🇮🇹✨ European Solidarity Corps Volunteering in Italy – AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM in Catania Supporting Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds 🎨📚 Care, Education & Creativity 🇮🇹

🌍 About the Volunteering Opportunity
This European Solidarity Corps volunteering project takes place in Catania, Italy, and is hosted by Fondazione Stella Polare Onlus. The project is based on a community-living model, where 5–10 international volunteers live and work together inside the social project itself.

The core focus is an afterschool program for children aged 5–13 coming from disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Catania. The aim is to provide a safe, caring, and inspiring environment where children can feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow beyond the limitations of their surroundings.

The project is non-religious and non-political, though its founder is a yogic monk. Volunteers interested in meditation and yoga philosophy may explore these practices on a voluntary basis.

🧩 Main Activities & Tasks
📚 Supporting afterschool educational activities
🎨 Organising creative, artistic, and sport-based workshops
🤝 Offering emotional support, patience, and positive role models
🌱 Encouraging healthy lifestyles, self-worth, and social skills
👫 Working closely with children affected by social and economic challenges
🌍 Living and collaborating in an international community

🏠 Accommodation, Food & Transport
🏡 Volunteers live inside the project, in large double rooms with private bathrooms
🍽️ Shared kitchen and dining hall with the community
🥕 Vegetarian food only – ingredients fully provided
🚲 Bicycles available for daily use
💶 Travel costs reimbursed according to ESC rules
🚭 Smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free environment

🎓 Training & Support
📘 General volunteering training upon arrival in Catania
🧠 Pedagogical and educational training adapted to the local social context
👥 Regular meetings for reflection, feedback, and idea-sharing
🤝 Continuous mentoring and personal support throughout the project

👤 Participant Profile
This project is suitable for volunteers who:
❤️ Have a genuine desire to support children’s development
🎨 Are interested in education, arts, or sports
🤲 Can offer patience, care, discipline, and respect
🌍 Are flexible and comfortable with communal living
🧠 Are tolerant, creative, and open to cultural differences

No previous professional experience is required. Motivation, empathy, and openness to learn are essential.

📅 Activity Dates
🗓️ 25 January 2026 – 25 July 2026

🌍 Eligible Applicant Countries
Albania 🇦🇱, Algeria 🇩🇿, Armenia 🇦🇲, Aruba 🇦🇼, Austria 🇦🇹, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, Belarus 🇧🇾, Belgium 🇧🇪, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 🇧🇶, Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Croatia 🇭🇷, Curaçao 🇨🇼, Cyprus 🇨🇾, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Denmark 🇩🇰, Egypt 🇪🇬, Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, French Polynesia 🇵🇫, French Southern and Antarctic Territories 🇹🇫, Georgia 🇬🇪, Germany 🇩🇪, Greece 🇬🇷, Greenland 🇬🇱, Hungary 🇭🇺, Iceland 🇮🇸, Ireland 🇮🇪, Israel 🇮🇱, Italy 🇮🇹, Jordan 🇯🇴, Kosovo* 🇽🇰, Latvia 🇱🇻, Lebanon 🇱🇧, Libya 🇱🇾, Liechtenstein 🇱🇮, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Malta 🇲🇹, Moldova 🇲🇩, Montenegro 🇲🇪, Morocco 🇲🇦, Netherlands 🇳🇱, New Caledonia 🇳🇨, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Norway 🇳🇴, Palestine 🇵🇸, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Romania 🇷🇴, Russian Federation 🇷🇺, Saint Barthélemy 🇧🇱, Serbia 🇷🇸, Sint Maarten 🇸🇽, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Spain 🇪🇸, St Pierre and Miquelon 🇵🇲, Sweden 🇸🇪, Syrian Arab Republic 🇸🇾, Tunisia 🇹🇳, Türkiye 🇹🇷, Ukraine 🇺🇦, Wallis and Futuna 🇼🇫

📅 Application Deadline
📌 30 December 2025 – 08:00

🔗 Application Link
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/49289_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.