International volunteers from Latvia, Italy, Germany and France have been working for months at the different centers and services offered by Sant Tomàs in the Osona region. The entity's coordinator of European projects, Aina Castañé, points out that despite the fact that language is a barrier at first, people with disabilities highly value this contact.
“Now many users already have knowledge about Italy or Germany, which perhaps due to their condition and situation are destinations where they could not travel. On the other hand, through the volunteers, they make this trip through Europe”, points out Castañé. The Cos Europeu de Solidaritat finances the stay of half a dozen young people who, in many cases, take a gap year before starting their university studies.
For years, Sant Tomàs has led an international volunteer project that encourages mutual learning that enriches the social relationships of people with disabilities, helping their autonomy, self-esteem, critical thinking, confidence and respect. But it also confers a new perspective that breaks barriers and stigmas to volunteers, often young people about to start university studies, who incorporate values such as social inclusion and solidarity.
The coordinator of European projects and solidarity of Santo Tomás, Aina Castañé, highlights that the work carried out by the volunteers helps them to look at "small obstacles or barriers" of which until then perhaps they were not aware. "That they can acquire this awareness is very interesting so that they can later transfer it to their personal life or professional life, and when they return home they can spread these values", underlines the coordinator.
Ricardo Fanelli is a young Italian who, although initially intended to study psychology. As a result of his stay in Santo Tomás, he has decided to change and register to be a social educator. "My stay here has helped me decide," he says. Many of the users with whom he has had contact value his good character and his willingness to work. "I try to enjoy all the time I'm here, get involved, and I think the users like this a lot," he explains. A sports lover, Ricardo has organized the Santo Tomás Special Olympics. Precisely the fact that he was so passionate has made them experience the competition "like the Champions League final", he explains.
Freda is a young volunteer from Germany who also works in the different spaces and services that Santo Tomás offers. This, she explains, has helped her effect "a change in perspective." "You learn a lot when you go to a country you don't know, with people you don't know and who speak a language you don't know," she says. "I am also learning to be very patient, and people here are also very patient with me", she explains about the tasks she carries out with people with intellectual disabilities.
A priori, language can be a barrier to communication between volunteers and users, which makes it take longer to establish links. "However, we always see how they quickly find creative ways to overcome it," explains Aina Castañé. "Mimicry is the most widely used weapon, but there is also the mobile phone translator that helps them a lot." "Going from German, to Spanish and then to Catalan is somewhat complicated," she says. But the people cared for make sure the volunteers learn Catalan, "and many leave understanding it," adds the coordinator.
Learning is also in reverse. Like Josep, Ivan or Gloria, three of the users of Santo Tomás to whom Ricardo has taught his first words in Italian, and who already know how to start a conversation or say goodbye in the language of the Romans. Users also often ask Freda what this or that is called in German, or are interested in how some of the festivals and traditions, both Catalan and Spanish, are lived in Germany.
This year the European Solidarity Corps program has the participation of six volunteers who come from Latvia, Italy, Germany, France and Andalusia and the Valencian Community. Your stay, with accommodation and meals, is financed from November to September by European funds. Sant Tomàs is one of the three Catalan centers that participates in this type of international volunteering.
