symbol are the words "City Angels" and below is the mission of the association, "Solidarity and Security". Training course The Angels are mostly between 18 and 45 years, of all nationalities (there is no upper age limit); 50.8% of them are women, 27% are immigrants. They do not carry any weapon. They wear a red shirt or jacket and the blue beret of the United Nations, to emphasize the fact of being a force for peace. Volunteers have to be well trained, brave and balanced. To become a City Angel a candidate has to undergo a training course lasting two months, for a total of 16 lessons, twice a week. After passing an aptitude test, the candidate has to compile the application for admission, pay an annual insurance fee and handle the following documents: certificate of good health, passport photos, photocopy of identity card. Twelve classes are held in twelve lessons in gym (compulsory attendance). In class, concepts like first aid, alcohol and drug addiction are explained; also, rules of procedure and legal, psychology and communication concepts are taught. In the gym, lessons on teamwork and self-defense techniques are given. The self-defense used by City Angels is called Wilding, has been created by the founder Mario Furlan and is based on psychology and instinct. Those who finish the course may take the final exam: before passing the final exam a candidate is not yet a City Angel, but an "auxiliary", and circulates with a bib instead of the red shirt. In an average of ten aspiring volunteers, three pass an aptitude test, two come to the final exam and one passes it. As the president and founder Mario Furlan says, "we are interested in quality, rather than quantity, of our volunteers." Public initiatives From their birth, City Angels have been organizing public initiatives to promote tolerance, solidarity, anti-racism and brotherhood among people. Among their events, the multi-religious prayer the day before Christmas and Easter in the Milan Central Station in front of the Shoah Memorial: representatives of various religions (priests, imams, rabbis, Protestant pastors, ...) pray together in the middle of the homeless. Another event is the "Angel Day" at the main Milan soup kitchen: a day in which the mayor, together with political leaders and with television, entertainment, sports and culture stars, wear the uniform of the Angels and act as waiters to the homeless. Awards and prizes The