was immersed in the business world and had planned exactly how would the rest of his days to old age. But at age 27 something changed the course of their plans. "I felt a voice inside me telling me that I was doing all around me, but with my own life. Started to rethink my mission in this world and I realized that if I wanted to have a dignified death, then needed to live up to that desire, "says Thomas Olivieri thirteen years later.
He got in touch with John Carr and through him met Diagonal, a civil association founded in 2001, dedicated to providing an opportunity to return to work for people over age 45 who actively seek work.Today, from the old building in downtown that serves as headquarters of this institution, expressing immense happiness that feel to know that 57% of people who pass through here achieves relocate to the labor market.
"I think the more people we can help, we are inwardly rich" confesses with a calm voice in tune with a simple and relaxed attire: white shirt, jeans and beach sandals. Decorate your desktop an image of Jesus, the Buddha statue and a black and white photo of an Eastern guru. All, fellow travelers of his spiritual journey and daily witness the passion that this man puts on helping those who feel marginalized, outside the system.
His start in the social sector was not easy. The first six months he served as a volunteer for this organization and, as not enough money to make ends meet, he sold the car to stay. It was a time of great personal growth, but at a time of great uncertainty and fear, in which he wondered how she would manage now that did not earn a good salary or be encouraged to ask out a girl and have fun to look at collective. To overcome this fear often remember praying and asking God to rid the strength of the material and place your identity in other projects currently do smile.
"We are a society that makes permanent cult of eternal youth, where success is on the beauty, the pretend, in the having and doing. This causes much distress and dependence, and to lose a big gap arises and depression . A person is much more than work, car, school or country. Here we teach the people who participate in our workshops that true happiness does not happen by doing and having, but by being " he says.
Through his own experience, Olivieri has the tools to lead this organization as CEO started as a newspaper of self developed by people in vulnerable social selling it on the street to earn an income.Then eventually noticed that those who approached Diagonal were overqualified for this task. It was a new profile: middle-class, professional and unemployed. Here's called invisible excluded because it is a poverty that the naked eye can not see, nor be seen in their physical appearance, their health or their clothes. However it is a very fragile population that may potentially be in the street.
For the CEO of Diagonal's absurd that 80% of job offers are aimed at people under 45 years. "It makes me ill that exclude and not even give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they are capable of giving. Companies are made by humans and humans are such society, a society that is numb. Sooner or later all we will have more than 45, "he says. It explains that currently, the average man lives 15 or 20 years before the labor market and unfortunately still failed to accompany this development.
"When someone is out of work, the level of impairment is very fast. This vulnerability is very dangerous, especially for men who usually fulfill the role of breadwinner or family protection," he continues. From this fact, the Returning Experts Programme is based on the completion of six group meetings which supports sufferers joblessness.
During the first three workshops, participants dive to his identity in order to discover who you truly are, what motivates them and what they want to do with their lives. The crisis becomes an opportunity to be encouraged to take whatever your passion, but were delayed for various reasons, or perhaps for fear of what people say. In turn, during the last meetings receive technical training where they learn valuable tools, for example, personal marketing skills or tips for assembling a CV from a conscious point of view, capturing everything that previously explored.
"What we want is to open their eyes and realize that the obstacle is not outside, but inside them: getting a job does not depend on the country's situation, his former boss or company, but their own . When they do see that is spectacular, because they realize the power they have to change and become protagonists of the transformation, "says Olivieri. In fact the posters that adorn the classrooms so emphasize with encouraging phrases as saying: Whether you think you can, like you think you can not, you're right.
THERE TEAM
In the eyes of a stranger, the walls of this place are probably the same as any other building.However, for those who know Diagonal in them is hidden a great treasure: the story of thousands of people who found shelter here and containment in one of the most difficult times of their lives. Such is the case of Iris, a woman who at 84 proved that age is no obstacle, but how we face the challenges of the years that we have. Thanks to his energy and positive attitude, the end of the workshop reemployment got a job as a clerk. An admirable example of fullness and vitality who came up near the end of the road, do not give up.
These walls also keep the story of an engineer who, after being fired, he found that at home she felt weird and there was not a place to belong. So he chose to turn the page and embark on a process of reestablishment of self, facing the problems in the relationship with his wife, his children and his friends.
The group plays a key role and creates a climate where empathy springs and openness. "It means I like them when I see a guy who does all armed suit and twins, who for 30 years and suddenly not crying is allowed. Appears an area of great sincerity and overlook questions such as: Why study what I studied and worked many years in something that never liked? "says Olivieri.
What he likes most is the excitement and wonder that makes you people who participate in these meetings. "I love the social because I connected with a strong dimension. I think it is very important to approach it with a spiritual eye, and do not talk about religion, but to understand that we who do not work, but something higher through us generates positive changes in people. should not lose sight of what is important is the cause and we are simply instruments and mediators. When this happens, the quality of what we do is much better, "he explains.
This quality is tangible facts that speak for themselves. In addition to receiving approximately 400 beneficiaries per year, Diagonal created a portal along with the company called todaviaservimos.com Quikr. This site allows users to chat and share experiences related to the job search of over 45 years, regardless of the country in which they reside. Your goal is to reach beyond geographical barriers, to all those who are going through a similar situation as well as their families, friends and the business sector.
In 2012, along with the GCBA and Running Club, the company made the first fundraising marathon in lakes of Palermo, with the slogan Follow the race, which was a success.
Outside Diagonal, in his spare time, Olivieri puts his energy into one of the things that cause you correctly: caring for patients who travel the final leg of their lives. Talk to them, accompanying them with affection and treats them so that when the time comes to leave, in their hearts peaceful. Enjoy this volunteer activity and share these experiences with Clara, his girlfriend, who also is committed to the social world and has experience in palliative care.
Looking ahead to 2013, aims to achieve Diagonal resources to move to a larger site that allows them to increase the number of people they help. The next challenge also replicate its mission in four inland provinces, a way to continue to grow and multiply the valuable contribution that our society provides.
Olivieri contribution to this is the result of the sum of many efforts. For this reason, explains: "It's my job to lead Diagonal, but I do it in conjunction with a lot of people and that put me beyond the best of them for this to work. No human being can only transform anything, we all have to be the change we want to see, "he concludes.
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Olivieri
Profession : technical degree in International Trade and Marketing NGO : Diagonal Website :www.diagonal.org.ar Action Area : training and employment of people over 45 years
STATUS REPORT
- 9.1%
of unemployed turn, 34.9% have a precarious employment, underemployment 11.2% and 44.8% unstable with full employment.
- 45.9%
No input This is the percentage of employees that does not provide social security system.
- $ 3,180
monthly salary is the average monthly earnings.
- 30%
of workers do not have health coverage.
