🇮🇹 ESC Team Volunteering in Italy “Ostello dei Balocchi: Donkey Care & Green Space Maintenance” 🇮🇹

🌍 About the Project

This ESC Team Volunteering activity takes place in Casalino di Ligonchio, Italy 🇮🇹 at 1000 meters altitude inside the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park, a UNESCO MAB area.

Ostello dei Balocchi is an Environmental Education Center offering donkey tourism, artistic workshops, and immersive nature-based experiences. The project combines environmental sustainability, animal care, and community engagement in a unique mountain setting.

Volunteers will join an intensive team experience focused on green space maintenance, donkey care, and educational activities in a protected natural environment.

🎯 What Will You Do?

✨ Care for donkeys, including trekking and outdoor sessions
✨ Maintain hostel facilities and Ravinart park areas
✨ Clean and maintain hiking trails
✨ Support environmental education activities
✨ Participate in intercultural meetings with seniors
✨ Contribute to sustainability and social cohesion initiatives

This is a hands-on, physically active volunteering experience in an isolated natural setting.

📅 Activity Dates

🗓 18 April 2026 – 19 May 2026

📅 Application Deadline

🗓 04 March 2026 (00:00)

🏠 Accommodation, Food and Financial Support

🏡 Accommodation inside the hostel in shared triple or double rooms
🍽 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided (extra food at volunteer’s own cost)
💶 Pocket money: 17€ per day (travel expenses included in this total amount)
🛡 Insurance and Youthpass provided under ESC rules

🎓 Training and Evaluation

📘 On-arrival training during the first 2 days organised by the coordinating organisation
📝 Final evaluation and Youthpass certificate during the last 2 days

👤 Participant Profile

👥 Aged 18–30
🇪🇺 MUST be resident or citizen of an EU country
🌿 Interested in living in nature and in an isolated mountain area
🐴 Ready to work with donkeys and participate in trekking
🧤 Open to physical and manual work
🍳 Willing to cook for the team
🤝 Proactive, respectful, flexible
🌍 Open-minded, positive, and adaptable
🗣 At least intermediate English
🏡 Ready to share living spaces with the team

📍 Location

Casalino di Ligonchio, Italy 🇮🇹

🌍 Eligible Countries

Hungary 🇭🇺, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Romania 🇷🇴, Spain 🇪🇸, Ukraine 🇺🇦

🏷 Activity Topics

✨ Environment and natural protection
✨ Creativity and culture
✨ Physical education and sport

🔢 Project Code

2024-1-EACEA-VTHPA-101179748

🔗 Application Link

https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/50292_en

⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the project coordinator.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Coordinating organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including dates, activity details, or application deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the project coordinators.
💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.