ESC Team at Cooperativa One in Italy | Yasya, Youna and Juliette Share Their Experience!

The ESC Team project “Team for Healthy Life 2 – T4HL”, financed by the European Solidarity Corps programme and run by Associazione Joint in cooperation with Cooperativa One 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!

Yaroslava’s Testimonial

I am so passionate about exploring new cultures, meeting like-minded people, learning through hands- on experiences, and contributing to meaningful causes. When I learned about the ESC project “Team for Healthy Life 2”, I was immediately drawn to its focus on promoting sports, a healthy lifestyle, and supporting local communities. It felt like a perfect combo of personal growth and giving back. My love for traveling and connecting with people from different backgrounds inspired me to apply. Before the project, I expected to engage in meaningful activities, learn new skills, and meet interesting people. These expectations were not only met but exceeded! From playing volleyball and painting murals to learning Italian and celebrating Halloween for the first time, every moment was filled with excitement and growth. The diversity of activities and the opportunity to work with organizations helping children and migrants taught me how diverse life can be. I learned many practical skills like harvesting olives, cooking Italian pizza, and even dancing Tarantella. On a deeper level, I gained insights about different cultures and languages, picking up French, Italian slang, and a bit of Portuguese. This experience taught me to express myself more openly and confidently. During the project, I participated in a wide variety of activities: played volleyball, football; painted a mural at a hostel, which was a creative and collaborative effort; harvested olives on a farm and learned more about agricultural practices; attended Italian language classes and cooking workshops; participated in an intercultural event, where we prepared dishes from our home countries; learned traditional dances like Tarantella and some pop dances; assisted organizations that work with children and migrants, contributing to meaningful causes. I can confidently say that this was the best and happiest autumn of my life. The project was well- organized, impactful, and full of diverse experiences. It gave me a sense of freedom, calm happiness, and the opportunity to grow both personally and socially. The people I met were incredible, and the memories we created together will stay with me for a long time. This project was an excellent opportunity for young people to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections while contributing to positive change. It allowed me to experience new cultures, challenge myself, and gain a fresh perspective on life. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure and personal growth.

Youna’s Testimonial

I applied for this volunteer program by chance, never imagining for a second what this experience would bring me. I packed my bags for Crotone, a town that was still unknown to me, and set off on this wonderful adventure. I had a few preconceptions about southern Italy, most of which turned out to be wrong. I discovered a small Italian town full of history and incredible legends, full of traditions and whose inhabitants are much more open-minded than you might think. I also discovered just how much solidarity there is towards the most disadvantaged. Thanks to all the activities we did with various associations, we got to know the culture and the people. We also had this wonderful experience as a group. Obviously, it wasn’t easy every day to live with 17 people for two months 24 hours a day together, but the friendships we made will last forever. We cried, we laughed, we felt so many emotions together. This experience will always remain unique and unforgettable for me and has helped me a lot to find meaning in my life in general, and more specifically in my future career. I think we were very lucky to experience it in a healthy environment, where the host association really took care of us, and was always there for all our needs. I would really recommend this kind of experience to anyone who wants to travel and discover new cultures. You only come out of it stronger and with memories to last a lifetime. Moreover, international volunteering as a young person is a life-changing journey. It opens your heart to the beauty of diversity, as you connect deeply with people from cultures vastly different from your own. Sharing stories, laughter, and struggles creates bonds that transcend language and borders. You gain a fresh perspective on the world, realizing how interconnected we truly are. It’s humbling to witness resilience in others and empowering to contribute to their dreams. These moments ignite personal growth, nurturing empathy, adaptability, and confidence. More than just helping, you build bridges of understanding and carry these priceless lessons with you forever.

Juliette’s Testimonial

I applied for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) project in Crotone because I felt the need to leave, travel, meet new people, and feel useful. I wasn’t expecting much—just a change of environment—but what I experienced was truly incredible. The biggest highlight of this experience for me was how it helped me become more comfortable in social situations. As a very shy person, I was initially afraid I wouldn’t be able to connect with others, but the opposite happened. Living in a community was a new and intimidating experience for me, but now, I already miss it. I know I’ve made friendships for life, and I’m really proud of myself for that. Throughout my time in Crotone, I had the chance to practice my passion for photography as part of the communication team, providing photos of activities for the project’s social media. This allowed me to combine my personal interests with the activities we were doing. We also worked in the fields, played volleyball, participated in dance and theatre workshops, we engaged in social activities with migrants, and we served food in a camper van for those in need. We also did yoga, journalism, judo, cocktail preparation, and comics workshops. The social activities were both enriching and sometimes emotionally challenging, but the sense of being useful made the experience deeply rewarding. The best part of the experience, for me, was the intercultural exchange. I loved meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds, which deepened my understanding of the world. Group life was fantastic—it encouraged teamwork, built strong friendships, and gave me a sense of belonging. The location was also charming, an old palazzo in the heart of the city, and I feel fortunate to have lived there for two months. I highly recommend the European Solidarity Corps to anyone looking to experience a new way of living. It opens your mind, helps you learn more about yourself and others, and provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a community. This experience was truly life-changing, and I will cherish it forever.

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, Group ESCs 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, lɜ participants have the opportunity to create strong bonds even in a short period of time.

Discover our ESC projects!

subscribe to our

NEWSLETTER

DON'T MISS ANY OPPORTUNITY