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August 13 2018

I am Adela and I come from Spain, I am an EVS volunteer in Palermo. I didn't choose this city by chance, I already knew the wonderful chaos of Palermo from before and I already worked with kids in Spain, which is why I'm here now doing social volunteering.

Here I work at the TAU Center, a youth center located in the particular Zisa neighborhood. This neighborhood may seem dangerous but when you get closer and get to know its people, you forget those stereotypes.

What do I do in the TAU Center?
One of the projects in which I participate is called SottoSopra Palermo, it is an initiative of Save The Children in various Italian cities. The aim is for young people to develop their autonomy by proposing and carrying out projects with a common topic every year. One of these projects is linked to the environment and consists of fixing and cleaning some common and meeting places in the city, helping them regain their social and sharing character. It's nice to see how young people work together to improve their city.

Sotto Sopra Palermo

 

What other projects have I done?
In recent months I started a dance workshop in April with middle school children, one hour a week we were together to learn new concepts about 'break dancing'.
In July there was a theater exhibition that collected all the work we did in the theater workshop, the work talks about exclusion and values, I was one of the characters and it was a wonderful experience.

 

 

Finally I would like to talk about the photographic laboratory, together with two other volunteers, we created a space for some participants of the center to express their ideas through photography, the self-portrait is the way of investigating the relationship between the environment and oneself, to September we will hold an open exhibition with all the works resulting from this workshop.

Photographic laboratory

 

All these experiences have made me better understand the place I live in and I have been able to establish stronger bonds with the participants and volunteers of the center, I hope to continue learning and contributing until the last day.
What do I like most about Palermo? Without a doubt, their fruit and vegetable markets. In the middle of the streets of the historic center you can find many fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Furthermore, you can practice Italian, or rather Sicilian, when you come to buy. I always bring my canvas bags, Palermo is not yet a city that is very committed to the environment but it is possible to buy without plastic and this is wonderful.