I feel like I'm at home

There is a saying that we really like which says that it takes a village to raise a child; but we are equally convinced that there is a village around every person and if you make them feel good a person, the whole world around him in turn is touched by this good.

We experienced it once again a few days ago by inviting all the families of people with disabilities who come to the Arsenale dell'Armonia every day to experience this house with us. Not everyone was able to come, yet we filled the hall.

Barbara jumps happy because she has received her badge: she is now truly, in all respects, a true volunteer! Why are you comfortable here? Because there is Martina, Tamara, Silvia, Elena, Claudia... it's nice that the kids never give theoretical answers, but talk about concrete people with whom they get along well. Stefano speaks little, but he hugs a lot. Simone eats quickly because he has to run outside immediately to be with the dog: he is a great animal lover and here he learned many jobs, such as watering the plants and filling the water jugs. Manuela has learned to cut the courgettes harvested in the garden to prepare lunch, then she folds clean clothes and empties the dishwasher.

What we do here is not that different from what we can do at home and in fact Daniela wrote it in a note she gave us: «I feel like I'm at home, here we have the possibility to contribute to the house, make coffee, prepare breakfast; there are various activities such as emptying the rubbish bins and putting clean bags."

For Massimo, Sermig «is a place where I feel welcomed, where I feel useful for others». The Hermitage is increasingly becoming a village where each person can bring out the best they have and return home with the belief that it is possible to feel good together even if we are so different.


Maria Claudia Brunello
NP November 2023