PROJECT SETTING:
The EVS project will be mostly implemented in the House managed by Arché. It is situated in Fratelli Bandiera Street, in a central area in Milan, it has got two floors and five rooms each floor. Thanks to its good position, from the House it is easy to reach the centre by foot and the public means of transport are very close.
RULES AND CONDITIONS:
The volunteers will live in the House and they'll have a single room; we ask them to keep it clean and ordered. In the House it is strictly forbidden to smoke, use or introduce drugs and alcohol. In respect of hosts and operators and for security reasons, we ask to the volunteers not to come back late and alone at night. Generally the House closes at midnight.
LOCAL COMMUNITY:
Milan is the chief-town of Lombardia region, one of the richest region in Italy. It is a flat area in the centre and in the south but a mountainous one in the north. The region offers a great number of natural parks and protected reserves; the Alpes are a wonderful environment. Milan is a lively but frenetic town, rich in history, monuments, museums and art galleries. Milan is the most important Italian town for finance; in fact it has got the Italian Exchange, called "Piazza Affari". Most of the Italian companies and firms have got a financial office in Milan. The town is an important centre for finance, corporate societies, publishing industry, advertisement and marketing. Moreover, since the 80s Milan has been considered and important town for fashion. Lots of young people are fascinated by Milan and decide to move to study or work here. The high number of young people created a lively and intense atmosphere during the night: there are many cultural associations, showrooms, cinemas, theatres, discos and night clubs. In the last few years Milan has counted a great number of immigrants that created a rich multicultural context. Milan is the most important railway-centre in northern Italy and each railway station has got an underground station. Connections between the different parts of the town are good and Milan is well-connected with other Italian cities too. Milan has got three airports: Malpensa, near Piemonte region, well connected with the city-centre by a bus service called Malpensa Express; Linate, in the east of the town, hosts national lines and lots of low-cost flights; Orio al Serio, near Bergamo, mainly used for charters and some low-cost flights.
" what you can offer to volunteers in terms of Service and learning opportunities,
Thanks to European Voluntary Service in our association, the young people will have a deep human experience. First of all, they'll learn the meaning of community life, the respect for privacy of each person, for past experiences of the hosts, for their spaces and also for their sorrows. Arché hosts women and children in needs, some of them are sick and require lots of medical treatments. They are suffering and trying to build a better life; for this reason it is not always easy to approach them. Step by step the volunteers will acquire the right sensibility and they'll understand how to behave with the women, how to approach to ill children without having pity but energy, courage and enthousiasm. The knowledge of this particular reality can help the volunteers to call themselves into question, to think about their personal story, their values and priorities. They'll learn to be open toward other people, to destroy prejudices related to sickness and pain. If they are interested in, with the proper support, the volunteers can also receive a more specific training about the dimension of sickness (medically, psychologically). We think that the experience in Arché will be really formative for the volunteers, they'll come back to their country more mature and aware of the different realities (positive and negative ones) that characterize our world. Moreover, the community life is a good school to learn how to adapt, the respect for common rules, but also the joy to be with other people, to give something of themselves receiving affection, regard and trust from ill people. Last but not least, the volunteers will meet our local community; they'll learn the Italian language and they'll know our traditions. The encounter with other volunteers and hosts will favour an interesting multicultural exchange.
" what will be the role of EVS volunteers in the Host Organisation,
The role of EVS volunteers is not comparable to the role of educators and professional operators. We don't expect a qualified person or someone with specific abilities and experiences. For our Association the European volunteers will be young and cheerful people with whom we can spend our time, from whom we can receive a propositive help; they'll be a support for our staff and a new friend for our children. Their role with the children is extremely important because they'll be asked to enliven their days, to play with them to make them smile. From past experiences, we understood that both the mothers and the children appreciate the help of a young volunteer who is not a formal authority or a professional person; they give value to the presence of EVS volunteers, especially the children who identify the European volunteers with new and interesting friends or playmates.
" the activities in which the volunteers could be involved and the activities the volunteers could create in your organisation. Please give examples of typical activities for the volunteers.
After a first period of adaptation and observation, the volunteers will be actively involved in the activities of our Association. Of course the volunteers will be always supported by operators, who will guide them. The main activity will be the support to our children; many children are too little to go to school and they stay at home. The volunteers can use all their energy, creativity and imagination to involve the children in recreational activities: games, drawing, songs, theatre, stories and fairy-tales, decoupage or creation of little objects with simple materials. All suggestions and ideas of the volunteers will be considered and discussed with operators. The Association has got other activities in which EVS volunteers can take part in; for example take the older children to school, to sport activities or to medical treatments with our staff. These activities can help the volunteers to approach our children and create a good relationship with them. When the volunteers will be more integrated into the project, if they wish to, they can take part to the meetings with our staff, important moments to communicate, improve and grow as an association. During weekends, Arché organises activities for free time; if the volunteers are interested in, they can participate in them, even if they won't be asked to work on Saturday and Sunday. In accordance with the interests and abilities of the volunteers, occasionally they can take part in other activities with our operators, like information and sensibilization programs that we organise in local schools, distribution of informative materials and organisation of events and activities to educate the local citizenship to social commitment.
We ask our volunteers to cooperate in cleaning activities, in the preparation of meals together with mothers and operators.
The service won't be more than 5 days and 35 hours a week. The volunteers will work into two shifts: from 8.00 a.m. To 3.00 pm. And from 3.00 p.m. To 10.00 p.m., when children generally go to bed. The shifts will be decided together weekly. Generally Saturday and Sunday are free, with some exceptions that will be communicated in advance. In this case, the volunteers the two free days will be substituted with other two days during the week. Each month of service the volunteers will gain two days of holidays to spend in agreement with the operators.
No volunteers will be discriminated during our selections; we are ready to accept volunteers coming from each country, culture, background and tradition. We are open to cooperate with all sending organisations.
The most important element for us is the enthousiasm, the wish to put themselves in question and to learn. Because of the type of project we propose, it is very important that the volunteers are open and flexible people. Arché volunteers must have a great wish to know the others taking the necessary time and without forcing the situations. Patience and transparency of moods are important keys to help hosts and operators in knowing and supporting the volunteers. The young people will mainly work with children, so we strongly hope to reaceive applications from people who love children and are able to approach them easily.


The building is not suitable to host volunteers with mobility problems because of several stairs. Anyway, we won't refuse applications from volunteers with fewer opportunities. We can accept volunteers facing geographical, economical, social, cultural, educational or familiar obstacles. Our staff is composed by qualified operators (doctors, educators, psychiatrists, social operators) who are able to support and help volunteers with their experience and humanity. We will consider the specific needs and the type of disadvantage of possible volunteers, so to be able to plan a proper support.


The project hasn't got any risks for the volunteers. They'll be always supported by an operator who will guide them with our hosts and in our activities. For sure the encounter with sick people is not always easy but we think that a good cooperation between the volunteers and our staff will facilitate it. We believe that a good communication is the most important key to prevent crises; sincerity, openess and transparency will be very important for a good project. If the volunteers have got a problem or are living a difficult situation, we think that speaking immediately about it with us could be the first step to solve it. It is not good to keep doubts or fears inside; the comparison with other people is useful to know and understand ourselves and the better way to act. The volunteers must be able to create their own space inside the House but also outside, so to have free time and the possibility to relax. It is important to have self-control and to learn to play down the situations with a smile: the children feel and absorb our moods. Sensibility is essential in our project but also irony and positive energy.