: sending organization is responsible for the volunteer’s insurance (Cigna), all the parties are obliged to get acquainted with the insurance rules. The volunteer is responsible of payment of any medical expenses during the evs service and he/she has to fill out the Healthcare Claim form to get the reimbursement by MSH International.
• Leisure: the volunteer will be given of all the necessary informations about leisure activities he/she can enjoy during the free time
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?
"L’Orsa Maggiore" is located in Malo, Province of Vicenza, (almost 15000 inhabitants), a village lying at the foot of the Small Dolomites, mountains famous all over the world for their beauty that makes them a tourist destination for skiers and hikers. Places that have sadly also been protagonists and witnesses of the First World War.
HOW TO APPLY
DEADLINE: 30th of May