ESC Team RISE with Ostello dei Balocchi in Italy | Participants’ Testimonials

The ESC Team project “RISE”, funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme and implemented by Associazione Joint in collaboration with Ostello dei Balocchi in Ligonchio, has officially come to an end!

We asked the participants to share their experiences.

Margherita’s testimony

I decided to apply for this ESC project at Ostello dei Balocchi in Ligonchio because I wanted to spend some time surrounded by nature while doing volunteering work and meeting new people from different countries. Before joining the project, I had just gone through a particularly stressful period in my life and I was looking for an experience that could help me slow down, learn new things and meet new people. I was also very curious about community living and wanted to improve my teamwork and communication skills.

My expectations were definitely met, but this experience gave me much more than I had imagined. During the month, we took part in different activities: renovating parts of the hostel, cleaning mountain trails, helping with daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning together, and taking care of the donkeys. We also organised activities with children, which was one of the most fun and rewarding parts of the experience.

In addition to the volunteering activities, we participated in some creative workshops. I especially enjoyed the cyanotype workshop because I had never tried that artistic technique before. Another memorable moment was learning how to make fresh pasta together, which became a very special experience for the whole group. Sharing and cooking meals every day made us feel like a big family and helped us build strong friendships very quickly.

Spending one month surrounded by nature, donkeys and positive people helped me reconnect with myself and appreciate simple things more.

Overall, this experience was extremely meaningful for me. I would absolutely recommend this project to other participants, especially to people who enjoy nature, community life and cultural exchange. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow personally while contributing to a welcoming local community.

Thank you Ostello dei Balocchi, Airin, Stefano and the Joint team for making me live such a beautiful and authentic experience!!

Leonor’s testimony

This year, I decided to take a gap year between my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Since I had spent the first six months doing an internship, I felt the need to do something meaningful in the social and environmental fields. I had wanted to take part in a European Solidarity Corps volunteering experience for a long time and thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I applied for the Ostello dei Balocchi project with very few expectations, but with a strong desire to work directly with donkeys.

Once I got accepted, my only wish was to buy a pair of hiking boots and disappear into the remote mountains for a month. And that is exactly what happened! As soon as I arrived, I immediately felt a sense of peace. Being surrounded by nature had always calmed me down, but this time it felt different. Before leaving, I thought that spending 31 days with donkeys and strangers would feel endless, but instead the time passed incredibly fast, maybe even too fast!

The Ostello felt like home from the very beginning. I met the kindest people, creating friendships and memories that I will carry with me forever. During the four weekly working days, we did a bit of everything: gardening, painting, cooking and cleaning, donkey-related tasks, cleaning green spaces and even Italian lessons! Our hosts, Airin and Stefano, did everything they could to make us feel comfortable and safe, also organising fresh pasta and cyanotype workshops in addition to the daily tasks. Their connection with the school in Ligonchio and the village’s elderly group enriched the project, allowing us to meet them and spend wonderful moments together.

This month taught me how to be more patient, how to work in an international group and introduced me to many new recipes! I also discovered new passions and had plenty of time to reflect on my future. It was the best experience I have had so far: I left with a strong sense of fulfilment, not sad, but grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of it.

Leonardo’s testimony

My name is Leonardo and I come from Aveiro, a cosy town in Portugal near the sea. Growing up in a family with limited financial resources, I learned from an early age to be determined and ambitious in order to build a comfortable life for myself. This drive led me to become a software engineer and, for the past seven years, I worked in the tech industry. However, along the way, I realised that this highly individualistic pursuit of success came at a cost: it left me feeling lonely and without a real sense of purpose. I wanted to take a break from the corporate world to use my skills in a more meaningful way, better understand the reality around me and help both the community and the environment.

At Ostello dei Balocchi, I was lucky enough to meet a group of very friendly volunteers and, for one month, we were guided by the amazing Airin and Stefano, who taught us so much with great kindness and patience. We took care of the Ostello through activities such as cleaning and painting, we cooked, participated in activities with children and elderly people, learned some Italian and, of course, took care of the Ostello mascots: the donkeys.

For me, it was incredible to work so peacefully with people from such different backgrounds, learning through practice without too many rules and living in a relaxed environment free from unnecessary competitiveness. Working towards shared goals and seeing a direct impact on people’s daily lives was far more rewarding than being just a small part of a large company.

This project was an excellent opportunity to find the purpose I had been searching for! I truly recommend it to anyone who wants to discover the power of working together instead of the traditional individualistic approach we often see in society. Now that I am returning to Portugal, I hope to find a professional environment that can bring me closer to this kind of personal fulfilment.

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. This makes them an accessible opportunity even for young people who study or work and cannot commit to going abroad for long periods.

Although shorter than other volunteering experiences, group ESC projects are intense, dynamic and 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 authentic connections through the sharing of everyday life.

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

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