ESC: Volunteering at a social project development and adult education center in Southern Italy.

In 1976, a group of young people with and without disabilities decided to live together to create a community. They aimed to prevent the exclusion of vulnerable people from social life by creating new opportunities through work, education, alternative communal dwelling, and active involvement in the local community. That was the beginning of the Comunità Progetto Sud Association (CPS). Today, CPS is an ecosystem of groups and networks that collaborate to develop and promote inclusive policies in opposition to social inequities and the Mafia-like method of prevarication. The organization fosters a solidarity culture and best practices, which turn out to be always very efficient because they come from the associative life experience, the collaboration with the local communities, and the cooperation with several national and international partners. During the last 45 years of activities, CPS responded to a series of social issues, such as drug addiction, women empowerment, Aids, Mental Illness, migrants and trafficking of human beings, segregation of ethnic minorities. The organization meets the needs of the local community by providing health, educational and social services. It creates social entrepreneurship and work opportunities for young people of the region. Moreover, the association promotes the participatory democracy approach and raises awareness over the ethical economy and social and environmental sustainability for the innovation and valorization of Calabria. Currently, 91 employees work together to ensure the achievement of the objectives. The main areas of intervention are: - Disability and rehabilitation: CPS provides social-health, educational, and care services to people with physical and mental disabilities of all ages. The general objective of this specific intervention area is to ensure the development of an integrated and multi-professional individual project of rehabilitation, tailoring it according to the needs of each beneficiary. People with disabilities are supported to empower and create their life projects. Drugs and alcohol addiction: this intervention area deals with the prevention, treatment, and social reintegration of people addicted to drugs, alcohol, and gambling. The interventions are differentiated into specific individualized programs to respond to the particular needs of each beneficiary. Comunità Progetto Sud provides daytime rehabilitation services and residential structures, and it carries out information and prevention activities through communication campaigns on addiction risks. - Migration and trafficking of human beings: CPS contributes to the administration of 3 Sai/Siproimi for the reception and integration of asylum seekers. One of them hosts unaccompanied minors. Also, The association carries out integration and rights protection activities. During the last three years, CPS hoster 321 migrants, including 53 women and 64 minors. Moreover, in 2019, the association took charge of 25 women and contacted 322 women victims of trafficking through the project "Right Way", founded by the European Commission. In 2020, 589 people benefited, directly and indirectly, from the activities of Comunità Progetto Sud. - Mental health: The interventions on Mental Health are carried out through individual and community-based approaches. At the same time, the organization supports the development of networks for people with mental suffering and their families. Comunità Progetto Sud supports those beneficiaries through animation paths in the local community; working groups on self and mutual help; empowerment paths for individuals and groups; social housing for the realization of living autonomy; pathways of integration into the world of work through training placements and work grants. - Women support and Empowerment: CPS is a partner of the Anti-violence Center of the Municipality of Lamezia Terme, managed by several Public and Private Social Entities. The Center hosts vulnerable women from every part of the world, alone or with children, with disabilities, victims of trafficking and violence, with the need to redesign their lives. Women and mothers who are victims of domestic violence or trafficking are taken in charge and legally protected. Moreover, the Anti-violence center provides empowerment paths for social and works inclusion and advocacy activities.