The recovery of the area of the Military Arsenal in Piazza Borgo Dora by Sermig (see Sermig site) started in 1983 with the assignment in commodatum of a first building in the area. It was a ruin. It has since become a herald of peace: thousands of volunteers have freely offered their professionalism, work and resources to transform the ex-weapons factory into the Arsenal of Peace.The recovery of the first building was followed over the years by five others giving a total restructured surface area of 12,000 sq.m. The last unit is currently being restructured (900 sq.m.).
In the Arsenal of Peace there has been parallel development of the spiritual dimension of silence and prayer, the sanitation service and hospitality for the less fortunate, openness to the world with projects of emergency development and help especially in relation to the Third World, the cultural dimension necessary for the training of the young, achieved through dialogue and comparison between the various components within the social fabric.
The buildings already restructured offer an emergency night service, in both female and male dormitories, an out-patients clinic, a music academy with connecting auditorium, the 'University of Doubt' for the training of the young, the school for artisan restoration workers. Since the Arsenal of Peace has become a point of reference and research for many groups of youngsters (an average of 7000 visits per year), the restructuring underway and that to be carried out in the future are destined above all for them. The restructuring of the building called "Palazzina Aloisio", which was a group of chemical laboratories for the war industry, is intended to create a youth hostel organised and run by Sermig, thereby putting itself forward as a candidate to enter the chain of fully-fledged youth hostels offering all appropriate services.The building will undergo a process of restructuring which involves five floors (800 sq.m./floor), providing 400 beds and a refectory for breakfasts.

The project is currently in the presentation phase. It is intended to include it in an application for regional financing, within the context of the "2006 Olympics" programme of the City of Turin. The work, which will start as soon as the necessary financing is available, will last eighteen months.
The total investment is expected to be around ten billion lire. If the part of the financing established by the programme should be translated into reality it would be the first contribution for restructuring offered by a Public Entity in some twenty years of activity in transforming the Military Arsenal into an Arsenal of Peace by Sermig.
The work will be carried out, as in the previous restructuring, by a leading company with the collaboration of professionals who will offer their services freely.

SANDRO PERTINI" LIKE US CENTRE
Since 1988 it offers nocturnal hospitality to people - Italian or foreign - who have nowhere to spend the night. It is managed exclusively by volunteers who take turns each night, keeping it open three hundred and sixty five days of the year, in its two structures, for men and for women.
"GIOVANNI PAOLO II" OUT-PATIENTS CLINIC
Opened in November 1988, this provides medical care for persons in difficulty, especially immigrants. It handles more than sixteen thousand clinical files. Specialists in various sectors of medicine work there as well as chemists, nurses, as well as reception volunteers and volunteers in distributing medicine and cleaning. A dentist's clinic and a section allowing basic clinical examinations to be carried out have now been present since 1998.
SOUND WORKSHOP
Created in 1994, this seeks to offer youngsters cultural instruments for growth and exploration within a musical environment. A group of young musicians and singers has been formed within it who use their talents above all in the animation of meetings with youngsters. For four years they have organised the "Traces of Music", a gathering of up and coming musical groups.
UNIVERSITY OF DOUBT
The "delle forge" building, which during its productive activity was equipped for the forging of metals, is currently undergoing restructuring, and will become the "University of Doubt": a permanent school, both with courses at the Arsenal of Peace and through a specific internet site, to prepare youngsters for life and to communicate their problems to the world. Male and female experts will act as teachers in various disciplines, living with and for the young and seeking wisdom together with them.
SCHOOL FOR RESTORIATION ARTISANS
Created in 1995 from the collaboration between A.P.R.A. (Art Restorers Piedmont Association) and Sermig, this seeks to transmit to youngsters old trades which are disappearing thereby offering them serious employment opportunities in the art restoration world.

Sermig info
Offices:
Fraternità Sermig
Piazza Borgo Dora 61
10152 Turin
tel. 011.43.68.566
www.sermig.org
e-mail: sermig@sermig.org