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.

Marilù’s Testimony

I’m a 26 years old girl from Italy. Before applying to this ESC project I was held by the fearthat I would not be able to build a desirable future for myself. I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere and that none of the established life paths available to me were a good fit for me. Living in a highly urbanised area, I was also craving a simpler, rural lifestyle. I missed spontaneous and meaningful connections and a sense of community. When I left home, I was feeling very disillusioned, and the fears I carried with me overshadowed any possible expectation. I could have never expected the sudden turn in my mood during the first few days spent in L’Arca. All the insecurities that were holding me back quickly faded away and left space for me to build connections with the other volunteers and to let myself be surprised by the possibilities of this journey. It came natural to me to adapt to the new routine, made of physical work in the fields, lots of inspiring activities every week, and crazy weekend trips to the surrounding towns. I learned that, despite the introverted personality I used to identify myself with, I actually love spending time with people and I can enjoy sharing daily life and personal spaces with a big family. Challenging my old habits and beliefs was possible in the safe and inspiring environment that has been set for us by our hosts, and thanks to the restless work of our coordinator. I appreciated the fact that the project has been planned to include many creative and out of the ordinary experiences and to support participants in contributing with their own skills and qualities. These opportunities gave us the chance to get closer to locals and learn about their stories and values. I am very thankful for these two months, and I believe that experiences like this can be life-changing turns for young people, exposing them to many possible ways of living and offering them the chance to practice community living.

Nataliia’s Testimony

Coming to Italy for this project was something completely unexpected for me. In December, I graduated from university and completed my higher education, and at the end of February, I left my job. That period of my life was quite difficult because I did not know where I wanted to go next, what I wanted to study, or where I wanted to work. Then, in one moment, I decided to leave everything behind and go away for two months.

I did not have high expectations about volunteering, but now I realize how unforgettable this experience truly was. It is the kind of experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

During this time, I spent a lot of time thinking and understanding many things about myself. I learned how to communicate with volunteers from different countries and how to understand them better. Throughout the whole project, we were always together. We volunteered together, had lunch and dinner together, prepared activities together, and planned our time together. Sometimes it was difficult, but we stayed together, and that is what truly mattered.

Now, looking back, I finally understand why all those trainings and reflection sessions at the beginning of the project were so important. At the start of the project, a volunteer from a previous group visited us and said, “Be present in the moment, open yourselves, communicate with each other, because this time will pass very quickly, and before you realize it, it will be time to say goodbye.” Now, while writing this, I truly understand how important those words were for all of us. During this period, we became very close and turned into one big family. Looking back, I can clearly see that these activities helped all of us grow, and that growth is truly visible.

I also love that I became closer not only to people but also to the world around me to nature, to the people living in this city, and to its culture and atmosphere. But most importantly, I am grateful for becoming closer to myself. Throughout the project, we constantly worked on ourselves, on our feelings, and learned to listen to ourselves first of all.

Now I can finally see my future more clearly, understand what I want to do and what I want to study. I became more disciplined, and honestly, that is probably the thing I am most proud of personally.

I sincerely recommend this project because it helped me understand who I truly am and who I want to become. This time and these people were exactly what I needed. They are not leaving my life — our connection is simply stretching across the world. And one day, we will definitely meet again.

Pedro’s Testimony

I come from Madrid, Spain, from a loving family with an older sister and a younger brother. What made me look for this type of project was that right after finishing high school last year I started a gap year first going to berlin to work and now in this project. I saw this project on the ESC Portal and I applied because I love nature and I wanted to try living in a community.

Before coming I didn’t really know what to think and what I expected this project to be, but I knew I had to do it. Not having much expectations, I can now say that it outdid any thought or expectation I could have had from the beautifulness of the place itself to the personal connections that were made and the experiences that were had.

I found this project through the ESC Portal because the son of a friend of my dad had done a few years ago a project through this in portugal and recommended it a lot.

Having said this, what has been most important to me has been the personal learning and growth I experienced in these two months. I have learnt to look past the superficial differences and get to know the human behind our social constructs before judging. It has also helped not only in interpersonal relationships but also to get to

know myself better. Even though it is important to know how to be with yourself in this project it has been clear that other people are necessary and are the best teachers to look within utilizing them as mirrors for ourselves. There is a lot of beauty in the dynamics of relationships and how each person perceives them and how powerful you can be to the wellbeing of someone.

I loved these two months even though there have been some not so easy times because this type of experience is where you grow the most. I have also met some amazing people with whom I have been able to share and learn from. I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in having fun and growing as a person at the same time which for me is what life is all about.

Zoe’s Testimony

My experience with the European Solidarity Corps in Italy came at a turning point in my life. At the time, I felt quite lost: the job I was doing no longer suited me, and I was seriously considering going back to study. Alongside this, I went through an important personal change that pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, leave everything behind, and open myself to new horizons. With no real expectations—since it was my first experience abroad—I discovered the European Solidarity Corps while searching online for youth opportunities and applied through the European Youth Portal. From the beginning, this experience challenged me, especially as I tend to be an introverted person. Living on a farm, far from home, and surrounded by people from different cultures was completely new to me. Communication itself was a challenge, as we had to speak in English or Italian to understand each other. Over time, I not only learned about agricultural and organic farming, but also gained valuable personal skills: living in a community, connecting with others, and becoming more open and confident. This experience has been a meaningful step in my personal and professional journey.