Il banco degli asini
DON FRANCESCO GIGANTE COMPANY IN ALBEROBELLO (BARI)
ABOUT US
The AAI center
I am seventeen years old and attend the second year of Agriculture school. I really like glasses, as well as brightly colored nail polish. I often run without a specific destination and shout, even though I don't know who I'm addressing. Sometimes I hurt myself or aggress others, and honestly, I don't know why.
I would really like to have "cespe," but no one seems to understand what they are. My favorite word is "ready, ready," and I constantly repeat it, even though I can't explain why. I always carried a rubber mat with me, on which I lay down when I needed to be alone with my thoughts. It was my refuge, my corner of tranquility.
But everything changed over the past year. I was introduced to strange animals with long ears, sweet eyes, and noses that seem like rubber. I started touching them, petting them, hugging them, kissing them. I finally felt capable of expressing my affection in a meaningful way. And since then, the mat has stayed at home.
Now I utter coherent sentences, like "open the gate" or "I want to ride a horse." I met Ginger, a beautiful mare I call Gingerina. I really rode Gingerina and experienced a sense of freedom and self-confidence that I had never felt before.
How do I feel in those moments? It's hard to explain, but I know that I feel a bit better. I live in a different reality when I'm with those wonderful animals.
Thanks to the AAI center, I had the extraordinary opportunity to discover a completely new dimension in my life. The animals I interact with in this context have helped me overcome the challenges I faced and find a sense of comfort and understanding that I had never experienced before. School has become a place where I feel accepted and supported, and I have learned to express myself in ways I never thought possible.
The AAI center is a special environment where I feel free to be who I am, without judgment or prejudice. Thanks to Gingerina and the other animals, I have learned to communicate in new ways and express my affection and gratitude in ways I didn't know were possible.
THE FARM
A place with outdoor and indoor areas
I attend a special center that follows national guidelines on animal-assisted interventions. The center has specially designed facilities to ensure the effectiveness of the interventions, with separate areas for sessions and a covered environment that allows us to work regardless of weather conditions.
Moreover, the center has suitable spaces for the permanent hospitality of the animals, ensuring their comfort and well-being. Thanks to Gingerina and the other animals at the center, I have found a way to express myself, and I feel a bit more comfortable in the world. My story demonstrates how love and connection with animals can bring positive changes to people's lives.
The Basile Caramia - Gigante school has offered me the opportunity to grow and develop in an inclusive and welcoming environment where diversity is celebrated. My experience with the animals at the AAI center has significantly contributed to my well-being and personal growth. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I hope that more and more people can discover how animals can be a valuable ally in the journey of growth and learning.
WHAT WE DO
Bio-psycho-social model
What makes my school special? The "bio-psycho-social model." Here, they recognize that every individual's health or illness is the result of the interaction between various factors of biological, psychological, social, and cultural origin.
The AAI center closely collaborates with specialized multidisciplinary teams that handle the drafting, programming, and planning of projects in Animal Assisted Education and Animal Assisted Activities. It's an environment where animals become a bridge to well-being and personal growth.
Furthermore, I've heard about future Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) programs in collaboration with other schools, day centers for people with disabilities or the elderly, hospitals, and summer camps for children and teenagers. This excites me because it means that more and more people will be able to experience the extraordinary benefits of this form of therapy and personal growth.
My experience in this school is an extraordinary journey, a path of growth and self-discovery that I never imagined possible. The animals have taught me to communicate in new ways, overcome the challenges I've faced, and find a dimension of comfort and understanding that I had never experienced before.
I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this unique experience, and I look forward to seeing how the AAI center will continue to expand and help more people find a sense of well-being and belonging. My story is just one of the many testimonials of how this form of therapy can change people's lives.
HOW WE WORK
Animal-assisted activities
I'm excited to share my experience with Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) at the center run by a team of people with diverse talents. There's an experienced veterinarian in AAI, an animal co-adjuvant, a project manager, and an intervention reference. They all have specific roles and make me feel safe with their extensive knowledge that they share.
This center, for me, is a safe and stimulating environment; they tell me it's because of the multidisciplinary approach, but that's a too complicated word for my taste. What I see is that the veterinarian ensures the well-being of the animals, ensuring they are well-trained and in good health. The animal co-adjuvant facilitates interaction between us users and the animals, promoting communication and mutual comfort. The project manager plans and coordinates activities, setting goals for us and encouraging everyone to achieve them! The intervention reference is the point of contact for me and my family, making sure my individual needs are met, and the experience is positive and meaningful.
My journey in Animal Assisted Education (AAE) has been extraordinary, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this initiative. Animals have become an important part of my life, and activities with them have helped me overcome challenges and grow in ways I never imagined. I am eager to see how this program will develop and expand to involve more people, bringing the extraordinary benefits of animal-assisted interventions to those in need. My story is just one of the many testimonials of how this form of therapy can improve people's lives.
THE EXPERIENCE WE OFFER
Multidisciplinary activities with residential animals
My experience at the center is truly unique and extraordinary. The animals used here belong to the resident species of donkeys and horses. Before being involved in these interventions, each animal was carefully assessed by the Project's Veterinarian. I was told that the behavior of the animals was analyzed to ensure they exhibited sociability, relational skills, and docility.
The animals deemed suitable underwent targeted training, emphasizing pro-social behavior, collaboration with the co-adjuvant, and motivation for the activity. This made them extraordinary partners for the activities with us users.
The activities I engage in at the IAA center make me feel better in many ways. Thanks to the relationship with the animals and other participants, I have developed important connections, and now I feel more confident in socializing. Moreover, the animals uplift my mood and reduce stress, so I can say that I am much better psychologically.
The experts at the center challenge us to solve problems and develop various cognitive skills. I like simple words, so I'll just say that they encourage communication in various forms, especially with the animals, who respond to our moods and actions. I also engage in a lot of movement and take care of the animals.
All of this has contributed to making me a more confident person and improving my ability to communicate with others. I feel grown and am exploring my potential. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I hope more and more people can discover how animals can be formidable allies in the path to well-being and growth. My story is just one of the many testimonials of how this form of therapy can change people's lives.