Pubblicato il 20/06/2026

Volunteering stories

My name is Monica, I am 26 years old and I come from Calabria. I am originally from Polia, a small village in the heart of the region, 
where I had the opportunity to take part in a volunteering experience that allowed me to look at my local area from a new perspective.

I took part in a short term volunteering project coordinated by Associazione InformaGiovani in my own village, hosted by Associazione
 Kalistratia. During this period, I joined various activities and events organised by the association, including meetings and initiatives 
dedicated to permaculture, sustainability, and a more conscious way of living in and valuing the local area.

                                                             

I chose to take part because I wanted to challenge myself and experience something different, coming into contact with new
contexts, people, and topics. I was particularly interested in exploring certain sustainability related practices and, at the same 
time, experiencing volunteering without necessarily having to travel far from home.

I believe that one’s own local area can also become a space where you can discover new things, meet people with different 
experiences, and build something together.

One of the most interesting parts of the experience was taking part in the permaculture events.  These were valuable moments 
to learn new knowledge and approach a different way of thinking about the relationship between people, the environment, and
the territory.
A group of people outside a house, standing and talking together.

Beyond the activities themselves, what I will carry with me are 
above all the people I met along the way and the exchanges that 
emerged during those moments. I had the chance to engage with 
people whose ideas, experiences,and backgrounds differed from 
mine, and this made the experience even more meaningful.
It was wonderful to discover that even a small village can become 
a starting point for creating opportunities for meeting, learning, and
participation. In the end, I believe that the value of such an experience 
lies not only in what you learn, but also in the people you meet and the 
new questions you take home with you.

I would absolutely recommend ESC volunteering to other young people, especially because it allows you to step outside your 
daily routine, even just for a short period, and challenge yourself in a new context. You do not need to begin with the idea of 
doing somethingextraordinary: even an experience lived in your own village can teach you a great deal. Volunteering offers 
the chance to learn by doing, meet new people, engage with different realities, and discover interests you may never have 
considered before.

I believe it is a valuable opportunity for young people precisely because it leaves you with something that goes beyond the 
duration of the project: new knowledge, new skills, and, above all, a different way of looking at what surrounds you.

project n. 2025-1-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000346893

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