🇮🇹 ESC Volunteering in Italy 🐴 Nature Life, Donkey Care & Forest Work Experience 🌲 🇮🇹

🌍 Overview of the Experience

This one is raw. No city, no comfort zone, no routine life.

You’ll be based in a mountain area at 1000m altitude in Italy 🇮🇹, inside a national park, where your daily life revolves around nature, animals and physical work. It’s intense, short-term and very hands-on.

🐴 What You’ll Actually Do

🐴 Take care of donkeys and join trekking activities
🌲 Work on forest maintenance and trail cleaning
🏡 Support hostel operations and daily tasks
🎨 Join artistic and educational activities
👴 Participate in intercultural meetings with seniors
🍳 Cook together and manage shared living responsibilities

The Tuscan-Emilian Apennines 🇮🇹 are part of a UNESCO MAB biosphere reserve, meaning you’ll be working in a protected natural environment focused on sustainability and ecological balance. If you are thinking where to find ESC volunteering projects in nature or how to experience outdoor volunteering in Europe, this type of project places you directly inside a natural ecosystem, not around it.

Did you know? Projects involving animal care and forest work are among the most physically demanding ESC experiences. Here, you can develop resilience, teamwork and practical outdoor skills while stepping completely outside your usual environment and routine.

⚡ What You Need to Know Before Applying

🌿 Remote mountain location → isolated lifestyle
💪 Physical work → you will get your hands dirty
🐴 Direct contact with animals → daily responsibility
🤝 Shared spaces → team living required
🔥 Adaptability → plans may change depending on conditions

🏠 Living Conditions & Support

🏡 Accommodation in shared hostel rooms
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
💶 Support: 23€ per day (includes travel costs)
🌲 Full immersion in nature and community life

👥 Who They’re Looking For

✨ Young people aged 18–30
🌍 From selected European countries
💪 Ready for physical and outdoor work
🐴 Comfortable working with animals
🌿 Open to living in an isolated natural environment
🤝 Respectful, proactive and adaptable
⚠️ Priority: male volunteers (to balance the group)

📍 Key Details

📌 Location: Casalino di Ligonchio, Italy 🇮🇹
📅 Activity Dates: 18 April 2026 – 19 May 2026
⏳ Application Deadline: 08 April 2026

🔗 Application Link

👉 https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/50883_en

🇫🇷 Erasmus+ Training Course in France ⚽ Sport-Based Youth Projects & KA1 Applications 🎯🇫🇷

⚠️ 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.