Behind the frameworks of the last two Artrust’s exhibitions, it is concealed the work of the framers of the Fondazione Diamante. The Foundation is a positive example of social entrepreneurship, working in Ticino since 1979. Let’s find out more!

When was the Foundation established?
It all started in 1979 with the Lispi, a Cantonal law which marked a turning point for Ticino. This law was the result of a broader, European, context: in the same years in Italy, for example, Basaglia had started a debate with the opening to the outside of the psychiatric centers and the consequent social and work integration. In Ticino too these themes were discussed in a context of cooperation between the family and the operators, a cooperation corroborated by strong idealism. These are the years in which we begin to represent in different ways the disability: we talk about diversity and integration. We reflect on the fact that each person has deficits and this condition is natural and should not be demonized. In this atmosphere we came to the abrogation of the Lispi by popular vote and to the birth of our Foundation which already tried to go beyond simple volunteering, opening the first structures of work in 1980-81 with a integrative hint: these small structures were placed in central areas, where there was life and the demand for goods or services. Today we have 12 working structures and 4 residences spread throughout the canton. The largest facilities accommodates around 30-40 people. There are 570 users in charge of the foundation’s structures. They are between 18 to 80 years and beyond. They can stay and work as they want, even after retirement.

How do you become Member of the Foundation?
The people who express an interest in coming to us primarily do an interview. If the parts are okay, the Foundation organizes an internship. At the end, we decide whether to continue the relationship. If the feedback is positive, it follows an employment contract. This generally happens, but it must be said that each person has an individual path of integration depending on the training, on the talent and on the will.

How do you relate with the families of the users?
We promote the maturity of the adult person with disability. In many situations, our users (which are adults) have already behind them a path of independence that continues with us. In other cases, we work with families, which can be an important partner in the promotion of autonomy. Today, however, the representation of the “family” should be expanded. In fact, when we talk about family, the trend is to associate the person with a disability to the role of “child” and the collaboration is intended as a partnership with parents. Now, in our facilities we also have situations where our users are themselves husbands, wives and / or parents. The collaboration takes in this case other forms.

What are the sectors in which the Foundation is active? In what areas of Ticino do you work?
We are placed in all economic sectors, from primary to tertiary: we are engaged in agriculture, poultry farming, viticulture, crafts, carpentry; we have craft activities (pottery, woodworking, weaving, tailoring, …); we work with companies in the secondary (assembly, cabling, shipping, …), to finally arrive at the tertiary with graphic design, web, accounting and catering. We operate all over the Ticino, from Chiasso to Biasca and from Bellinzona to Locarno. We try to be close to where there is a need and for this reason we don’t own the buildings in which we work, as we want to keep the freedom to move where there will be a need in the future.

How do you live this time of economic uncertainty?
Like all companies, we have faced with the ups and downs of the economy. Despite this, we approach with optimism for the present and for the future. We find relatively good results: in some activities we are okay, in other we record decreases lower than the industry trends thanks to the quality of products and services to customers.

What is meant by social entrepreneurship? It is a model that works?
The social entrepreneurship is composed of an economic aspect – which involves the production of goods and provision of services aimed at the sale – and of a social aspect: each one gives as it is able to give and is helped to bring out his talents. Educators are often like talent scouts. Sociability also emerges in the contact with the customer and in the collaboration with other users: this gives a dimension of dignity and exchange: work, contact, normality. We like to think that the customer comes because we work well and not because he makes an act of charity. For us, the disability is not an excuse for bad work: our work is appropriate to the quality standards of the industry.
So yes, I can say that the social entrepreneurship is a model that works, thanks also to the public support.

In the social entrepreneurship to be educators, is it enough to ensure the quality of service?
Within the foundation, we have educators and professionals in proper proportion: interdisciplinary and interprofessionality are principles that we value. The two figures are complementary and allow to ensure the quality of services for both customers and for our users. Inside, however, we encourage the formation: in both technical and social sector. Technical and educational meet and complement each other.

Are users happy?
Annually we conduct a survey of user satisfaction and the response rate is between satisfied and very pleased. These are statistical measurements. I find that the most significant episodes are related to everyday experience. One day, at the end of the workday, the users of our center have met on a bus one person who knew them but had not seen them since for a long time. This person started to talk with them asking what work they were doing. Our users proudly claimed their profession: worker, gardener, artisan. This is professional dignity and human identity. They are people who now have a social dimension.

After work in the foundation, users are able to integrate independently into the world of work?
Currently we have about 80 people placed in public or private companies. The path usually includes a passage in the laboratory, as a place to start. For many of them, the laboratory is a point of arrival but for others it is a starting point: those who have the motivation and ability are supported by us in the search for an external job. After establishing the task and identifying an employer willing to hire a user, we proceed with a trial period, a stage borne by the foundation for a maximum duration of 6 months. If at the end of this period both parties are motivated to continue, then we support, in the long term and for free, the employer and the employee for a gradual more complete integration.

Mauro Marconi, is one of the manager of the Fondazione Diamante. He deals with 3 laboratories located in Mendrisiotto region: La Linea in Riva San Vitale that deals with ceramics, Il Punto which is pursuing a variety of craft activities and, finally, L’Idea, the framing laboratory that collaborates with Artrust. The Fondazione Diamante website is: www.f-diamante.ch