ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

The mobility project at the Montanari Social Center in Bologna will offer volunteers the opportunity to support a wide range of social, cultural, and recreational activities, contributing to the promotion of intergenerational exchange, active participation, and the fight against marginalization and loneliness. The Center, a key reference point in the Bolognina district, is visited daily by people from different backgrounds and cultures, making it a true place of interaction and integration for the local community and for the city as a whole.

ESC volunteers will be placed in a multicultural and constantly evolving environment, where they will have the opportunity to support processes of integration and social inclusion, particularly for elderly people, first- and second-generation migrants, young people supported by social services, or individuals at risk of marginalization. In this context, volunteers will work alongside the members of the Montanari Center—motivated volunteers who dedicate their time and experience—and will learn working methods based on solidarity, cooperation, and non-formal learning.

The Center’s activities are numerous and organized into several main areas: arts and culture, science and health, education and training, sports, and intercultural exchange. Within these broader areas, daily initiatives are carried out, such as reading groups, talks on current issues, computer courses for seniors, language workshops, cooking and cultural heritage labs, math games, sports activities and outdoor recreation, gymnastics courses, dancing, and memory training. Volunteers will also be able to help organize highly attended annual events such as the Spring Festival, the celebrations of April 25 and May 1, the Christmas Festival, and other community initiatives with schools and local associations.

The activities aim primarily to foster integration, active ageing, cultural enrichment, and the building of connections between people of different ages, backgrounds, and origins. Volunteers will take part in both cultural and recreational initiatives and will have the opportunity to propose new non-formal activities based on their interests and skills, promoting mutual exchange and shared growth.

From a practical perspective, volunteers may support tasks such as:

• Facilitating reading groups and cultural activities;

• Supporting language courses, computer literacy, and other basic skills;

• Participating in thematic workshops (language, cooking, traditions, environment, history, and culture);

• Promoting sports and outdoor recreational activities;

• Collaborating with schools and other local organizations;

• Contributing to the organization of the Center’s celebrations and events.

The experience will be enriched by the continuous support of tutors, mentors, and local volunteers, who will guide ESC volunteers during the first months of adjustment and throughout the entire project. A personalized pathway will be developed according to the volunteer’s expectations and the needs of the Center, outlined in a Learning Agreement and followed through weekly monitoring meetings. The activity schedule will be flexible, adapted to the volunteer’s interests and availability, with an average of 35 hours per week and two consecutive days off.

This experience will allow volunteers to engage in non-formal learning, develop key competences recognized through the Youthpass, and embrace the values of solidarity, tolerance, inclusion, and mutual respect. At the end of the mobility period, volunteers will have gained knowledge and skills that will benefit both their personal growth and their future educational or professional paths.