A community of the international L’Arche federation in Ciampino, founded in 1981, where people with and without intellectual disabilities share daily life in family houses.
About Il Chicco
Il Chicco is a non-profit community based in Ciampino, on the outskirts of Rome, and part of L’Arche International, a worldwide federation of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share their lives. For over 40 years Il Chicco has welcomed people with medium to severe intellectual disabilities in three family houses and a day centre. Its aim is not simply to provide assistance, but to build genuine inclusion: the spirit of the community is not to “do for” people with disabilities, but to “be with” and “do with” them.
Life at Il Chicco runs on two levels. In the houses, residents, assistants and volunteers share daily life. In the day centre, activities are shaped around each person’s abilities, with workshops for sensory stimulation, a dedicated space for people with autism, and manual workshops such as ceramics, recycled paper and gardening. The community even has its own band, the Chicco Sband, which has toured across Italy.
What volunteers do
Through the European Solidarity Corps, and with the coordination of Associazione Kora, Il Chicco hosts long-term volunteers who become part of a team of around 40 staff members and other international volunteers. Volunteers:
- help run artistic workshops, sports, gardening and recreational activities;
- take part in the workshops of the day centre;
- live in the community and share breakfast and dinner with residents and assistants;
- and, above all, simply spend time with the residents.
Learning and support
With the support of a mentor, weekly team meetings and monthly training sessions, volunteers learn about disability, teamwork and Italian culture, and document their growth through Youthpass.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
