Every year CASA BIMBO organises training opportunities for future operators. With the help of the local Italian and German Vocational Training Departments of the autonomous province of Bolzano and with the funding of the European Social Fund, a course aimed at all women who intend to start this activity is being organised for the whole province every year.

The operators of CASA BIMBO have all completed a vocational training course whose curriculum includes lessons in early childhood education, pediatrics, nutrition, hygiene, creativity, safety, the  legal framework, cooperation, social marketing, first aid, management and work organisation. Operators also complete training stages where they can gain experience in such a demanding job with a lot of responsibility and get initial feedback. Participants take a final exam and after passing it  will be awarded a diploma which certifies that they are home daycare operators (Italian:“assistenti domiciliare all’infanzia”, German: “Tagesmutter”)

The training course is the condition for being allowed to work with children in one’s home, but it is also necessary for being allowed to acceed to further training which will then provide the qualifications to work in smaller facilities. In the near future the qualification “Tagesmutter” will probably also suffice to work in these smaller units.

Before interested women can become members of CASA BIMBO they have to complete a training period at a Tagesmutter’s or in one of the facilities run by the cooperative. Once they become members and start an activity as home daycare operators or as assistants in one of  our facilities they are required to attend further training of around 60 hours a year. Again this training will be organised by the cooperative and funded by the European Social Fund. These courses deal with questions relating to everyday situations and can help maintain and enhance professional competence and motivation. CASA BIMBO also organises courses in computing and languages to promote the idea of intercultural relationships, which will be necessary skills for the children of this region.

The cooperative also provides supplementary training to the whole work community, coordinators, pedagogues, those running  facilities and administrative staff. This enables the whole team to respond to members and families’needs at its best.