Leonardo Da Vinci

info@xena.it Last update: September 1, 2003

LEONARDO DA VINCI In-Coming Projects (12 or 13 weeks) Since 1995 Xena has been working as a host organisation of "Leonardo da Vinci" mobility projects. In these years we have developed a model of management of incoming projects, it is the result of our experience and of the exchange of good practice with our partners. QUALIFYING ASPECTS OF OUR PROJECT The qualifying aspects of the project consist in the fact that the stages take place by serious institutions, the trainees are few by each stage; in this way they may have a direct relationship with their colleagues and live a real integration in the working life of another country; this is also a useful way to improve their linguistic skills after the 80 hours basic course of Italian (that will be oriented first of all to learn to communicate in the daily life and even to giving a specific terminology of the working sector to the trainees). PARTICIPANTS The project's target are people (aged over 18) whose studies and/or interests relate to the particular sector of the project. Professional experience is not always required, but certain placements will be available only to people with a specific background. The trainees have to be aware that education is something that requires a long preparation and, especially in certain fields, visits or lectures can well integrate, but not substitute the studies necessary to have access to certain working levels. The average number of participants for a group is 10; however special arrangements can be made. LANGUAGE COURSE The course takes place in our offices or in other suitable places in the city area. The co-ordinator of the courses has a degree in humanistic studies and has attended a specific course at university level for teaching the Italian language to foreigners. The 80 hours' main aim is to give tools for the primary communication and the basic terminology of the sector in which the trainees will work. It's usually a basic course, unless the whole group is at an advanced linguistic level; during some periods of the year we can provide various levels the access to which is determined by a test, which all the participants take at the beginning The participants receive a book selected by the teacher. During the lessons, apart from grammar and conversation a lot of authentic material is used (music, video, literature texts). The total length of the course is 80 hours: 4 hours each day from Monday to Friday. A minimum amount of hours is fixed, below which the participants don't get a certification. SOCIAL - CULTURAL ACTIVITIES We usually develop a social-cultural programme throughout the three months of the placement programme. The programme's aim is to show the most important social, cultural, environmental and artistic characteristics of our area. We have a basic programme that is normally complemented by other activities tied to the theme of the project and according to the partner's requests and agreements. It's developed during all the last of the project; the main part concerning the city of Padova usually takes place during the first month. The visits are guided by the tutors or by other competent collaborators from the organisation. One of the main aims of our programme is to offer a different approach to "normal" tourism; we offer the fundamental information about the things the participants need to know, but also the opportunity for integration into the social life and traditions of the places. The tutors give information about the events in the city and organise other social, sport and fun activities for the groups. The participants may get information and help to develop their own personal interests; they may also (given that they are members) take part in the local intercultural initiatives of the association. PRACTICAL PLACEMENT During the placement, the participants will work minimum 20 hours max. 35 hours per week. The employer will decide the exact amount of hours within this range. The trainees don't receive any payment from their employers; sometimes they may receive other kinds of help, but this is not required of the employer. There is continuous communication between Xena, the employers and the trainees; we keep in touch by phone mainly and when necessary by visits to the placements. The participants work with the employer or with a manager. It is very important to get complete information on the skills and aims of the trainees before they arrive in Italy, in order to begin selecting the most appropriate placements; Or even to have information on allergies etc. This is important information both for lodgings and for workplaces. In any case a further assessment is made by the co-ordinator with the participants once they are here. It is important that the trainees remember that not only their vocational skills, but also their linguistic knowledge and fluency can influence their acceptance at a work place and the following insertion in placement. Although previous knowledge of Italian language is not necessary, in some sector it is quite important to guarantee a positive outcome (social services, public administration). The first 4 weeks are normally dedicated to an intensive language course, it is important for the trainees to make a good use of the course in order to learn as much a possible. Before the beginning of the training period the trainees are often requested to visit their future placement with a colleague from our organisation in order to meet the employer. TUTORING There are more levels of tutoring. The participants have frequent contact with a tutor who is normally an Italian young person who knows what sort of problems the youngsters may face living through such an experience. This figure is fundamental in order to offer the contact with the local reality, to help solve everyday problems and to help with orientation of the area, some young people of the place, their way of life and the places where they use to go. In this way they are essential to contribute towards a true intercultural experience and also to improve the linguistic skills. Also, they enable Xena to monitor the needs of the trainees. At another level the tutor is monitored by the person in charge of the project, called the co-ordinator, who remains in continuous contact with the tutor and is ready to help them in more complex situations, apart from projecting/helping to organise the socio-cultural programme and take care of all the other specific questions of the project and training (i.e. contact with the placements and with the international partners). The tutors speak English at least. It's not always possible to guarantee that they speak the language of the trainees and anyway we consider fundamental for their training that the participants try to use Italian as much as they can. ACCOMMODATION It depends on the kind of placement, but usually they are hosted in families or apartments, in single or double rooms. They always have a shower, hot water, a kitchen and cooking facilities; These are at the participants' disposal, of course in co-operation with the other inhabitants of the house and they must take care of them; they must keep the house and its appliances clean. Smoking is normally not allowed in the houses, therefore it's better to indicate this kind of need before coming. This way we can establish if there are any problem living with pets or if one has particular food or other habits. Guests may not be received at all (not even during the day), use of the phone forbidden (even to get calls), it is at the discretion of the landlord/landlady. In sectors such as environment, tourism i.e., often the participants change their lodgement after the language course and they go and live near or by the enterprises for the vocational training period. The participants have to provide themselves with towels, and (where necessary, i.e. in hotels, restaurants, handicraft, restoration etc) suitable working clothes. FOOD Normally the sending organisation provides pocket money to pay food costs directly to the trainees. The trainees can do their own cooking at home and in this way they can save money. The landlords ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO COOK. The trainees must buy everything they need (included things as coffee, oil, detergents etc.). In some cases the people living together find agreements in which the family cooks and the trainee pays the meal, but it's not a requirement. (Different solutions can depend on private agreements in the houses, but these are not guaranteed). In working sectors such as environment, tourism i.e., the participant's will get full board in the firm where they work, in this case they will not get the pocket money to cover food expenses TRANSPORT When necessary to go to school or to work we provide the participants with bus or train tickets. When possible the landlords or we also give a bicycle for the local transport, it is probably the best means of transport in Padova; whoever is provided with a bike is completely responsible of it in case of damage or theft. REFLECTION / FOLLOW UP Apart from the continuous availability and follow up of the tutors, there are important periodical evaluations (average every 2 weeks) and one final evaluation in which the participant must also give a written report. (In some cases another important opportunity for evaluation is during the visit of a person in charge of the sending organisation). There are various techniques of evaluation: discussion, written forms, animated and dynamic evaluations. It's fundamental that the participants come to the meetings that are part of the project. CERTIFICATION At the end of the programme the participants get a certificate concerning all the experience (language course, project). The employers give a certificate concerning the practical training. DOCUMENTS TO SEND BEFORE THE GROUP ARRIVE Participant: C.V., passport picture, information on skills, aims, placement required, allergies, other useful information (see above) Partner: contract DOCUMENTS TO BRING E-128 or E-111: health care card for E.U. citizens Health insurance for non E.U. members. Passport or Identity Card. AND 2 COPIES OF IT (the different pages of the personal document must be copied on the same side of the copy sheet). Pay attention that the document keeps valid for the entire last of the project. THE CITY OF PADUA For getting info on the city you can visit the site of our city council and its links www.padovanet.it http://www.apt.padova.it/ THE REGION: VENETO http://www.regione.veneto.it/ http://turismo.regione.veneto.it/