ESC Team RISE II with Agriturismo L’Arca in Belvedere Marittimo | Participants’ Testimonies

The ESC Team project “RISE”, funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme and implemented by the Joint Association in collaboration with Agriturismo L’Arca in Belvedere Marittimo, has come to an end! We asked the participants to share their stories.

Lucie’s Testimony

My name is Lucie, I am 23 years old, and I took part in a volunteering project in Belvedere Marittimo. Before that, I had started training to become an early childhood educator, but I had to stop because of anxiety attacks. I was going through a difficult period in my life and needed a change. I decided to join this project to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and most importantly learn more about myself.

Before leaving, I had many expectations. I hoped to discover myself more deeply and maybe have a realization about what I truly wanted to do with my life. Today, I can say that this really happened. This experience changed me deeply. I feel calmer, more confident, and finally myself again.

During this project, I learned a lot. I discovered agricultural work and realized how much nature helps me feel peaceful and relaxed. I also learned to live in the present moment, leave the past behind, and trust people even knowing that our paths would separate after the project. I discovered a new culture and met incredible people who became like a small family to me.

Every morning, we worked on the farm: removing weeds, planting potatoes, salads, melons, and watermelons, harvesting fruits and vegetables, and even making homemade pasta. We also did activities to strengthen team spirit, such as pottery, basket weaving, rafting, and group reflection sessions.

Overall, I think this project is an incredible and enriching experience. It teaches you a lot about others, but especially about yourself: community life, patience, communication, and social skills. I would definitely recommend this experience to other young people without hesitation. Even if some moments can be difficult, you should never give up because the benefits stay with you for life and help you grow so much as a person.

Lysandros’ Testimony

My name is Lysandros, I am from Greece and I am 25 years old. I have studied History and after I worked in different sectors but never in the agricultural sector. I was needing a change in my life and my flatmate informed me about the solidarity corps. I wanted to meet new people to learn about the agricultural sector and be close to the nature. Luckily, I found this project and what I was searching for . I am gratefull that my apply was accepted and I came here. Eventhoough I was not so sure if I could acomplish the new tasks , everything was alright . I learned practically about the greenhouses,  the planting and the harvesting and to appreciate the meal that comes in my plate because it needs the contribution and the hard work of many people. The growing up of plants was rewarding for us and I was enjoying that I was waking up early to make a physical work. The activities that we made from the first days to create relationships between the volunteers made me feel comfortable and I found them really usefull. I will always remember this period of my life as a period that brought me closer to who am I. The community, the other volunteers the coortinator were mirroring  me and were helping me to discover new parts of myself, new ways to make or to bulid relationships with the others and overcome the difficulties that were appearing. In general I found the existense of this project so important for the young people because gives the chance to them to be in a different enviroment and see their life from different view. Through the idea of the community somebody can grow up and learn how to communicate and contribute better. I would suggested to everybody to participate to this project.

Mariano’s Testimony

I’m Mariano, I’m 29 years old and I’m from Basilicata, from a small town called Episcopia in the province of Potenza.

I became interested in this project at Belvedere Marittimo at Arca out of curiosity, at a time of work stoppage and waiting in my life. I needed to try a simpler life like working on a farm in close contact with nature. After living for a couple of years in Rome living a chaotic and lonely life, attracted by a different lifestyle, I needed to try such an experience. I didn’t have high expectations but from this experience I learned several things, such as trying new activities such as the creation of some elements with ceramics, a workshop on the creation of fresh pasta, game activities with elementary school children and meeting new people from different cultures and improving my English, which I had forgotten by not speaking it. I had difficulties at the beginning especially in speaking the English language but over time speaking it and listening to it every day mandatory to be able to communicate with most people from various countries of Europe. In my opinion it is a very interesting and valid project because it allows you to know different points of view considering different perspectives.

This is my third social project after having done two other social projects, the civil service in Lourdes with the Unitalsi body and another project in Caritas Italiana where in both I volunteered in close contact with people in need.

I would recommend this experience especially to those who want to get to know new cultures and learn the English language better and want to live a beautiful experience completely immersed in nature with the animals present on the farm and in particular with two affectionate dogs and a group of free peacocks that accompany the days with their high-pitched cries.

Mariia’s Testimony

I’m Mariia, I’m form Ukraine and I’m 19 years old. I have always dreamed of going abroad, especially to Italy. When I saw this program, I was incredibly interested because it was a fantastic opportunity for me to see new places and grow as a person. I expected to gain a new, unforgettable experience, and that came true 100%. I learned many new things: first of all, I improved my gardening skills, but the most important thing for me was that I started to better understand my emotions and how to manage them. I am incredibly glad to have met so many interesting people who supported me throughout the entire project and were always there for me. Late-night conversations over tea, watching movies, and traveling together to Sicily and Naples made this experience unforgettable.
Before submitting my application, I was really nervous and scared because I had never traveled alone, was abroad, and for two whole months! But now, I thank myself for my braveness, because I realize this was the exact decision that changed my perspective on many things and gave me unforgettable memories.
From my own experience, I would recommend trying a project like this at least once in your life. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, develops both your soft and hard skills, helps you better understand yourself and those around you, and gives you the chance to try new things and see incredibly beautiful places.

ESC Teams with the European Solidarity Corps

ESC Teams stand out for their short duration: projects can last from 2 weeks up to a maximum of 2 months. For this very reason, they represent an accessible opportunity even for young people who are studying or working and do not have the chance to leave for long periods.

Even though they are shorter compared to other volunteering pathways, group ESCs are intense, dynamic experiences rich in human exchange. In just a few weeks, you can develop practical and transferable skills, live closely with people from different countries, and form authentic bonds through sharing 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 life.

If you are thinking about going abroad for an experience but cannot commit for months, an ESC Team could be the perfect starting point.