Italy: ESC: ESC Volunteering Team in Cascina EUtopia

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

Cascina EUtopia is a farmhouse immersed in the countryside of Northern Italy, close to a Regional Park in Casaleggio Boiro (AL), Piemonte. Volunteers will have the opportunity to connect with nature and give new life to the structure and the land around it, contributing to making it a safe and inclusive space for highly vulnerable young people in future European exchange and volunteering projects. This team is part of Team-Up, a European Solidarity Corps project coordinated by P.E.CO. (Genova), bringing together 17 young people from across Europe for 38 days of hands-on, community-based volunteering. Important: physical team work will be requested. Main activities: - Renovation of the farmhouse - Green maintenance - Upcycling activities and workshops - Cooking and community life management - Visit to a local organisation supporting people fleeing armed conflicts - Community dissemination activities on waste management and environmental sustainability.

About the accomodation

Volunteers will receive 23 EUR/day as Participant Support, to cover travel expenses to reach the venue, exceptional costs, and personal expenses. It will be a logistically challenging environment. The large structure has several bedrooms shared by volunteers (4 or more per room). Only 4 bathrooms are available. A camping tent can also be used as an alternative. During public holidays, the organisation may not be able to provide food and accommodation. Volunteers will help the staff prepare meals through organised working shifts.

About the leisure activities

Volunteers will receive on-site training on all required tasks. Activities are practical and their impact will be visible in the improvement of the place. Basic information will be shared together during training sessions upon arrival and throughout the experience. Photos and videos will be required to document activities. First 4 days: on-arrival training organised by the coordinating organisation, P.E.CO. During the project: at least 2 upcycling workshops and 1 training session on waste management and segregation per team. Final evaluation: 2 days - Youthpass

Requirements

The Participant profile: The ideal volunteer is: - Aged between 18 and 30 - Citizen or resident of an EU country (including Italy) - Available for the full duration of the project - Ready for teamwork and community living - Able to adapt to basic life conditions (shared rooms, limited shower time, rural environment) - Ready to do manual and physical work - Enthusiastic about outdoor and nature-based activities - Open-minded, curious, and flexibleDeadline: 22/08/2026 11:59