ESC Team ‘RISE’ in Italy with Ostello Monte Barro and Legambiente Lecco | Participants’ Testimonials

The ESC Team “RISE” project, funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme and implemented by Associazione Joint in collaboration with Ostello Parco Monte Barro and Legambiente Lecce in Italy, has come to an end!

The overall objective of the project, in line with the priorities set for 2021, was to promote well-being and a healthy lifestyle for both volunteers and local communities. It provided participants with the opportunity to reclaim a space where they could socialise in a healthy and safe way, while at the same time engaging in volunteering activities that promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups, as well as health and well-being within communities.

The project activities focused on specific themes, in agreement with the hosting organisation and the needs of the local community:

• nature and outdoor life
• mental health
• prevention and health promotion
• mindful nutrition

Let’s hear what the participants have to say!

Konstantina’s Testimonial

My name is Konstantina, I am 24 years old and I come from Greece, and my background is in Photography, Audiovisual Arts and Music. Even though I have always been a creative person, I have often found the social demands of the art world oppressive. Coming from a family of farmers and having spent my childhood in the fields, I have a rooted love for the tranquility and the quality of life that nature offers. When I first read about this programme and its location, I felt an immediate connection. I perceived that it would satisfy my need for environmental involvement and would offer a refuge of inner peace away from external distractions. I hoped to be surrounded by people with shared values, in an environment built on mutual respect and on trust in the potential of every individual. Personal and Professional Growth: The reality of the programme has exceeded all my expectations. From the first week, I understood that I was in the right place at the right moment of my life. During my stay, I achieved the following results: Development of skills: I practiced numerous manual abilities and expanded my knowledge on agricultural production, plant care, animal welfare and recycling. Creative freedom: We engaged in activities that have refined our imagination, allowing us to rediscover a sense of childlike wonder. Interpersonal skills: I learned to coexist harmoniously within a team and I felt safe enough to openly express my opinions, knowing to be in a welcoming environment. Emotional Connection and Community: What I had not foreseen has been the deep emotional impact of this path. Through our daily activities, deep discussions and also the simple act of sharing meals, we have formed an authentic bond. We did not limit ourselves to learning concepts like respect, solidarity, open-mindedness and empathy — we have put them into practice every single day. The fact that I found myself in tears during the last week says a lot about the value of the people I have met. I recommend this programme without thinking twice; it has gained a permanent place in my heart. Thank you for having provided a space in which I could truly be myself.

Giada’s Testimonial

Hey! My name is Giada, I am 19 years old and I am currently taking a gap year after high school. I want to enter the Biology university in my city, but before starting my studies I really wanted to live something new and enriching. The project at the Monte Barro hostel caught my attention from the very first moment I read about it, it was exactly what I was looking for, something far from the city and completely immersed in nature. The idea of having to walk 45 minutes to reach the nearest town was very interesting for me, since I love hiking and isolation. From this project I expected a lot of creativity and open-mindedness and these points have been satisfied at 100%. I did not expect it to be so enriching regarding knowledge of biology, while I was surprised by the amount of things I learned, for example during our trip to Cascina Selvetto, where the local farmer Giacomo told us incredible facts about bees! Yet, one of my favourite days was when we went to collect plants in the surroundings and we learned a lot about wild herbs or the day at the goat farm where I learned how to milk a goat with my own hands! In addition to the activities, I think that we learned a lot from each other in the group, personally I learned something from everyone and this helped me to grow and to think more outside the box. I loved this project with all my heart and my soul, it was very useful for me to leave my city and meet such incredible people. Sometimes in our small daily routines we forget that there are people who share our same ideals and values and this project is the perfect way to rediscover it and work all together for a better world.

Fabiola’s Testimonial

Hello everyone! I am Fabiola Scieuzo, I am 23 years old and I come from Southern Italy, Sicily. I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations and I am passionate about learning new languages, living in multicultural communities, and environments in general, and I have a strong interest in nature (sea and mountains) and in animals. For all these reasons, but not only because I have been interested in the European Solidarity Corps for a long time, I decided to apply for this ESC TEAM RISE at Eco Ostello Parco Monte Barro, in Galbiate (LC). I found this project through the official website of the European Solidarity Corps and then I searched for more information thanks to the Introduction Pack of the project created by Associazione di Promozione Sociale Joint. Associazione Joint in this project was our Support Organisation and coordinated this ESC with the Hosting Organisation, Legambiente Lecco Onlus. Once I sent my CV and the motivation letter, Associazione Joint selected me for an interview and then I was officially selected to be a volunteer for this project! I was really enthusiastic to be part of a project like this because I was excited to meet new people coming from different countries and with perspectives and cultures different from mine, but with in common a strong interest for nature and for trying a new and different way of living (connected to the vegan and vegetarian diet and to life in an isolated area like Monte Barro). My expectations were focused on learning new skills (like recycling materials, how to learn vegan recipes, understanding how local industries work in a sustainable way and supporting them, and so on…) and I have to say that reality was better at 100%. Not only I learned all these techniques and practices, but I did it in a very harmonious and familiar environment in which we supported each other (volunteers, facilitators) and we worked together for common goals. My favourite activities were focused on the safeguarding of toads (toad days and nights), helping them to cross the road safely to reach the river of the lake for their reproduction and before that we built for them a safe passage through which they could pass without being disturbed by cars. I absolutely recommend these experiences to young people who are open to try new experiences, especially living in a multicultural and isolated environment and willing to get their hands dirty. This project for me has been one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life; not only for the valuable activities we carried out but also for the incredible people I met and that I can now define as friends.

ESC Teams with the European Solidarity Corps

The special feature of ESC Teams is their short duration, ranging from 2 weeks to a maximum of 2 months. This makes them accessible even to young people who work or study and cannot dedicate an entire year to travelling.

Despite their short duration, group ESC projects offer meaningful and intense life experiences, during which participants can acquire numerous professional skills. Moreover, by sharing life and work within a group, similar to a community, participants have the opportunity to build strong bonds even in a relatively short period of time.