Come and join our fraternity in Belpasso, Sicily, Itlay

Details

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  Description

  The three windows is a family home, amongs other things.
  We acquired our house and land (around three and a half hectares) about twenty years ago, together with a family from Palermo, having shared a path ispired by the vision of Lanza del Vasto, the founder of the communities, which are based on the principles of non-violence.
  Although a community was not created here, the three windows hosts the Arca fraternity: a group of the people who share the same ideal of non-violence and who meet once a month, over a long weekend, for moments of sharing, hospitality, spirituality, work and celebration.
  The three windows is situated a few Km from the town of Belpasso, on the slopes of Etna.
  The old house is surrounded by vegetation typical to this area such as broom, pine trees and paddle cactus. The land is terrazed with dry stone walls,built using volcanic rock and tipical In the etnean countryside. There is a large olive grove, and parts of the land is dedicated to the aromatic plant garden.
  We have a large chichen coop, and live 2 dogs and a lot of cats.
  Our life is peaceful and simple and influenced by the rhytms of family and work demands. We are willing and happy to welcome those who woud like to share this place, our work, and the activities we partake in at various moments.
  We prefer to host couples, pairs of friends, or a small groups, those who come alone, especially during winter, may feel lonely: we are two kilometres from the town and there is no public transport close by.
  We also have a big room where every now and then we host varioustypes of cultural events, and where we enjoy meeting once a week with neighbouring friends, to share readings and reflections on non-violence, and moment of prayer.
  We are happy to host people who adapt to the rhythms of nature.
  The place where we host the volunteers is an independent building, behind the old wine cellar, with around 4/5 beds, 2 bathrooms and a kitchen.
  We are Tito e Nella, and we live here at the three windows with our daughter Maddalena.
  Our other three children no longer live here, but often come to visit.
  Deina is part of the fraternity: she is 36 and loves coming to the three windows, spending time with the fraternity and helping with our daily work. She has a seven year old son called Nuri. She is a shiatsu practitioner and works in the neighbouring town Misterbianco. Very recently she acquired an olive plantation, which was abandoned for about 5 years,which now requires a lot of work. When she can she comes to the three windows to learn new things related to life in the countryside, working with and transforming aromatic plants ( essential oil, soaps etc.)
  Living close by is also Laura who is part of the fraternity. She taught in a school an has been retired for around ten years. She also has a house with a small piece of cultivated land.
  The other people who are part of the fraternity live in Palermo, and come to visit once a month.
  
  We search our unity of life building personal relationships between all people working on this project, according to the spirit behind non violence (ahimsa), tolerance and dialogue.
  To realize our project we search a common and a community human dimension, through the relationship with the mother earth which accepts us as we are and feeds us and through the connection with the natural world thanks to forms of working such as the garden care rather than a dissipative appropriation, raid and robbery.
  Unity of life through the relation with people who are different from ourselves, with different histories and cultures, or with the excluded ones in society.
  We are in struggle to the integrity of human beings, to the justice and pacification, then we are in struggle against injustices and violence, especially the institutionalized violence such as wars and militarization imposed in our lands starting from the Mediterranean in whose center is found Sicily.
  
  OUR WORK:
  For us the work is a way to support and partecipate in the building of the common good.
  During the year there is always a lot of work to do:
  -working in the herb gardens on the terraces especially weedding
  -harvesting the aromatic plants
  -preparing soaps, herbal tea mixes, essential oils and hydrolates for domestic use
  -harvesting olives(from the end of October to the end of November
  -pruning and weeding around trees (from January to april )
  -cutting back plants with the strimmer
  -Taking care of the animals and their living spaces.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are glad to welcome people from all over the world, who on their own, in couple, with friends or family
  The internships offer the possibility to try our life characterize by:
  - Work: (cuisine, vegetable garden, craft, cleaning and building maintenance).
  - Meeting to share ideas and experiences.
  - Songs and folk dancing.
  - Leisure activities.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Participation in the community life: cuisine, vegetable garden (herbs, olive trees, fruit trees, etc.), craft, cleaning and building maintenance, animal care (geese, ducks, chickens, donkey).

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  Languages spoken

  Italian: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  English: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  According to availability: Studio ensuite plus kitchen, accomodation in caravans or tents.

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  What else ...

  OUR PROJECT:
  - Start-up of a Factory farm (self-consumption and sale): olive tree grove, organic vegetable garden, courtyard animals breeding, production of healing herbs.
  - Sale of traditional Sicilian products, such as fruits, vegetables, olive oil, bread, preserve, etc.
  - Welcoming of schools and groups visiting the place for formation, educational and leisure purposes.
  - Social agriculture: accommodation and social and professional integration of disadvantaged people.
  - Craft activities: , natural soaps,
  - Organize events to promote the Arca values, such as workshops, Yoga meeting, etc.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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