ESC Team RISE 2025 in Crotone | Volunteers Share Their Experience!
The ESC Team project “RISE”, 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!
Amelia’s Testimonial
This autumn I had the opportunity to spend two months as a volunteer in Crotone. I had just finished school and wanted to take a gap year to do something meaningful before starting university. Since I hope to study in Italy in the future, this project seemed like the perfect chance to understand Italian culture better, learn the language, and gain experience that would shape me personally. Before leaving, I had a few expectations. I hoped for personal growth, new friendships, and a chance to learn more Italian. I also wanted to spend my time in a valuable way, doing something that would have a real impact on the local community. Looking back now, I can say that all my expectations were not only met, but even exceeded. During the project, I was involved in many different activities. I helped with olive picking, supported immigrants in organizations such as Agora and Sabir, and worked in the camper and mensa by giving food to people in need. I also had the chance to participate in a radio interview, take part in ecological actions aimed at reducing waste in the city, and cooperate with the local Red Cross. Additionally, I helped clean and renovate a church, set up Christmas decorations, and supported everyday tasks in the hostel where we were staying. Every day was different, and each activity taught me something new. Throughout these two months, I learned a lot about Italian culture and improved my language skills. Most importantly, I learned to trust myself more and became more confident in my abilities. My general opinion about the project is extremely positive. The people I met were open-minded, intelligent, and inspiring, and I would definitely love to repeat this experience in the future. I would absolutely recommend this kind of project to young people. It opens your eyes, helps you build unforgettable friendships, and teaches you many valuable lessons that you simply cannot learn in a classroom.
Burcu’s Testimonial
My Name is Burcu, I’m 18 years old and from Germany. I decided to apply for this project shortly after graduating from high school. Before starting to go to university, I wanted to dedicate my time to something meaningful, something that would help me grow both personally and socially. I felt that joining an international volunteer project would give me the chance to step out of my comfort zone, explore a new culture, and contribute to a good cause. That combination of personal development and doing something valuable for others is what motivated me to apply. Before starting, I had some expectations. I hoped to meet new people, learn about a different country, and experience what it means to work in a team. Looking back, these expectations were definitely met and even exceeded. During the project, I learned a lot about myself. I discovered how to work effectively in a team, how to stay calm in difficult situations, and how to overcome obstacles that at first seemed impossible. I also learned many new physical and practical things through some activities I’ve never done before. Additionally, I learned a lot about the Italian culture, the language, and the region of Calabria. Our activities were very diverse. We worked with migrants, organized games and activities for children, distributed food to people in need, supported agricultural work and so much more. We also took part in many workshops such as learning traditional dances, American football, how to do covatelli etc. This variety of activities is something I truly loved about the project. Overall, I think this project is an amazing opportunity for cultural exchange and personal growth. I genuinely enjoyed it, and I would absolutely recommend this experience to other young people. You learn a lot about yourself, get out of your comfort zone, make amazing friends, and grow in ways you never expected.
Clara’s Testimonial
I’m Clara, I’m 25 years old and I come from the south of France, from Toulouse. I was working in flood prevention after getting my master’s degree in geography. After one year, I got bored of working in an office. So I became unemployed for six months, and during that time I found this opportunity for a new adventure. I was looking for an experience abroad, where I could meet new people from different countries. Italy was a country that attracted me. I went to Rome, but I really wanted to know Italy more deeply and experience the way Italians live. I learned a lot about the human side. You learn so much from other people. Every single person has something to teach you, and you just have to grab the opportunity and enjoy the present moment. I learned that you shouldn’t trust appearances, and that you have to give time (sometimes a lot!) to people who need it to be themselves. I was surprised by some people I didn’t expect to be like that at first. I also learned that we can achieve big things if we act as a team, as a community with solidarity. In our case, we saw that we faced and solved all the difficulties together. We did a lot of different tasks during these two months: physical work, like working in the fields, picking olives, playing football and American football. We also cleaned churches and our hostel. Then, we helped many people in need by distributing food. We also met migrants, shared our stories, and did activities together. I feel alive, truly alive. I felt useful, I had deep connections with people, and I lived simply. I loved the location, always with the sun and the beach. It really had a positive impact on my mood. For sure, I would 100% recommend young people to take the step and go for it. I waited 25 years before jumping into this world, and I have no regrets. You just have to be ready and open to living a crazy adventure.
Davide’s Testimonial
Today is the last day of the two months of this project in Crotone, which started on the 9th of October 2025, and as you can imagine it is a very strange day: happiness for having completed all the activities and for having met so many wonderful people mixes with sadness and melancholy at having to say goodbye to those who, for two months, have been your family. Having previously taken part in another project, I already had an idea of what to expect, so in the days before departure I felt very excited and full of energy, but I can assure you that this experience went far beyond my expectations.
Over these two months we worked closely with the most vulnerable groups in the city, getting to know their stories and sharing moments together.
We helped with work in the fields on land confiscated from the mafia, understanding in very concrete terms what organised crime has been — and still is — for this community. We met the younger generations of Crotone, supporting them in their activities, and in return they made us feel a bit like kids again.
All these wonderful activities gave us the opportunity to get to know the society of this city — its challenges and its strengths — and beyond that, to build strong relationships with local people: from our neighbours, to shop owners, to people we simply had the chance to talk to while walking down the street. Another very fascinating aspect of this experience was sharing it with the other volunteers. In our case, we were 19 young people from all over Europe living in the same house, which naturally gave us the chance to discover different cultures and ways of life. We built relationships that will be hard to let fade once everyone returns to their own country.
For all these reasons, I would recommend this experience both for the sharing and cultural exchange with fellow volunteers, and for the awareness and skills you develop throughout the activities of the project.
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, the participants have the opportunity to create strong bonds even in a short period of time.