ESC innovative&unconventional centre for people with disabilities

Casa S. Chiara is a community organization that has been taking care of emarginated (especially psycho-physically disabled) people since the 1950s. Casa S. Chiara’s initiatives are aimed at underage and young people and adults alike, all lacking of a family nucleus or support with various types of handicap, in need of education and sociality. With this kind of initiatives, Casa S. Chiara aims to protect the dignity and human rights of weaker and emarginated members of society by supporting them in terms of satisfying their well being needs and promoting their potential as citizens. The Casa S. Chiara intends to raise awareness among members of civil society and inside the Christian community about the reality of so many disabled brothers and sisters confronted with all types of pietism and excessive state aid by urging all to fulfill their duty of justice and solidarity through volunteering. The various types of shelters at Casa S. Chiara have adapted themselves throughout the years in reaction to the different needs they have encountered through the generous and creative response that young volunteers have organized. In 1969 the Casa S. Chiara cooperative was officially created. In 1973 the holiday house in Sottocastello di Cadore (Belluno) was inaugurated; having been created thanks to the work of volunteers coming from numerous European countries, not just Italy. In 1979, in the main city centre, the activities of the Il Ponte Leisure centre began and in 1992 the Volunteering Association was created, which includes the active volunteers in Casa S. Chiara. For many years, Casa S Chiara has been a licensed receiving centre for National Civil Service volunteers: first as part of the Ministry of Defense and nowadays, after the 2001 reform, as part of the Department for Youth and the National Civil Service, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. From the non wards many youths have been hosted as Civil Service volunteers, in collaboration with the Emilia Romagna region. Casa S. Chiara collaborates with the Alma Mater Studiorum Bologna University as a licensed compulsory internship placement for the Education Faculty in view of formative credits validation. Since 2015, Casa S. Chiara has discovered the European Solidarity Corps thanks to its collaboration with YouNet NGO (first with European Voluntary Service) concerning activities for disabled persons. The aims of Casa S. Chiara have been achieved through forms of shelter in small, family-sized groups, as well as through work, rehabilitation and social activities in day centres carried out as leisure activities, every day activities and stays during the winter and the summer thanks to the coordinated work of volunteers and professional disability-trained caregivers. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES OFFERED BY CASA S. CHIARA: Family groups are a residential reality at Casa S. Chiara: organized according to a communal and familiar style, they include and welcome groups of people with physical, cognitive and psychical disability. These groups are composed of disabled people who are permanent residents and others, who only come to Casa S. Chiara a few days per week for various projects meant to improve their autonomy or provide relief. Every project is created and sustained by competent social services and family members. DAILY CENTRES AT CASA S. CHIARA: Daily centers are a semi-residential, socio-medical service which hosts, during day hours disabled persons aged between18 and 65 years old who suffer from a compromised autonomy that would hinder a normal daily life activity. Various activities take place during these hours, according to the age and the disability of the guests. LEISURE ACTIVITIES AT CASA S. CHIARA: There are several leisure activity centres managed by local volunteers with the supervision of at least one professional caregivers. Every Sunday, trips and activities are organized, usually involving around 80 people in various locations in the metropolitan area or in the province. Every week a Dance Therapy lesson is organized directly by a psycho therapist which involves around ten disabled (also seriously disabled) people. What is more, twice a week creative dance classes and various sports activities are organized for disabled residents of Bologna, Castenaso and Villanova, in a gym which equally hosts the amateur sports association called Massimo e Tommy. This association, affiliated with the CSI the Italian Sports Centre, promotes sports activities for both disabled and non-disabled people and organizes the Sports festival in collaboration with the Castenaso city hall every year. The Coopeerative also boasts the Bottega dei Ragazzi, a meeting place for disabled people, volunteers and caregivers where they can showcase their activities and their work.