Project Type: European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Volunteering
Location: Menfi, Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹
Dates: 10 November 2025 – 10 May 2026
Application Deadline: 12 October 2025
Application Link: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/48553_en
Coordinating Organisation: Associazione di Promozione Sociale Joint
Hosting Organisation: Istituto Walden Società Cooperativa Sociale Onlus
🌟 About the Project
Join a life-changing experience in the heart of Sicily! 🇮🇹
As a volunteer at Istituto Walden, you’ll support a housing community for at-risk boys aged 14–18 who are rebuilding their lives through education, creativity, and inclusion.
You’ll work alongside dedicated educators, helping young residents learn, grow, and dream again. Through education, creativity, and empathy, you’ll be part of their journey towards rehabilitation and social reintegration.
This project invites you to experience the power of solidarity, teamwork, and cultural exchange — in one of Italy’s most welcoming regions! 🌞🏡
🎯 Main Objectives
- 💬 Support youth education and daily life in a community setting.
- 🎭 Organize creative workshops (cooking, music, theatre, languages).
- 🌍 Foster social inclusion and intercultural understanding.
- 🤝 Promote solidarity and equal opportunities.
- 💡 Develop personal and professional competences through volunteering.
👥 Participant Profile
Open to volunteers from:
🇦🇹 Austria • 🇧🇪 Belgium • 🇧🇬 Bulgaria • 🇭🇷 Croatia • 🇩🇰 Denmark • 🇪🇪 Estonia • 🇫🇮 Finland • 🇫🇷 France • 🇩🇪 Germany • 🇬🇷 Greece • 🇭🇺 Hungary • 🇮🇸 Iceland • 🇮🇪 Ireland • 🇱🇻 Latvia • 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein • 🇱🇹 Lithuania • 🇱🇺 Luxembourg • 🇳🇴 Norway • 🇵🇱 Poland • 🇵🇹 Portugal • 🇷🇴 Romania • 🇸🇰 Slovakia • 🇸🇮 Slovenia • 🇪🇸 Spain
We are looking for candidates who are:
- 💛 Empathetic, patient, and responsible
- 🧠 Experienced or educated in social work, psychology, or youth work
- ✨ Creative and open-minded
- 🤝 Ready to cooperate with educators and other volunteers
- 🏘️ Comfortable living in a small town environment
- 🇮🇹 Willing to learn or already speaking some Italian
Age range: 23–30 years old
Positions available: 1 female or 1 male
🏡 Accommodation, Food & Allowance
- 🏠 Volunteers will share a flat in Menfi (double bedrooms, kitchen, two bathrooms, and a dining area).
- 💶 Pocket money: €6 per day.
- 🍽️ Food allowance: €100 per month.
- 🗓️ Working week: 5 days (max. 35 hours/week) + 2 consecutive days off + 2 additional free days per month.
- 🚌 Travel reimbursement provided according to ESC guidelines.
🧭 Training & Support
- 📚 On-Arrival & Mid-Term Trainings (provided by the Italian National Agency).
- 💬 Online Italian language course.
- 🧑🏫 Mentorship and guidance from Istituto Walden staff and Associazione Joint.
- 🌿 Final evaluation meeting to reflect on learning outcomes and Youthpass competences.
💬 Volunteer Tasks Include:
- ✏️ Homework help and foreign language lessons
- 🎨 Creative and educational workshops (theatre, cooking, music)
- 🥘 Preparing and sharing meals with the community
- 🎉 Organizing social and cultural activities
- 🚶♂️ Accompanying the boys on outdoor trips and excursions
- 🧹 Helping maintain a welcoming and safe environment
🌍 Participating Countries
Austria 🇦🇹 • Belgium 🇧🇪 • Bulgaria 🇧🇬 • Croatia 🇭🇷 • Denmark 🇩🇰 • Estonia 🇪🇪 • Finland 🇫🇮 • France 🇫🇷 • Germany 🇩🇪 • Greece 🇬🇷 • Hungary 🇭🇺 • Iceland 🇮🇸 • Ireland 🇮🇪 • Latvia 🇱🇻 • Liechtenstein 🇱🇮 • Lithuania 🇱🇹 • Luxembourg 🇱🇺 • Norway 🇳🇴 • Poland 🇵🇱 • Portugal 🇵🇹 • Romania 🇷🇴 • Slovakia 🇸🇰 • Slovenia 🇸🇮 • Spain 🇪🇸
📅 Application Deadline
🕓 12 October 2025
