Ciao ragazzi! I’m Deniz, a 19-year-old volunteer here in Orta Nova. I’ve been an ESC volunteer with Beyond Borders for a month now, starting from the 6th of June. It’s been an Intense and joyful learning experience so far. But how did I end up here? I’d been looking for an ESC volunteering project in Italy for a while, and my application for this position was a mere coincidence that turned out to be a perfect fit. Here is my recollection of my first four weeks.
After a long and exhausting travel day, I finally arrived at Orta Nova train station. I was warmly welcomed by Rocco and Sebastiano, who took me to our house in Orta Nova, which will be my home for the duration of the project. They showed me around the flat we are sharing with the other volunteers. As all the other volunteers arrived, I became increasingly excited about the work we would do together. We had on-arrival training for few days following our landing. We met with the local volunteers and participated in engaging activities regarding our fears and expectations about the project. One of the activities that helped us feel more at home was the Mission Impossible game, which was a lot more possible than I had first anticipated, thanks to the help of our precious Italian volunteers. It involved completing a series of tasks that required engagement with the locals and the town itself. The hardest part of Mission Impossible for me was counting how many steps it took to walk from the start to the end of the main square, as I kept losing count.
After a few gelatos and many margherita pizzas, it was time to start preparing our second home, Kyathos, for the upcoming projects. As a nature lover, I fell in love with the place as soon as I saw It. With the nature surrounding us and Mbappe the donkey saluting us every morning, Kyathos became more and more welcoming each day. We started our work by determining the tasks that needed to be done and dividing them into our groups. I had an exceptionally good time brainstorming for the visuals. After a few days, our haven was ready to accept its first visitors.
Our first project had a subject that interested me deeply. “Log In Back To Life” was about mindfulness, social media addiction, reconnecting with nature, and mental health. For the project tasks, all the volunteers were divided into teams and were given specific responsibilities. My team’s tasks included monitoring the dishwashing, caring for the indoors dining area, checking and redoing the visuals, and keeping track of the play area material. We also took turns preparing the coffee breaks. We had a chance to participate in the project too. As a Gen Z, I struggle with social media addiction myself, so the techniques and tricks I learned from this project helped me deal with it better.
In the following week, we started our second youth exchange. In this project, the participants joined together to meditate on the subjects of diversity, unity and music as a way to combat discrimination. Many musicians gathered to make this dream come alive. With the efforts of all the participants, we made a song, a music video, and a choreography. I felt a lot more confident in my abilities to perform my tasks. Additionally, knowing what to expect from the project helped me focus more on meeting new people and participating in the activities.
The month I spent here has taught me so much. It pushed me to better myself by helping me notice my flaws. I improved my soft skills, learned a lot about myself, got better at communicating, and found an area of career I’m interested in. Maria, Sebastiano, Rocco, and Carmine are all hardworking, helpful people who are passionate about their jobs. I feel lucky to have them as my mentors. I also crossed paths with some lovely people thanks to these youth exchanges. I hope to meet them again, and I will always carry a piece of them with me. Seeing the effects our work has had on the local and international communities of youth, I am proud.
Reflecting on these past weeks, I realize how much I have grown and how these experiences have enriched my life. This journey has not only broadened my horizons but has also instilled in me a deeper understanding of cultural exchange, teamwork, and personal growth. I am looking forward to the coming month and the adventures ahead. Volunteering has truly been a transformative experience, and I am grateful for every moment of it.