ESC: GIGA - long term volunteering in refugee centre

The non-profit organization “I Girasoli” was founded in 2004 and it has always been involved, through its activities, in solidarity and support towards people who are in difficult situations and social marginality, promoting respect, autonomy and overcoming obstacles to the achievement of full and inviolable human dignity. "I Girasoli" is a non-governmental organization which, at present, is in charge of several SPRAR (Protection System for Asylum Seekers, Refugees) projects:  for unaccompanied minors (15 people) and adults (15 people) in Mazzarino since 2007;  for 40 adults in Caltanissetta since 2013;  for 50 family members in Sutera since 2014, out of which 20 are living in Milena since 2015, as an extension of this project;  for 15 adults and 15 Syrian family members in Riesi since 2017;  for 14 unaccompanied minors in Milena since 2018.  for 40 adults (men and women) in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto from 2014 to 2016;  for 15 family members in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto from 2014 to 2016; We offer hospitality and protection included in an integration process where it is considered the personal happiness of everyone, like an unique human being. This process includes all the personal needs of every person: education, work, health, bureaucracy and personal expression thanks to cultural and artistic events and activities. Over the years “I Girasoli” has been engaged in many projects covering the same targets in collaboration with ANCI, Protezione Civile and the Ministry of Interior. The organization has developed experience and operational capacity by participating in various training projects and internships that showed what it really means being an agency that deals with the protection and the anti-discrimination of refugees. Our organization has been involved in following projects:  The project Polis, a social inclusion project, including partners such as the UPI (Unione delle province d'Italia) and the Regional Province of Caltanissetta, for disadvantaged people, women, former foreign asylum seekers and refugees.  The Butcher’s helper Course, a project funded by Catholic Church fund.  The project Passpartou, funded by the FER (Fondo Europeo per I Rifugiati), in partnership with the Province of Ragusa and two national organizations for the protection of children's rights, intended to minors and foreign women refugees in the province of Caltanissetta.  The project Relar, funded by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Employment, in collaboration with the provincial CNA. On 2012/13 the Organization has run a FEI (Fondo Europeo per l’Integrazione) project to educate public officials on immigration issue, in partnership with several Organizations and Municipalities. In partnership with several Organizations and Municipalities, I Girasoli is running a FEI project called SMILE to educate health care officials on immigration issue and a CE project to educate tutors for unaccompanied minors and to define standards of protection. Most important experience of the Organization has been the "Progetto Casa", funded by the FER and the Province of Caltanissetta. Intended for single-parent families of asylum seekers and refugees, it provided the accompanying accommodation and contribution to the rent and furnishing. The project was implemented in the provinces of Caltanissetta, Trapani and Agrigento. Moreover, every year we organize several initiatives to raise awareness about the phenomenon of discrimination in the society and especially in the job market. The Organization is registered in both list of entities that deal with immigrant (ex art.42 DLG 286/98 first section), and the UNAR list of anti-discrimination organizations (Art.5 DLG. 215/03). The Organization has its headquarter both in Mazzarino and Caltanissetta and thanks to the various memoranda of understanding with other provincial, regional and national organizations, has a capillary activity over the local territory. Organization apply the experience and good practices of the other territories which is an essential element for the integration of the project beneficiaries and for the professional and human growth of its operators. The Organization has over the years created partnership with various public and private institutions such as the ASP of Caltanissetta, the Kore University of Enna and the University of Messina, the Centre for Employment, the “Centro Territoriale permanente”, the High Schools of Mazzarino, Piazza Armerina, Mussomeli and Caltanissetta, Real Estate Agencies, other Organizations, training Institutions and organizations and cooperatives involved in the same field. One of the factors which helps our organization to be updated is the belonging to NETWORK NIRVA, ARCI, SPRAR, FER and also to be in direct contact with the main organizations of international protection as UNHCR, CIR Rifugiati, Save the Children, Defense for Children and the National Toll for Asylum Seekers.