Between December 2013 and January 2014, CESIE carried out 32 interviews with local employers and volunteers active in the field of childcare and play. Interviews were aimed at finding out what are volunteer training needs in Italian organizations dedicated to children aged 4-16 years old and whether a training course for volunteers playing and working with children is needed or not.
Interviews were carried out in Palermo, with several NGOs, associations and kindergartens.
According to Donatella Natoli, from Biblioteca delle Balate – a public library for children based in the Ballarò neighbourhood -, volunteers play a very important role in sustaining the library’s activities and in creating a joyful and ludic relationship with children. The Library’s volunteers are engaged in promoting literacy, music and education amongst the neighbourhood’s children through innovative and playful methods, stimulating their interest.
Especially in neighbourhoods affected by social and economic difficulties, associations such as “Le Balate” are fundamental for providing activities for children, and in most cases, it is the volunteers that play with them and make them dance, move and smile. For instance, Tiziana and Fabrizio (see photo above – credits to Joana Ferreiro) are two university students working on a part-time basis at the kindergarted “Giardino di Madre Teresa”. They carry out afterschool and recreational activities and are extremely happy about their volunteering experience.
In many cases, we encountered volunteers that were willing to make a working experience out of their love for kids. This was the case of Sara who volunteers at the kindergarten for migrant children “Casa di tutte le genti”. Sara told us she’s been volunteering with children for the past five years and would like to learn how to play with children of different ages. Another volunteer, at the play centre and oratory Santa Chiara, asserted that she’d like to learn how to make children connect amongst themselves.
Almost all employers told us they would like their volunteers to receive training. Amongst those volunteers aiming at working with children, 64% of those interviewed had not received any training in the field of play with children. The most important aspects volunteers should be trained on are: understanding play, health and safety requirements and outdoor play opportunities. Training in this field would definitely contribute to the quality of the centres relying on volunteers and might help volunteers themselves find a job, although labour market perspectives seem very grim.
The VIPER project will now enter its third phase called “Product adaptation”. The Volunteers in Play course, developed by UK’s University of Gloucestershire will be adapted and tested in all participating countries, including Italy. Stay tuned for further highlights!
A big thanks goes to all employees, moms and volunteers interviewed so far: Patrizia, Rosita, Zenaida, Giovanna D., Emanuela, Livia, Lorenzo, Angela, Anna, Caterina Mi., Giovanna, Cristina, Marco C., Simona, Marialuisa, Jane, Balaram, Ganesh, Tiziana, Fabrizio, Kevin, Alessandra, Rosa, Bathie, Sara, Donatella, Libera, Alessia, Marco G., Caterina Ma., Felicia, Sabrina, Alberto e Joana. Thanks also goes to the Ubuntu kindergarten, Centro Astalli and Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci.
For any comments or information requests please write to partnership@cesie.org.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
