The value of conversation

Once a week we go to Casa delle Genti together with our Caritas mentor Margherita. Casa delle Genti, translated as "House of the People", provides accommodation and meals for homeless men for a period of 15 days. During this time, Caritas staff also provides guidance to the guests to work out what options are available according to their needs.

When we go there, we offer our company. The residents are invited to sit with us, play games or talk. Open and informal. Our Italian language skills are only basics, but it's nice to talk in a mix of Italian, English and gestures with people and get in touch with them. For us ESC volunteers, it brings us closer to the people we work for in the kitchen, warehouse and the clothes distribution. The small talks turns the faces into personalities.

With Margherita, the residents can have real conversations in Italian. They can share their thoughts, talk about their worries and tell stories about their lives and families. Even though I understand almost nothing of these talks, I see the value of it in their faces. And I'm beginning to understand the importance of conversation for the quality of life. What it means to be able to share and get rid of what has accumulated inside you. What it means to have someone there to listen to you. It's kind of strange that I'm only realizing it now, during our visits at Casa delle Genti. Because it's no different for me. The value of conversation probably affects us all.

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