ESC Team 2025 with Cascina EUtopia in Italy | Volunteers Share Their Experience!
The ESC Team project “RISE”, financed by the European Solidarity Corps programme and run by Associazione P.E.Co. in cooperation with Associazione Joint in Italy, has come to an end!
The overall objective of the project, in accordance with the priorities set for 2021, was to promote well-being and a healthy lifestyle for the volunteers and local communities. It was an opportunity for participants to reclaim a space to socialise in a healthy and safe manner, while engaging in volunteer activities that promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups, health and wellbeing in communities.
Project activities touched on specific themes, in accordance with the host organisation and the needs of the local community:
- nature and outdoor life
- mental health
- health prevention/health promotion
- conscious nutrition
Let’s see what participants have to say about it!
Ilaria’s Testimonial
My name is Ilaria, I’m an Italian girl. I live in a small village, Terontola, located on the border between Tuscany and Umbria. From 15th July to 12th August, I had the opportunity to take part in a volunteering project organised by the association Joint at a farmhouse in Casaleggio Boiro, in Piedmont. I decided to apply because I felt the need to experience something different from my usual routine, with the idea of challenging myself in a community setting and being close to nature. My expectations were to meet and interact with new people from cultures and backgrounds different from my own, to manage living together with others, and also to learn and improve my English. I can say that my expectations were fulfilled.
During the project, we carried out various activities: caring for common areas and the greenery, engaging in upcycling activities, and creating connections during leisure moments. Working together taught me the importance of communication, listening, and the ability to adapt to everyone’s needs. In short, it was a month that helped me rediscover true simplicity: living at a different, slower pace and being in close contact with nature, sharing conversations under the stars, cooking together, and laughing while working.
This experience left me with feelings of awareness and wonderful memories that I will always carry with me. I recommend everyone to try this kind of experience at least once in their life. For all this and much more.
Maatvil’s Testimonial
Hi my name is Matvii Morozov and I had never participated in a volunteering project before, so I decided to take the plunge and try something new in cascina EUtopia. This decision was motivated by a desire to step out of my comfort zone and gain a fresh experience, which turned out to be far beyond what I initially expected. My expectations were fully met—and even exceeded—in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The project offered mix of hiking, traveling, and working closely with people from completely different backgrounds and cultures.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned was about intercultural communication. Working alongside individuals from diverse cultures helped me develop new perspectives and enhance my ability to connect with others. The activities we undertook were diverse and hands-on. We created paths through forests, cooked meals together, tended to gardens, cleaned green areas, repainted windows, and painted walls. Alongside these tasks, we immersed ourselves in the simple rhythm of countryside life, gaining real-life experience that was both fun and fulfilling.
Overall, I hold a very positive opinion of the project. It was incredibly interesting and enriching, pushing me to grow personally and socially. The blend of physical work, communal living, and cultural exchange created a unique environment of learning and friendship.
I would absolutely recommend this kind of experience to young people. It not only broadens horizons but also encourages personal development and a deeper appreciation for nature and diverse cultures. Getting involved in such a project can be a life-changing opportunity, offering priceless experiences that traditional education and daily life often do not provide, so do not lose opportunity and try to find your volunteering project.
Pietro’s Testimonial
When I first learned about the ESC project, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to combine my personal interests with my willingness to contribute to a meaningful cause. My experience’s been based on volunteer experiences, and I have always been motivated by curiosity toward new cultures and traditions. What inspired me to apply was the chance to work in an international team while also being in close contact with nature. I believed that such an environment would challenge me, encourage me to grow, and allow me to make a tangible impact.Before starting,my expectations regarding teamwork, intercultural exchange, and personal development were to meet new people, to learn from their perspectives, and to improve my ability to adapt to new situations. These expectations were not only met but exceeded. The diversity of the group and the people coming from different backgrounds, origins, and traditions created a unique atmosphere where I was able to learn as much from others as from the work itself. During the project, I acquired several valuable lessons as working outdoor and with other volunteers. That increased two qualities to me in particular: adaptability, and patience. Adaptability grew naturally from collaborating with teammates who approached challenges in different ways and moments to finally, developing the process of listening, exchanging, and finding common ground within a multicultural team. In terms of concrete activities, I was engaged both in practical work in nature and in collaborative tasks that required communication, problem-solving, and creativity. These experiences allowed me to contribute directly while also enhancing my interpersonal skills. Overall, my opinion of the project is highly positive. It has been a truly enriching journey, not only for the skills I have gained but also for the friendships and cultural exchanges that shaped it. I would strongly recommend this experience to other young people. It provides the opportunity to discover ourselves, to discover new realities, and to contribute to a collective goal while building meaningful connections across culture.
Miriam’s Testimonial
Hello everyone, I’m Miriam, I’m 24 years old and I come from Massa, in Tuscany.
The ESC experience at the EUTOPIA farmhouse in Casaleggio Boiro was my first adventure in this field and it exceeded all my expectations. From the very first day, I was struck by how enriching it can be to be part of an intercultural group, both on a personal and a practical-professional level.
At first, I was worried that my level of English might be a barrier. In reality, I immediately felt welcomed and understood, thanks to the staff – always present and attentive to every need – and my fellow participants, with whom I developed a wonderful bond of collaboration, mutual support, and friendship.
During the month we spent together, we engaged in many activities: from caring for the vegetable garden, to upcycling and maintaining common areas, to organising creative workshops and moments of exchange with the local community. We also had the chance to take part in sports activities that made the experience even more dynamic and engaging: an e-bike tour around the Lavagnina lakes, Pilates, and volleyball matches that strengthened our team spirit. These experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, responsibility, sharing skills, and the ability to adapt to constantly new contexts.
What I found most fascinating, however, was living immersed in nature. Away from daily routines and social pressure, I rediscovered the value of the small things: waking up with the sun, getting my hands dirty in the soil while cooking intercultural recipes I had never tried before, observing the surrounding landscape, and letting myself be inspired by the slow and authentic rhythm of life on the farmhouse.
This experience enriched me not only with practical skills but, above all, with personal awareness: the beauty of intercultural collaboration, the value of simplicity, the ability to face everyday challenges calmly, and the courage to step out of my comfort zone.
I believe everyone should allow themselves at least once in their life a similar experience. It challenges you, opens you up to others, and allows you to see the world with new eyes – freer and more aware.
Undine’s Testimonial
I’m Undine, a student from Riga, Latvia.
Although I had done many Erasmus+ projects before this, volunteering at Cascina EUtopia was my first volunteering experience. Compared to Youth Exchanges and Training Courses, it was very free and slow-paced, but still significant and meaningful. In this month I gained not only practical skills, like maintaining a forest trail and making steps in the soil, cooking for 20 people, but also how to live with many people, share and manage common spaces, understand my own boundaries, needs and wants. I loved that we were living in a small village with very little connection to crowded spaces, we got to build connections between the participants, as well as the locals.
As an added bonus, we went on excursions like a bike tour to a magically beautiful lake, visited a honey making facility, took part as staff at a local event, had weekly Italian lessons, did sports together and on our free weekends visited nearby cities. For me, this month felt like a movie, we ate delicious food in a beautiful Italian countryside house, we managed to work but also to rest and take daily siestas, and make connections with people that have made my heart full. It wasn’t only physical work on the property, but also emotional work within the group and myself, and the rewards and lessons learned are priceless.
I believe anyone who wants to extend their view of the world and gain new experiences and meaningful connections with people should try doing volunteering, because it brings people together through fun but still meaningful work and leaves an impact to the place. I wish all the best to Joint, I hope future volunteering participants keep maintaining this space so future projects can experience full blossom in a place so calm, beautiful and freeing.
ESC Teams with the European Solidarity Corps
The special feature of the ESC Teams is its short duration, ranging from 2 weeks to a maximum of 2 months. This aspect makes it accessible also to young people who work or study and cannot dedicate a whole year to travel! Despite the brevity of the projects, ESC Teams offer meaningful and intense life experiences, during which numerous professional skills can be acquired. Moreover, by sharing life and work with a group of people, similar to a community, the participants have the opportunity to create strong bonds even in a short period of time.