We are here

The story of Emanuele, Ester, Giulia, Grazia, and Paolo, five young people from different parts of Italy who had the opportunity to volunteer at the Arsenale della Speranza in São Paulo, Brazil, in August.

We left without knowing what awaited us and with the fear of having to live with the 1,200 men and women who live here every day, each with a different story.
This fear vanished the moment we set foot inside the Arsenale, which immediately made us feel part of this wonderful project.

We felt welcomed by all the people who choose to dedicate their lives to this place every day. Our commitment here isn't made up of grand heroic gestures, but of many small, simple actions like preparing the beds where they will sleep, welcoming them to the library, and personally participating in the activities that involve them.

The Arsenale teaches us that hope is not an abstract concept; sometimes, a simple "bom dia" or a name is enough to make the person in front of you understand that they are not just one of 1,200, but an important part of this great house.

We will start again from the Arsenale della Speranza with the certainty that volunteering doesn't end here; what we are learning will always be with us, because hope, once it starts, never stops.

The Fraternity of Sermig in Brazil
Focus
NP August/September 2025