“Dfter the maturity I had enrolled in Foreign Languages. At the end of my bachelor’s degree, however, I realized that it was not enough for me to deal with other cultures by reading books. I wanted to help out. A summer camp in Albania with children prompted me to choose Cooperation at the master’s degree. I’m done, and now here I am ». Nicholas Moretti, 27, is doing the Civil Service a Suraya Housea Milanese reception center for families seeking asylum managed by the Farsi Vicino cooperative with the support of Caritas Ambrosiana. We meet him in the garden, outside this large green house where mothers with long colorful dresses and children finally walk peacefully. Together with Nicholas there is Sara Peroni, the coordinator of Casa Suraya, also a past in the Civil Service, a coherent lifestyle choice.
A Caritas Senigallia worker at work during the recent flood in the Marche.
The Civil Service, established in 2001 with law 64 (but it was admitted in 1972 for those who made conscientious objection to military service), since 2017 it has become “Universal”. In little more than 20 years ago, 510 thousand young people took part, compared to 1.6 million applications. Guys like it, even if not everyone knows it and not everyone gets in. Over the years, funding has changed, and efforts have been made to adapt to the times. 2022 has many new features: “Thanks also to the funding of the PNRR – 650 million euros overall for the three cycles 2021-23 – in January the Department for Youth Policies and the Universal Civil Service published a call for tenders for over 64,000 operator positions volunteers, the highest number ever reached in the history of the Service ” explains Laura Massoli, coordinator of the Universal Civil Service Office at the Department. “Some experiments have also been consolidated, such as that of the digital Civil Service – also financed by the PNRR – which plans to activate about 9,700 volunteer operators with the task of training about 1 million citizens, and guaranteeing everyone the same literacy opportunities digital. An initial experimentation on the Environmental Service was also launched ». The goal is to maintain the identity of its origins, enriching it. In fact, Massoli adds: “While remaining within the framework of the founding values, such as education for peace and citizenship, it was intended to support them with innovative areas linked to the digital and ecological transition, as new possibilities for civic and professional growth”.
Civil Service: 120 thousand applications for 64 thousand places
A year of very positive development, therefore, in terms of numbers and contents. But will the funds and innovations of the PNRR be enough to meet the needs? Maurizio Ambrosini, Professor of Sociology of Migration Processes at the University of Milan, has just published with Anna Cossetta The new civil service. The best of youth in action (il Mulino), which traces its history and the objective of “pushing young people towards experiences of active commitment to society”. A service, in fact. He explains how it works: «Those who do Civil Service – young people between 18 and 28, including foreigners – undertake 25 hours a week, for a year, in exchange for 430 euros a month. It is not voluntary but not a real job “. According to the 2021 data provided by the Department, 63 per cent of those participating are girls, and 24 per cent of the total are graduates. They are welcomed by about 400 third sector and local authorities. «At the last call there were 120 thousand applications for 64 thousand places»Says Diego Cipriani, head of the Civil Service in Italian Caritas. “The posts depend on funding, but at least 100 thousand a year would be needed”: Laura Milani, president of Cnesc (National Conference of Civil Service Bodies), above all asks for a stabilization of funds, “in order to allow long-term projects” . CNESC has just launched an appeal to political forces during the National Civil Service Festival: “In addition to the certainty of the funds and an increase, we ask to underline the value dimension, aimed at the non-violent defense of the country”.
In a camp for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, the children entertain and try to cheer up the little ones.
An agreement for Milan Cortina 2026
Meanwhile, several reform proposals lie in Parliament. “They start from the assumption that young people are individualists and do not know the discipline” explains Ambrosini. «All of them ask for compulsoriness. Those of the Right, inspired by the National Alpine Association, provide for a compulsory service of 6 months either in defense or civil protection. A certain nostalgia for barracks emerges when we talk about “sharing dormitories, bread, hard work in order to fill an evident educational gap”. Even the proposal of the former Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti envisages an obligation of six months, which can be divided, but she mentions the Third sector among the entities involved ”.
Poor young people, always pulled by the jacket (or uniform). In reality, those who want to do the Civil Service are really, as Ambrosini writes, the best youth in action. Sara says: «For me the Civil Service was a point of arrival after many experiences of volunteering. I found what I was looking for, attention to the other. Which then became a job ». Assistance is the sector in which more young people are involved: 47 percent (half are in the South)according to Department data. The rest is divided between education, 31 percent, and artistic heritage, 13. Only the crumbs remain for the environment and civil protection, where we find 4.8 and 2.5 percent respectively. “There were extraordinary tenders after the earthquake in Abruzzo in 2009 or the one in Central Italy in 2017” replies Ambrosini. «Last spring Piedmont launched a regional Civil Service to combat educational poverty and help minors at risk. Furthermore, as already done for the Expo, the operators will be employed for the Milan Cortina Olympics in 2026“.
There remains the perplexity about the lack of participation in defense of the territory: “There is a lot of demand, much more could be done” he says Licio Palazzini, president of Arci-Servizio Civile. «Legambiente manages some parks where it uses young operators, the Tuscany section does many educational activities, but if they had the equipment and spaces they could accommodate more children. It is not a question of cleaning the beaches one day, but of proposing a structured activity all year round. We would need more flexibility on the part of the Department: today we cannot change the field, but if I apply for the House of battered women and there is no room, why can’t I ask to lend a hand to the museum heritage of the University of Bologna? Empty seats remain, too bad“. Hopefully the PNRR will give a boost, it would be needed.
A disputed “piece of paper”
One issue under discussion is that of Final “piece of paper”, to be spent on the job market. “The certification of skills is another novelty of 2022” explains Laura Massoli. “This is a further opportunity for young people to receive, as part of the Civil Service path, the recognition – and therefore the certification – of the skills acquired by a recognized subject”. According to Ambrosini, “in the 2001 law, together with the aim of promoting the values of the Constitution, there is also the personal growth of young people. So there is no conflict with the original inspiration if the Civil Service helps to train skills that can be spent, especially for young people who would hardly find a job and who thus can have more chances “.
Laura Milani has a different opinion: «The Civil Service must not respond to occupational purposes, but rather contribute to forming transversal skills which can have an indirect impact: teamwork, problem solving, knowing how to manage conflicts, and the citizenship skills that young people develop ». Before proposing obligations that will never be fulfilled (if you do not even reach 100 thousand places …) or sigh for the lost naja and the disbanded youth, perhaps we could start with a more complete communication, perhaps in schools, even to intercept those recent high school graduates taking a sabbatical, waiting to clarify their ideas. Nicholas is finding his answer to the question of meaning by helping the refugees at Casa Suraya: he lets the children play, follows them in their homework, keeps the adults company, supports the technical team of the reception center. He who knows how many other guys would like to feel useful, and they don’t know how.
Civil Service: “In Kenya I play abused children”
The testimony of Elena Pirola, who has been in Mombasa with Caritas Ambrosiana since June
«In January 2020 I left to do the Civil Service in Haiti. After a month and a half they rushed us back: the pandemic had broken out. Since then I have always thought that I wanted to resume business, and when the Kenyan opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it. I worked in my parish in a project to welcome foreigners, I took care of combining them with the Italian families who would host them. But I needed time for myself to calmly reflect on my future. I really like to get in touch with other cultures, to travel: at 17 I had been in Kenya with Intercultura, I had lived in a family. An experience that remained in my heart. With Caritas Ambrosiana I had already done some summer volunteer camps and I was sure that, during the Civil Service in Africa, I would never feel alone. But I also chose it because it helps others with the aim of making them independent, and it is a way that convinces me. The proposal to do entertainment with children thrilled me, so I left in June. In Mombasa there are only two of us, me and my roommate Sara Papasodaro. Our main activity is to work in a Rescue center of Caritas Mombasa, a transit center for abused, mistreated or trafficked children., who have been removed from their families waiting for the court to decide their fate. Every afternoon we organize games, workshops, songs and dances. In the morning we give a hand in the offices of the association. Finally, we support local volunteers in the preparation of summer camps with Italian volunteers. I don’t know what my life will be like when I return to Lecco, my city. I really don’t know. But I have time to clarify my ideas and then choose the right way “
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED