Volunteer embrace: the end of the biases

Isabella Peru – the Vatican city

There is a thin line that separates existence and is able to do it and the ability to do it. A thin line defined with three messages only: BDad that transforms the ability to disability. The jubilee of persons with disabilities, scheduled for April 28 and 29, has a very special task: converting this line from separation into a line of union, communication and integration.

In short – to use a very popular term by Pope Francis – helps create bonds between those who live a life called “natural” and who, on the contrary, should face a challenge every day, with the surrounding reality.

Control biases

Because, despite the great progress made, the disability world remains crushing due to the biases and taboos. “Before the architectural barriers, the mental barriers should be destroyed,” says Bianca Maria Mawlly.

In 71, he volunteered in Rome in Bethani’s house, The structure of husbands founded in 1993 to host women, youth and children who suffer from difficulties and those over the years, with cooperative WelcomingOpening three homes for minors with disabilities, even dangerous.

Poourism and understanding

To the Vatican media, Bianca Maria tells the experience of her youth between Scouts And the continuous solidarity approach, which then poured naturally towards volunteering. “In 2018 I retired – an account – then I decided to devote myself to the attention of the disabled. I met some of them among my three children’s friends and they were all great meetings.

“That is why I wanted to better understand their difficulties, because disability changes life.” The volunteer does not hide the initial obstacles: “After many years in the world of work, I thought she had the necessary experience, which knows everything. Instead, it was not prepared. For example: I am a mysterious person, I speak high, throw hugs … but this position sometimes scares the disabled people who helped them.

“I understood the importance of humility, to put themselves in the place of the other, to learn about the way he felt,” he added. The greatest lesson you received is exactly this: You are always learning from the other. ”

Volunteering is the affection that remains

For seven years, Moioli attends persons with cognitive disabilities, trying to enhance socialization. The accumulated memories from 2018 to today are many. Pianica Maria mentioned one in particular:

“I recently met two young men that I took care of Bethani house They are now guests of RSA, where they are transported when they are 21 years old. They have seen and got to know me. Remember me. This made me realize that volunteering is not just a service that it provides, but also and above all the love, the affection that remains. ”

After that, the volunteer rises in a tone when talking about the complexity on which integration and integration are based:

“There are still a lot of biases about disabled people – that confirm – it seems that the language only has improved, to the point that there is no longer talking about the disabled today. There is some hope among young people, who are more sensitive and more attention to this issue. But she is still very small. ”

Not “ignoring culture”

What seems to prevail, Pianica Maria continues, is that the “culture of disposal” of those who are not effective and producers. The volunteer concluded that the culture that Bob Francis has exhausted several times: “It was noon I heard a lot”, with the veil of sadness in his voice: “He disrupted a lot of wrong situations, and put the center of interest to the weak and the marginalized.

Luka Baglevo, 27, a volunteer Bethani house Jorge Mario Bergelio, Jorge Mario Bergolio was also speaking: «The night of December 24 – we continue on TV on TV, the opening of the Holy Gate of Passilica San Pedro. We were with young people to help every day. When they saw the Pope, they chanted: “It is on a wheelchair like us!” That night – Luka continues – I learned the importance of identifying fragility, because it is part of our experience. ”

Emiliano story

The phone conversation was boycotted with a voice: «Hello! He says, “My name is Emiliano” before leaving. It is Luca, then, who becomes the “speaker” on the 21st date of this year, suffers from Spina Bayfa and moderate knowledge delay. It has come Bethani house When I had a little more than a year, and over time, he achieved many goals.

“Today you can do what your colleagues are doing in the classroom, although it is clear that it is more limited. It was also important to cut the path of a long acceptance: Initially, for example, he refused his body, he did not want to take care of it. Now, however, it has become independent of personal hygiene and this is an achievement that is proud of it. ”

He thinks

“Creativity” is a term that Luca uses often during the interview: It is an essential tool for overcoming the underestimation and deformities that are endless and that the life of the disabled person suffers. “Once we take some children from home to dinner at a restaurant,” he says.

“Among them there was a young woman who had serious difficulties in swallowing. We have solved the problem that we ask for a chef mixing all dishes. ” In fact, a simple and creative solution, which allowed everyone to be together, in the company.

Disability in the eye of looking

“The World of Disability – confirms Baglivo – encourages many questions, because diversity is great Teacher In life. The main question refers to the future: once outside Bethani houseDisabled faces only two possibilities: either accepting RSA or entering a completely independent life, a goal that is especially difficult to achieve.

“Luka lacks the facilities capable of receiving those who are in the middle of the road, that is, half of the reformer,” says Luka. After that, it makes the last note, and most importantly: «the deficit in the eye of the person who looks. The disabled are not “super heroes”, but they need to feel “looking”, and take into account, equal to all. “