Description of organisation

The Social Cooperative was founded in 1999 with the name "Eta Beta" by former employees of ANFFAS (the National Association of the Families with Person with Intellectual and/or Relational Disabilities), having developed skills in the area of disability and parenting, through activities targeted to individuals and their families. In January 2016 it changed its name into "Pratica" social cooperative, following the incorporation of another social cooperative called "Albatros", which has been active in the field of disadvantaged minors.

PRATICA offers services in the social, educational and health care fields, aiming to achieve good quality of life for people with physical, mental or sensory disabilities, individuals in conditions of social discomfort and any other individual who can be recognized by society as marginalized persons. Through the design of educational, social, health and welfare activities in relation to different deficits, PRATICA delivers services to provide quality and to offer social utility. From residential services, to daily activities and holidays, PRATICA tries to connect the person with disability with the environment and the inhabited territory promoting active participation and inclusion. The cooperative PRATICA runs two day centers for people with disabilities, a service for training toward autonomy, an educational home-care service, three residential services, and several other services related to holidays, free-time and leisure.

The ESC volunteers will be mainly involved either in the activities of the day centers "CDD Mantegazza" or “CDD Monviso” for people with disabilities, places that allow people to share their time and to enjoy being together at their own pace.
The activities are oriented to develop, maintain and rehabilitate residual capacities. The CDD delivers activities aimed at strengthening personal autonomy, psycho-motor and expressive activities, socialization and cultural activities, rehabilitation activities and self-sufficiency activities.
Everything is designed to personally activate the clients, in order to get them involved in the social life of the neighbourhood. Each one is followed by operators and has an individualized personal project, which includes different activities identified according to his/her own abilities.

These activities can take place also at the space Pagoda, which is located nearby in Piazza Gramsci, in a place that, symbolically and geographically, is at the crossroads of different cultures, at the border with the Chinese district of Milan. This place, owned by the Municipality and managed by PRATICA, is aimed at providing a social and integration space where different people can meet : persons with disabilities, children and elderly people.
It is managed and utilized in collaboration with other association with a shared and coordinated use. Sometimes joint events are organized in the square outside the building.
Pagoda represents a point of reference for people with disabilities living or visiting the neighborhood. Proposed activities and services are:
- Leisure workshops: expressive, integrated laboratories for children aged 3 to 10 years.
- Library.
- Restroom accessible to people with disabilities.
- Luggage and loads deposit.
- Information desk for space and leisure and vacation without barriers.

Moreover, the clients may attend some of the activities organized in the space of the Villapizzone Training for Autonomy (VTA), organized in network by PRATICA together with Icare Foundation, the association Mondo di Comunità e Famiglia and other realities. It is an innovative day center where clients can follow customized paths and participate in individual or group educational and training projects to develop personal autonomy, social integration, relational capacities and competences .

The activities of CDD Mantegazza are aimed at people with medium-mild disabilities, possessing discrete relational and communication skills, aged between 16 and 35 years. Clients can attend different workshops and training activities and are facilitated in accessing territorial support initiatives (social services, local networks). Currently the VTA can host up to 20 people (number established in accreditation with the Municipality of Milan).

The activities of CDD Monviso are aimed at adults with severe and very serious disabilities aged between 18 and 65 and, under certain conditions, even minors. It provides educational, social-health, assistance and rehabilitative services to its guests on the basis of Individualized Projects that have the objective of developing personal, relational and social autonomy, consolidating the skills acquired and reinforcing skills. The main activities proposed are diversified between educational and rehabilitative activities that focus on achieving / maintaining autonomy, as well as leisure activities and entertainment. It is a semi-residential service accredited for 30 seats.