Concentrated, absorbed, silent, dynamic, face without a smile which however expresses serenity, satisfaction and desire to carry out tasks well, Angela, eighteen years oldmoves easily between the tables of the Kaffedie bar in Barletta.
«She is enrolled in the fifth year of the fashion sector – declares Prof. Antonella Ruggierosupport teacher at Archimede – has followed a differentiated program since the first year, when she was entrusted to me”.
In the fashion sector, where numerous projects are carried out which, in addition to involving manual skills, involve approaches to particular devices and computerized equipment, Angela participates in some activities together with her class, but it is not possible to go further when the teaching approach requires slightly more complex performances : «This is why – explains the teacher – for Angela it was a question of identifying, as in the case of the bar, activities that require simple operations.
Inserting it into a company operating in the fashion sector, due to the services required, would have been more problematic.
Reason why, even if for young people with disabilities who follow a differentiated program the PCTO can be carried out in different ways and not necessarily in the company, I thought that you would do it anyway, but in a bar, in order to be able to obtain, as the experience is demonstrating promising results in order to bring out latent possibilities and skills”.
The alternation project began in the month of March, for only two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, two hours at a time, always with the presence of the teacher, and ended on April 30th.
«Two days for two hours at a time is not much – adds Antonella Ruggiero – but it is enough. The moment she is stimulated and told to do a task, she does it, as she sees herself. We must thank the owner of the bar, Claudio Rutigliano, who, gifted with great sensitivity, accepted the proposal to carry out the project in his business, supporting Angela in her journey.
Gratitude must be expressed to the girls who work there because they follow Angela, talking to her, giving her directions, inviting her to carry out tasks. They explained to her that the first thing she does with herself is to sanitize the tables and chairs, an activity that she also carried out at school in the kitchen laboratory. Then, when the customer arrives, she learned to carry the glass of water on the tray. In short, now Angela carries out a series of operations independently, such as clearing the table and cleaning the table and other things that take place in a bar.”
Then, during the interview, the reporter did not miss the teacher’s face lit up with joy mixed with wonder: “see, how nice – he said with a look towards Angela – now he is at the car, getting ready to make coffee!”. But the conversation continues, it doesn’t stop here in front of this scene full of hope!
«I have followed Angela for five years – continues the teacher – her exit from school is approaching. And I wonder what will become of her next. The hope is that the family will be able to act in continuity with what the school has done and achieve further results towards the autonomy of her and, I would say, of all the children with these and other problems, and in the search for a job.
When I have the chance, I gladly tell this successful story, thanks to the collaboration of the school and the world of work. But much still needs to be done so that more and more entrepreneurs come forward to welcome these girls and boys, to make themselves available to help them grow, with due attention, in the field of work which represents a real lifeline in the medium term. long.
The objective is to make them feel like people, like others, to acquire skills and autonomy for the realization of their life project, as far as possible.
I would not want them to spend the day only in places of entertainment, although important and of great value, but which do not represent the ideal solution, especially for individuals who have hidden abilities that must be stimulated and brought out through day-long work of hospitality and proximity. , of empathy.”
