FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ZOLLIWAY, OUR DESIRE HAS BEEN TO BE ABLE TO BE OF HELP, THROUGH OUR SERVICES, TO PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN NEED. WITHOUT KNOWING HOW, WE KNEW WE WANTED TO HELP OUR FELLOW MAN. EACH OF US, THROUGH OUR OWN MEANS AND ABILITIES, CAN HELP MAKE OTHERS' LIVES BETTER. WE WANT TO DO THAT, DON'T YOU?

DURING SOME PERSONAL ACTIVITIES, WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH ASYLEE FAMILIES, RESIDING IN MENDRISIOTTO. WE GOT TO DISCOVER THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAD TO FACE IN THEIR HOMETOWN, ABANDONING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS (FOR POLITICAL ISSUES, WAR OR OTHER), THEIR HOMES, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR STATUS AND OF COURSE, THEIR JOBS. IN A SECOND TIME WE WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT INSTEAD, THEY STILL FACE HERE TODAY. THESE HAVE A COMMON DENOMINATOR: UNEMPLOYMENT. WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT, THEIR PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THIS CAUSES THEM A SENSE OF HUMILIATION AND SHAME FOR THEMSELVES. FOR YOUNG ADULTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, UNEMPLOYMENT IS A PERENNIAL OBSTACLE TO INTEGRATION, HAVING ONLY FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE FRIENDS AND PARTICIPATE IN GROUP ACTIVITIES. THEY THUS REMAIN MARGINALIZED FOR YEARS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, FIND THEMSELVES IN DIFFICULTY AND ARE UNABLE, ON THEIR OWN STRENGTH, TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. WHETHER THE DIFFICULTY IS RELATED TO HEALTH, RETRAINING OR OTHER REASONS.

WE WANT TO BE A SUPPORT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT. FIRST BY LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SKILLS AND DESIRE TO WORK. THIS IS WHERE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE CITY OF MENDRISIO AND THE OPEN HAND ASSOCIATION COME IN, WHO, WHERE THEY CAN, REPORT THESE SITUATIONS TO US. FOUNDED IN 1991, THE OPEN HAND ASSOCIATION ENCOMPASSES ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFERED BY THE MENDRISIO EVANGELICAL PEOPLE'S MISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, A NOON SCHOOL CANTEEN FOR CHILDREN IN CHIASSO, A DAYCARE AND AN EXTRA-SCHOOL CENTER IN MENDRISIO, DETOXIFICATION HELP FOR DRUG ADDICTS, SUPPORT AND COUNSELING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A GREAT DEAL OF HELP FOR ASYLUM-SEEKING FAMILIES. BOTH THIS IN A CONCRETE WAY WITH CLOTHING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL AND PERSONAL. WITH MANY OF THESE FAMILIES A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

WE SEEK EMPLOYMENT FOR THESE PEOPLE. WE WANT TO BE TACTFUL IN IDENTIFYING COMPANIES THAT, LIKE US, CARE ABOUT HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AND ARE READY TO GIVE LESS VISIBLE PEOPLE A CHANCE. IN CASE OF PLACEMENT WILL BE BILLED SYMBOLIC CHF 1.00. OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT IS FREE OF CHARGE. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND RAISE AWARENESS AMONG COMPANIES NOT TO CLOSE THEIR EYES TO CURRENT PROBLEMS.