Italy: ESC: ESC with children and adolescents in Centro Storico Ragazzi

About the local hosting organization

P.E.CO. is an Association founded in June 2013 to promote opportunities of mobility and inter-cultural learning for youngsters from Genoa and its region. P.E.C.O is the point of reference in Genoa and Liguria Region for European projects with youth, cooperating with several NGOs and coordinating ESC volunteering projects within 6 host organisations across the region. These regional partners deal with many different profiles of beneficiaries, from migrants and asylum seekers to youth and children with fewer opportunities; topics vary too, from unemployment projects and organisations working on environmental education. This gives P.E.C.O the capacity to involve many different expertises and to disseminate the impact of projects to relevant stakeholders at regional level. Moreover, P.E.C.O is the partner in our region of RIVE, the biggest national network on ESC in Italy (and in Europe) and has been one of the 2 Italian organisations selected by Italian NA to be member of the European Network on NEET, supported by SALTO. We also have a partnership with the Youth Information Desk of Genoa Municipality, to support youngsters that want to go abroad, giving them information and orienteering. Our network helps us also to include local participants in international projects, especially youngsters with fewer opportunities. Our association organises also Youth Exchanges, Training courses, and Capacity Buildings within the Erasmus+ programme. Our mission is to educate youngsters to a peaceful cohabitation with people coming from different cultures, countries and social conditions, by giving them the opportunity to confront themselves within an inter-cultural environment which stimulates the development of a conscience about the complexity of our society. We want to stimulate the personal growth of youngsters, by raising their sense of citizenship, an active participation inside society and a real awareness about their role as European citizens.

Presentation of the programme

Centro Storico Ragazzi carries out educational activities for youngsters aged 6-18, who live in or hang out at Genoa historical city centre. The majority of them have foreign nationality, especially Ecuador, Perù and China. Most youngsters we’re working with face disadvantaged family environments, difficulties at school, economical obstacles and do not have a stable connection with the context. Activities: - Support in after-school activities: we offer scholastic support, in particular concerning Italian language and culture. - Attend the canteen: the opportunity of eating together, in a cozy place, is the answer to the situation of many youngsters who cannot have lunch at home. We offer a place for socialisation and growth. - Support to “Lomellini sport”: it involves a male football team and a female volleyball team - Summer camp activities: offering educational and leisure time activities to children and youngsters also through short trips outside Genova.

About the accomodation

The volunteer will live in Genova in a shared apartment with doble/triple rooms. They will receive 6 euros per day of pocket money and food or a food allowance will be provided. The travel expenses will be reimbursed on the basis defined by the European Commission.

About the leisure activities

The volunteer will participate in the training opportunities offered by the Italian National Agency (On Arrival Training, Mid Term Evaluation, and Final Evaluation). In addition, they will also take part in the training opportunities organized by association P.E.CO., together with the other volunteers involved in the activities of other Hosting Organizations in Genoa. They will also receive specific training in the Hosting Organization related to the target group they will work with.

Requirements

The Participant profile: REQUIRED: 20-30 YEARS OLD. Available for the WHOLE duration of the project (min 6 months). The ideal volunteer is autonomous, mature and responsible, open to share and meet other people and motivated to join our activities. Volunteer should be aware of its extremely important role in the center and available to cooperate to the educative and training process. Since this involves a role in contact with young people, the volunteer must be fitted with qualities such as tolerance, patience, firmness, creativity, and above all excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Summer camps are often intense so be aware of it. We expect your CV and Motivation written in ENGLISH!Deadline: 25/07/2026 11:59