MODENA VIA CANALETTO
A stands for Arabic and F of friendliness
They pass on their precious papers, wrapped in envelopes or cardboard boxes, to trustworthy people who are no longer distant strangers as they speak their language. At the Via Canaletto Post Office in Modena, the A button stands for Arabic and redirects clients to the counters where Houssam, Palma and Amaranta work. They are just three of the sixteen Post Office workers who have been selected to ease communication with foreigners and overcome linguistic barriers in those sectors where Italian bureaucracy requires diligence and precision.
Behind the Modena Train Station, on the other side of the tracks, there is a vibrant melting pot with communities from Ghana and various Arab countries. As Paola Camellini, the manager of this branch, established 50 years ago, describes, it has now become a point of reference and is an example of urban regeneration: “It is no coincidence that our multi-ethnic project was established here. Not far from here, there is also a refugee accommodation structure and for many this place represents a clean slate to start over. Every day, we support our clients with registrations for permanent residency permits, requests for prepaid cards, unemployment records, and money transfers. Our talented young employees who speak Arabic, English and French are capable of gaining our customers’ trust, and have been with us since the launch of the Sportello Amico. I still remember the time when a Libyan migrant rescued by the ‘Mare Nostrum’ mission came here holding a yellow dress, typical of his country, to donate it as a sign of gratitude to one of our employees who had helped him get together his first paperwork to open a savings account.”
Joseph also confirms the practicality of multilingual services: “I live just above this office. Here I can send money to my family in Africa, where I have two children.” It is his turn next and he goes to Amaranta, with whom he can speak English. Meanwhile, the revolving doors bring in three young Bangladeshis who have been in Italy only a month. Sahid, who is the least shy, takes a selfie in the waiting room and shares it with his friends across the world to show his new life in Italy: “I have no brothers or relatives; I came here because people told me that we can find happiness in this country. This is the first time I have spoken to anyone today, since it’s difficult to find people who speak English.” The other two observe without understanding much, occasionally smiling and hiding their fear of having to read, write and sign mysterious documents. Palma reassures them from the other side of the glass, “No problem. We will take care of them.”
