Who I Am and My Encounter with ASCS

My name is Silvia; I’m 28 years old and was born and raised in the province of Varese. I’m a social worker with training in international cooperation. I love the mountains and am always seeking a balance between my desire to get involved in my local community and my curiosity to learn about frontier contexts .

A friend brought me to ASCS many years ago to take part in the training program for international volunteers. Throughout my time at ASCS, I immediately found a welcoming home and wonderful companions with whom to reflect, share, and plan.

I left in January and spent about six months between the Scalabrinian mission in La Paz, Bolivia, and the one in Santiago, Chile. The experience allowed me to immerse myself in two very different worlds, to learn about the reality of migration in both a country of origin and a destination country—contexts where multiple identities intertwine and many inequalities arise.

Volunteering in Bolivia: Listening and Community in La Paz

In Bolivia, I was welcomed by a small Scalabrinian parish on the northern outskirts of the capital , and I participated in the daily life of the community, especially in the activities of the youth group: an experience of observing and listening to a distant context, which challenged me and brought me many meaningful encounters.

I then had the opportunity to meet some migrants who chose to settle in La Paz and, thanks in part to the mission’s support, were able to start their own small businesses.

My service in Chile: legal support, training, and reception

In Chile, most of my service took place atINCAMI, the Chilean Catholic Institute for Migration, which offers free legal assistance and support in completing the paperwork to obtain residence permits in the country.

INCAMI is a place that welcomes people with diverse life experiences and listens to the frustrations that characterize the immigration regularization process for many people who wish to settle in Chile. At INCAMI, everyone can find support from a professional and compassionate team, along with a cup of hot coffee on cold mornings while waiting for their turn.

I then had the opportunity to work with CIAMI, the Integrated Center for Migrant Services, which offers training courses—primarily focused on entrepreneurship—attended mainly by migrant women: It was a valuable opportunity to try to understand what it means to be a migrant woman in Chile, often bearing the heavy burden of caregiving on her shoulders.

I was able to experience the vibrant and joyful atmosphere of the Italian and Latin American parish, a focal point for so many immigrant communities living in this large metropolis.

Finally, my experience was enriched by the opportunity to spend time at the Scalabrini Foundation’s residence: I shared meals and moments of daily life with the staff and the families temporarily housed there. In the spontaneity with which moments of play or evening reading sessions arose, and in the opportunities to listen to the families, I found the beauty of this shared experience.

The Faces and Beauty of the Scalabrinian Network

I am grateful to have had this experience for many reasons. The mission allowed me to get to know a vast network of organizations that work every day with people on the move, and within which I, too, as a volunteer, felt welcomed and supported.

I cherish the memory of faces and little moments when, even though I was alone and thousands of kilometers away from Italy, I felt a little bit at home: sharing a risotto we cooked together, being invited to try every traditional dish imaginable, and the person who guided me through the cable cars in La Paz and took me to see the folk dances.

I’m coming home with a fresh look

I return home a little changed, with a new baggage that I’m still not sure what it contains. I return with a gaze that has stretched a little further, toward another side of the world , toward the faces, the stories, the struggles of the people who pass through it.