INFORMATION REGARDING VOLUNTARY WORK
FOR AGED PERSONS
AT THE ASILO VALDESE IN LUSERNA S. G.
TURIN –ITALY-
THE ASILO VALDESE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BELONGING TO THE VALDENSIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, WAS ESTABLISHED MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO TO ASSIST AGED PERSONS.
AT PRESENT IT HAS 8O PLACES FOR NON SELF-SUFFICIENT PERSONS AND 20 PLACES FOR PERSONS WHICH ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
IN THE ASILO THERE IS ALSO ( HAS AVAILABLE) A DAY ROOM AVAILABLE FOR ENCOUNTERS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS OF LUSERNA S.G. AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING VILLAGES.
THE ASILO VALDESE IS STAFFED WITH DOCTORS, NURSES, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, ANIMATORS, AND PERSONAL ASSISTANTS, AS WELL AS KITCHEN, CLEANING, MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL.
MANY LOCAL, AS WELL AS SOME FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE ASILO FOR SIMPLE EVERYDAY SERVICES.
VOLUNTEERS ARE OFFERED A COMFORTABLE ACCOMODATION LOCATED IN THE ASILO. THE FLAT HAS TWO BEDROOMS (ONE SINGLE AND ONE DOUBLE), A BATHROOM, A DINING ROOM WITH A TV AND STEREO. THERE IS ALSO A KITCHEN WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO PREPARE BREAKFAST AND SMALL SNACKS. LUNCH AND DINNER ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ASILO. A WASHING MACHINE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR LAUNDERING PERSONAL CLOTHES WHERE AS THE BED SHEETS ARE WASHED BY THE ASILO INSTITUTE DURING THEIR STAY.
A BICYCLE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE VOLUNTEERS to USE DURING THEIR STAY.
THE ASILO GUARANTEES ROOM AND BOARD (7 DAYS PER WEEK) AS WELL AS LAUNDRY SERVICES AND CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR THE FLAT AS WELL AS PERSONAL. VOLUNTEERS ARE REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN THE FLAT CLEAN AND ORDERLY.
THE ASILO VALDESE IS SITUATED IN THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE OF LUSERNA SAN GIOVANNI, WHICH IS HOME FOR 8,000 INHABITANTS. LUSERNA S.G., IS SITUATED IN NORTHERN ITALY ABOUT 50 KM S.W. OF TURIN (17 KM FROM PINEROLO) IN THE REGION OF PIEDMONT. IT LAYS AT THE FOOT OT THE PELLICE VALLEY, WHICH NEIGHBORS THE FRENCH BORDER. THE ENTIRE VALLEY CONSISTS OF 9 COMUNITIES INCLUDING 25,000 INHABITANTS. THE PELLICE VALLEY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER TWO VALLEYS (VAL GERMANASCA AND VAL CHISONE) ARE KNOWN AS THE "WALDENSIAN" VALLEYS AND SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES THEY HAVE BEEN THE CENTER OF THE WALDENSIAN MOVEMENT WHICH GAVE BIRTH TO THE PROTESTANT RELIGION IN THE ITALIAN PENINSULA.
THIS IMPORTANT FACT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASE TOURISM IN IN THE AREA AS WELL AS EVELOPING A SOCIAL/CULTURAL CONDITION FOR FACILITATING VOLUNTEERS WORK IN THE WALDENSIAN ORGANIZATION. VOLUNTEER SERVICE IS FOR FIVE DAYS PER WEEK (NORMALLY FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY), 7 TO 7-1/2 HOURS PER DAY. DURING THE NORMAL WORKING HOURS THE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE SUPPORTING SERVICE FOR "ANIMATION", "PHYSIOTHERAPY", "DAILY CENTER" OR ACCORDING TO A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITY TO BE DECIDED WITH THE RESPONSIBLE SERVICE STAFF.