A shelter for young boys aged 13 to 18 and children aged 0 to 10, all on a path towards rehabilitation and social inclusion. A small town in Sicily. And a volunteer role that asks you to become a genuine part of daily community life — not an outside helper, but someone who shows up, shares meals, and walks alongside the young people living there. This ESC placement is demanding, meaningful, and real.

Istituto Walden Società Cooperativa Sociale is a social cooperative managing different houses and services for minors across Sicily. They are looking for 3 ESC volunteers — 1 female and 2 males — to support educators in a residential shelter, working directly with children and adolescents who need consistency, creativity, and genuine human connection.

The placement is coordinated by Associazione di Promozione Sociale Joint.

What Is This Role About?

Volunteers share part of the daily life of the young residents — supporting their education, running creative workshops, helping with meals and daily routines, and accompanying them on trips around the area. This is not a passive support role. You will be co-creating a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment for young people who need it most.

Activities & Tasks

📚 Supporting youngsters' and children's education with afterschool activities — homework support, foreign language lessons, educational workshops

🎭 Creating fun and engaging workshops — cooking, theatre, music, and more

🗣️ Language exchange with the residents

🎉 Organising celebrations for special occasions and festivities

🍳 Preparing meals to share with everyone in the community

🧹 Keeping the space clean and welcoming — helping with daily household needs

🏘️ Discovering the town and surrounding area by accompanying the youngsters on trips

Who Should Apply?

This placement is looking for 3 volunteers — 1 female and 2 males — aged between approximately 23/24 and 30 years old.

🔹 Available for the full project period — 25 May 2026 to 25 November 2026

🔹 Ready to work with young people from different social backgrounds — both teenagers (13–18) and children (0–10)

🔹 Has studies or experience in social work or psychology

🔹 Strong respect for rules — patient, creative, and communicative

🔹 Open-minded, positive, and proactive

🔹 Able to cooperate with professional educators and take shared responsibility

🔹 Can plan, organise, and manage activities independently

🔹 Ready to live in a small town in Sicily

🔹 Ready to learn Italian — or already has some knowledge

⚠️ CV and Motivation Letter must be submitted in English.

Training & Support

📋 On-Arrival Training with Associazione Joint, the coordinating organisation, and the Italian National Agency

🇮🇹 Italian language online course provided

🎓 Specific training for project activities

📊 Mid-term evaluation and final evaluation with Associazione Joint

💬 Not sure what to include in your ESC motivation letter for a social work placement like this one?This guide walks you through exactly what organisations are looking for: https://youthworkshub.org/6061/

Accommodation & Practical Details

🏠 Volunteers share a flat in Menfi — double bedrooms, a kitchen, and 2 bathrooms

💶 Pocket money: €6 per day

🍽️ €100 per month for food expenses — plus 5 meals per week in the community

⏱️ Working hours: 5 days per week, maximum 35 hours per week

📅 Days off: 2 consecutive days off per week + 2 additional free days per month — days off cannot overlap with other volunteers and will not fall on weekends

Activity Details

📅 Activity Period: 25 May 2026 – 25 November 2026

📍 Location: Via Cavour 54, Italy

👤 Activity Type: Individual Volunteering

🏷️ Project Code: 2024-2-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000278366

Deadline

⏰ 30 April 2026

Eligible Countries

🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Apply

🔗 https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/51328_en

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