In november 18 new volunteers, coming from all around Europe, arrived in Palermo, with the aim to offer for 9 months their contribution and time to different organizations, all united under the same mission: promote the integration of the immigrants in Palermo and bring out the values of democracy and mutual respect.
This is a EVS – European Volunteer Service project, which involves partner organizations and volunteers coming from France, Spain, Austria, England, Estonia and Hungary.
The project UBUNTU III, this is its name, plans the coming of 36 volunteers in all, 18 during the first round and 18 more during the second. The first group arrived in February and left on the first days of October, handing on the baton to the second group: the volunteers shared their experience with the new arrived, who now have the responsibility to carry out the local activities of the first group, obviously bringing their personal contribution.
It was a chance to give the new volunteers the key to understand Palermo and its processes and other many important suggestions, as well as to allow the project Ubuntu III to continue giving sustainability to the activities carried out by youngsters.
The local organizations – partners of CESIE’s network – within whom volunteers will carry out their activities are: Ubuntu, Santa Chiara, Giardino di Madre Teresa, Centro Astalli, Centro Agape, Libera, Casa di Tutte le Genti, Molti Volti Capovolti. Ubuntu III is burdened with a great significance, since it aims to strengthen the local network and direct all the associations towards the same direction.
In fact Ubuntu III means to provide a chance for European volunteers to know another country, another culture and another language, taking an active role in the realization of a Volunteering program useful for the social community.
It seems like an amazing opportunity of personal enrichment and mutual growth for the volunteers, the local community and the immigrants many of them will work with.
Their lives will change as it already happened to previous projects Ubuntu/Ubuntu III volunteers. Cultural exchange led always to a mutual enrichment with the community and volunteers experienced another lifestyle in Palermo, in many cases, completely different from their own countries. Popular culture, gastronomy, traditional music, daily routine, the shopping at the local markets, colors and people mark these youngsters’ lives and their cohabitation within the local community.
Even those who at first seemed to stare at the surrounding environment with surprise and astonishment, little by little start to get into it, until the moment when they perceive themselves as “palermitani” before their return.
Not to mention those who decide to stay in Palermo!
