Uniamoci

Uniamoci is a no profit organization that works in the field of integration and social assistance of adult people with disability fostering their full inclusion in the society. The Association was created in Palermo on 26/03/2008. 
 

Aims:

- empowerment of our users with disability with the development of soft and practical skills
- international cooperation in the field of social inclusion of people with disability
- promotion of European mobility, active citizenship and volunteering
- social awareness about inclusion and environment protection.

The headquarter of our organization is a PROPERTY CONFISCATED TO THE MAFIA received in 2010 on free loan by the Municipality of Palermo; it is in the disadvantaged neighbourhood of Brancaccio: here administrative, educational and youth activities are held daily. 

Beneficiaries:
- 30 young and adult people (aged 18 – 40) with physical, cognitive and/or mental disability
- High school students and youth
- Primary school pupils
Staff:
- 20 professionals among employees (4) and collaborators: Coordinator, Educators, Responsible of communication, personal
assistants, youth workers etc
- support from a scientific Committee made of teachers at the University of Palermo

Volunteers:
Around 30 per year among
- senior volunteers
- people with a social disadvantage
- volunteers of the European Solidarity Corps
- ADULTS SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICES AS ALTERNATIVE MEASURE TO DETENTION.

Activities:
- daily activities addressing people with disability: offer of educational and socialization activities, in a group setting to develop social skills and to improve cognitive and fine-motor skills abilities for young/adult people with disabilities (Creative upcycling and Art, Foreign languages and Culture, Social skills and cognitive training, Environmental activities and horticultural therapy, ICT trainings, expressive therapies)
- Creation of accessible information using the easy to read and to understand language
- implementation of local social projectS fostering community development focusing on volunteering, environment, social inclusion of people with disability, youth, children education.
- international cooperation in the field of social inclusion: creation of opportunities of learning within European projects for young people, people with disability, volunteers and staff/professionals in the social field (youth exchanges, training courses collaborative partnerships and volunteering projects).
- web radio “Senza Barriere”: weekly programmes managed by 3 volunteers with disability: a technician and two speakers (@RadioSenzaBarriere on Facebook)
- organization of training courses about the inclusion of people with disability addressing professionals in different fields (es. Training of the employees at Palermo airport to avoid discrimination of the PRM travellers)
- Raising social awareness about disability and inclusion: implementation of seminars, workshops, events and local projects of inclusive volunteering, creation of resources for educators
- local and transnational student internship opportunities (with students from high schools, VET and University)

Uniamoci is founding member of Federazione Sociale Italiana per le Disabilità, an emerging local reality created by 4 organizations that share the same principles of social inclusion and European Citizenship.

As evidence of the quality of our work, Uniamoci received the European recognition of STAR PROJECT and best practice respectively for a Senior volunteering project and two Erasmus+ Adult education staff mobility projects.
Uniamoci has an active partnership network at European level, made of 50 organizations.