Description of organisation

Aims: Libera...mente is a not-for-profit social cooperative, based in Palermo (Sicily - Italy). Its main aim is to promote the wellbeing of its beneficiaries, who are children, unaccompanied minors and people suffering from mental health issues. The cooperative works with and for such users through its 5 centres, which are all based in Palermo:
1) Two kindergartens with circa 30 children each (Asilo Nido Università dei Piccoli, Asilo Fantabosco)
2) Two 2nd reception community centres for unaccompanied minors with circa 14 minors each, who are mainly migrants and refugees (Comunità Stellaria and Comunità Mediterraneo - the latter one based in Partinico, near Palermo)
3) One community centre for adults suffering from mental health issues with circa 10 people (Comunità Azalea).
In all its centres, through its pedagogic, psychologic and educational activities, Libera...mente tries to promote the empowerment of individuals: their skills and inclinations are sought after, valued and enriched. Specific study and work paths are catered for for its unaccompanied minors and the adults with mental health issues.
The cooperative has been established in 2013. It is recognized by public entities, such as the Region of Sicily and the City of Palermo as a not-for-profit organization. It cooperates with several NGOs and schools of Palermo for specific workshops or activities in which many of its users are involved in.

Inclusion topics

This organisation is willing to involve volunteers who face situations which make their participation in activities more difficult, from the following categories for different types of project:

• Cultural differences
• Social obstacles
• Refugees