In recent months, ALDA Italia APS has been engaged in two proximity and community-support projects in the city of Vicenza (Italy) for the people who attend the People’s Clinic of the Caracol Olol Jackson Association. Caracol manages a clinic for people in socio-economic and health disadvantage, including destitute foreign citizens, citizens without residence, and individuals living in conditions of labour fragility and social marginalisation in the city of Vicenza.
The first project, RESPIRO – Networks of Empowerment and Health for the Promotion of Inclusion and Operational Responsibility, is carried out in partnership with the Caracol Olol Jackson Association and the Equality Social Cooperative. The initiative is funded by the Welfare Generativo call of the Cariverona Foundation, which has allocated a budget of about €120,000 to the project.
RESPIRO will focus on strengthening the service offered by Caracol through structural interventions and training for volunteer medical staff. In addition, a series of educational and informational workshops will be launched for people at risk of poverty and/or severe material deprivation, addressing important issues such as psychological well-being and personal health. ALDA Italia is responsible for ensuring active community involvement, organising thematic workshops on gender issues and job seeking, and providing administrative and monitoring support for project activities and impacts. Furthermore, ALDA Italia is conducting a needs assessment of the clinic’s users to better adapt project activities to the real needs of the community.
The project launch meeting is scheduled for 10 September 2025, open to all interested parties, associations, cooperatives, and local organisations that provide support and assistance to people in situations of poverty and destitution.
The second project, entitled “Care and Solidarity – Grassroots Perspectives,” is funded by the Waldensian Church’s Eight per Thousand scheme and aims to promote the Community Clinic through social media, alongside a campaign to recruit new volunteers. Another objective of these initiatives is to raise awareness of the Clinic’s activities not only among potential beneficiaries, but among the wider public as well—encouraging new volunteer doctors to join in order to expand services and reduce the waiting lists that have long affected access to care at Caracol.
To this end, ALDA Italia, the project partner together with Caracol, will organise three information events in the Vicenza neighbourhoods of San Lazzaro, San Giuseppe, and Ferrovieri on 16 and 17 September. These events — open to all residents and especially to those without access to the National Health Service (SSN) — will present the project, as well as the activities of the Caracol Association and the Clinic. They will also offer further information on the doctors’ work and on how to become a volunteer.
Follow the ALDA Projects Facebook page and the ALDA in Italy WhatsApp channel for updates on the events mentioned, or write to silvia.pasetto@aldaintranet.org
