ESC Team RISE with Cooperativa One in Italy | Participants’ Testimonials

The ESC Team “RISE” project, funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme and implemented by Associazione Joint in collaboration with Cooperativa One in Crotone, has come to an end!

We asked the participants to share their experiences.

Anna’s Testimony

My name is Anna and I live in Berlin, Germany. Last year, I graduated from high school. I had wanted to apply for a European Solidarity Corps project earlier, but due to the pressure of my studies, I decided to start a university degree in Economics. After one semester, however, I chose to drop out. I finally decided to do what I had truly wanted all along: go abroad, meet new people from different cultures, and contribute to building a better community.

The activities carried out during this project fully matched my expectations and the motivations that had encouraged me to participate. I gained greater independence, broadened my perspective on different aspects of life, and discovered a whole world of opportunities ahead of me.

Distributing food to people in need was one of the activities I enjoyed the most because I could clearly feel that what I was doing was useful and genuinely helping someone. I also really enjoyed working at Terre Joniche and Lily’s, as working in the fields, such as planting tomatoes, made me feel much more connected to nature and the land.

The project had its ups and downs. There were tensions between the organizers and the volunteers, as well as instances of arrogance and rudeness from the hostel owners towards the participants.

I would also like to point out the lack of organization, which caused a great deal of frustration within the group.

Despite the difficulties we faced during the stay, I would never want to end this story on a negative note. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have had this experience and to have met so many wonderful people from all over Europe who, over the course of two months, became like a family to me.

Overall, this project taught me valuable lessons, gave me beautiful new friendships and connections, and profoundly changed a part of me and my values.

After this experience, I can say that my horizons have expanded significantly.

I feel very lucky and grateful to have taken part in this project, and I would recommend an international volunteering experience to every young person.

Aisha’s Testimony

Hello, my name is Aisha Valentina Hesse and I come from Germany.

This is my story about the experience I had during the project with Cooperativa One in Crotone, Italy.

Before arriving here, I felt somewhat lost and stuck in my everyday life. I needed a change. Not only in my personal situation, but I also wanted to contribute to making a difference in the world, helping people and being useful wherever I was needed in another country.

Here in Crotone, there was a lot of work to be done, and I tried to do everything I could to make life a little better for some people. I distributed food to those in need, helped with agricultural activities, took part in beach clean-ups, and spent meaningful time with migrants.

I felt that what I was doing was truly useful and necessary. I had the opportunity to see the reality of Southern Italy up close, and despite the difficulties many people face here, I was also able to discover the beauty of this country and, in particular, the city of Crotone.

During this experience, I learned many valuable things about the world beyond my own country, but also about myself and the way I react and behave in a new and different environment.

My overall opinion of the project is rather mixed. I am aware that people here may not have the same resources and opportunities that we have in Germany, and I understand that. However, in my experience, in addition to the lack of organization, I also felt a certain distance from some members of the Cooperativa One staff. I would have appreciated a closer relationship and more interaction with us volunteers.

If someone asked me whether I would recommend this project, I would be honest and transparent in sharing my point of view. I would certainly talk about the lack of organization and the misunderstandings that occurred during the experience, but I would also highlight the positive aspects: the impact we had as volunteers in Crotone, the beauty of the city, and the personal growth I experienced thanks to this project.

Christian’s Testimony

My experience in this volunteering programme has been extremely positive. I decided to apply for this opportunity because I felt somewhat stuck and lost in my life.

Moreover, I had never left my country before, and this experience represented a chance to challenge myself and discover the world beyond my comfort zone.

To be honest, I was scared because I did not know what to expect, and I had no specific expectations since I had never experienced anything like this before.

The truth is that these two months flew by, and I have been genuinely happy here.

I believe I adapted very well to this new reality, and that makes me proud. I bonded with my fellow volunteers from the very beginning, and I enjoyed all the activities we carried out, learning something from each of them.

I learned to value the things that truly matter. I discovered that I am capable of handling tasks I had never done before, and I think I managed quite well in all of them. In every situation, I tried to maintain the best possible attitude and give my very best.

The activities I found most challenging were working in the fields and helping restore the Road Safety Education Park, as they required greater physical effort. At the same time, however, I believe they were also the experiences from which I learned the most.

I would also like to add that I greatly appreciated all the workshops organized throughout the project.

I feel that this project was exactly what I needed: it filled me with energy, enthusiasm, and happiness.

It also allowed me to discover a sea of possibilities and new motivations for my future and for the next projects in my life.

And, above all, today I feel good about myself.

Without any doubt, I would recommend this experience, especially to people who find themselves in a situation similar to the one I was in before leaving. Now that the project has come to an end, I can say with complete honesty, confidence, and pride that I do not regret choosing to live this experience at all.

ESC Teams and the European Solidarity Corps

ESC Teams stand out because of their short duration: projects can last from two weeks up to a maximum of two months. For this reason, they are an accessible opportunity even for young people who are studying or working and cannot commit to longer periods abroad.

Although shorter than other volunteering opportunities, group ESC projects are intense, dynamic experiences rich in human exchange. In just a few weeks, participants can develop practical and transferable skills, live closely with people from different countries, and build genuine connections through shared daily life.

For many participants, these projects become a space to step out of their routine, challenge themselves, gain greater independence, and rediscover the value of collaboration and community living.

If you are considering going abroad for an international experience but cannot commit to several months, an ESC Team could be the perfect starting point.