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Italy - RomeOUR FOCUS
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OUR MISSION
THE TEAM
OUR MINISTRY - website
The team in Rome, Italy, is focused on the early stages of ministry development among refugees.
Thousands of people seeking safety and hope find themselves in Rome during their journey. Most of these refugees- coming from Africa, Asia and the Middle East- are trying to transit through Italy and make their way into countries with broader social services. Some of them are successful; most are not and find themselves in Rome to await documentation while dealing with the challenges of being unwelcome “stranieri” in Italy.
Each group of refugees has its own special identity with a variety of strengths and difficulties that shape their experiences along the Refugee Highway. Some groups are very transitory and have many basic needs like food and shelter. Others are much more communal and established; they are trying to work out employment and integration issues. One of our primary tasks is to learn about these unique attributes and discern how International Teams can walk in this journey with them. This shapes and is shaped by the team we build in Rome, the resources available and the involvement of the local church in Italy.
Some attributes are common to every refugee we have met along the highway: the loss of dignity, the loneliness and hardship of leaving home and family in a far away country, fear and uncertainty in their own lives and in the eyes of people they encounter along the way, and an overarching spiritual journey that often parallels the physical. These shared traits help inform the work we do and the direction our team will grow. Learning a name is often more important than handing out a box meal; listening to a story of loss and pain may bring more healing than an aspirin or a bandage applied in a dark parking lot. We expect life-giving activities like these to happen most often in a one-to-one context; therefore we strongly affirm the International Teams core value to “Live for One.”
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
| Team Member | ||
| This highly-relational, low-structure team needs people willing to step into all kinds of situations. The core expectations include: -Participate in Team activities & meetings; -Inviting and building relationships with individual refugees; -Building relationships with the local church; -Networking with others who share a heart to care for refugees (secular and faith-based); -Small group interactions with Italians and refugees; -Participating in a broad volunteer team that includes Italians, immigrants and refugees. Specific roles may include: -Volunteering with local food outreaches; Administrative support for the team/team leaders; -Hospitality; -Mentoring/discipling people in their spiritual journey; -Coordinate/participate in future programs (e.g.: Adopt-a-Refugee, ESL, etc.). |
Long Term | |
