APS Cambalache

Cambalache is a social promotion association engaged in the hosting and assistance of asylum seekers and refugees. Established during 2011, the association activated its first hosting project the same year, during the Emergency North Africa. The current projects are part of Mare Nostrum and Triton Emergency and Italian Ministry of Interior’s Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (SPRAR). Cambalache also implements awareness activities and integration projects funded by national foundations and donors. As stated in the Article 3 of the Statute, the Association's primary purpose is to promote: the social integration of vulnerable groups; civic engagement; sustainable development, with particular attention to the protection of the environment and the conservation of the territory and its traditions; public health; the protection and promotion of the rights of marginal social groups and the population throughout. The Association reserves the right to focus its intervention in all fields in which can occur cultural experiences, recreational and direct training to members and third parties, and declares that civil battles against all forms of ignorance, intolerance, violence on people and the environment, censorship, injustice, discrimination, racism, marginalization, forced solitude, are potential areas of intervention of the Association. Cambalache assists the beneficiaries in all phases relating to the procedures for asylum request by offering language, cultural and health assistance. In order to ensure a conscious orientation to the local services, Cambalache organizes courses for its guests on various topics: job orientation, civic education, intensive courses of Italian. The association has activated in 2015 "Bee my job" a project of training and employment through social beekeeping. As to sensitize citizens on the issue of asylum seekers, Cambalache has created a blog titled "In the Same Boat" which covers different issues, such as: information on the host project; information on the guests countries of origin; tales about the reasons that led our guests to leave their countries and the experiences during the "journey"; information on events organized by the Association. Cambalache, as adherent to the Italian Network of Popular Culture, is responsible in the Province of Alessandria of the "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" project, which began in 2013. The project promotes the encounter and understanding between people from different countries who live on the same territory. The project has the patronage of the Minister for International Cooperation and Integration. Finally, Cambalache realizes ad hoc activities on immigration for children and youth. Cambalache operators, working every day with people living situations of fragility and cultural distance, are engaged in a continuing professional education. More info: www.cambalache.it www.beemyjob.it