Finding Connection and Growth Through ESC Volunteering in Italy

Since I discovered volunteering, I have been traveling for the past two years, and it has completely changed my life. It gave me a real sense of purpose and direction. I love exploring, meeting new people, and discovering different cultures and ways of living. Through volunteering, I have learned so much about myself and about the world. When I decided to join this project, my goal was to live in a community, share strong and meaningful moments, be close to nature and learn new useful skills. The first goals were definitely achieved.

I truly experienced community life, shared many beautiful moments with others, and lived in an amazing environment surrounded by nature. I discovered a stunning region and felt lucky to be part of such a peaceful and inspiring setting. However, when it comes to the main activity, I have to say I didn’t learn as much as I had hoped. The work itself wasn’t very challenging, and sometimes I felt like I wasn’t growing as much as I wanted to. I also had quite high expectations, because the previous year I had already taken part in another project with associazion Joint, and it was a life-changing experience. My mistake was to think that this one would be exactly the same.

+Every project is unique, and I learned that comparison can sometimes lead to disappointment. At the beginning, I found this project a bit less deep than I had imagined. Our main activity was maintaining green areas, which at times felt repetitive and without a clear purpose. I missed feeling that what we were doing had a strong impact. Still, the group was made up of amazing people who were open-minded, kind, and supportive. Their presence made the experience much better.

The first month was a bit difficult for me mentally because the days were long and sometimes not very satisfying, and I often felt tired and socially drained. It was frustrating because what I love most about volunteering is the human connection and the feeling of being useful. Fortunately, everything started to change during the last part of the project. The group became closer, we understood each other better, and the atmosphere became much warmer and more positive. We shared many great moments together, full of laughter and energy. I also learned a lot, discovered new things about different countries, languages, and amazing cuisines, and I improved my Italian, which makes me very proud. Most importantly, I created real friendships that I will keep for a long time.

Overall, I would definitely recommend volunteering to other young people. It is an incredible way to grow, to travel, and to learn about yourself and others. It allows you to discover new places, to connect with nature, and to see life from a different perspective. I think it is important not to have expectations that are too high and to stay open to whatever the experience brings. Each project, even when different from what you imagined, teaches you something new and helps you grow in ways you don’t always expect.