Bruna Lamastra and Maria Teresa Norero, Senior students, UPTER, Rome

When they go into pension, many people in Italy take on the role of the grandparents and take care of their grandchildren. The social services do not function all that well here and there is a lack of “Kindergarten”. The family plays generally a very important role in our society and so the grandparents help the working women with their children.

In Italy are many people who do voluntary work in various social areas, for example Bruna works with the “Médecins sans frontières” or one group that helps asylum-seekers, because she speaks many foreign languages. She is also a voluntary worker at FAI, an organisation for the protection of the Italian cultural heritage.

Maria Theresa cooperated with the “Legambiente”, an association for the protection of environment and now with “Italia Nostra” that protects historical monuments and towns. And she also participates in actions of a group called “Women in black” that is engages itself against war and violence.

Many people, especially women, take on responsibilities for which they do not want public acknowledgement.

We have thought, that honorary work means to do some important activity in a function in a voluntary association. Now we understand, that this term means working voluntarily, without payment and without power position.