About sheep in wolf's clothing, smiling gardens and bridge builders

Yes, the idea of talking about personal thoughts and feelings in front of a crowd of strangers is really a bit scary. That's what we thought too when we were asked to speak at a public event about our voluntary service with the ESC. We had no idea what to expect and therefore prepared ourselves well: Summarised our motivations, experiences and future plans on notepads, drew little posters and practised the introduction in Italian.

But in the end it was quite relaxed. We sat together with the organisers in front of about 20 people and Carolina - our tutor from Vicolocorto - spontaneously translated our talk into Italian. Afterwards, we had a snack and drank together. Sometimes the imagination is worse than the actual happening - you can also say that about the ESC 😉

To draw attention to projects, share experiences and perhaps inspire others. This was the purpose of this public event on 12 May in Jesi by Vicolocorto, to wich we were invited to talk.

The core of the event was the project "Orto del Sorriso" (Garden of Smiles). This is a social agricultural enterprise in which the Fondazione Centro Servizi Caritas 'Padre Oscar' Onlus is also involved. In a nutshell: the place offers participation and employment in agriculture to disadvantaged people. Natural products are grown with passion in the garden, sold in an own small shop and even supplied to some regional supermarkets and restaurants. A great project!

Vicolocorto is a cultural youth NGO, non-profit, non-party and apolitical. It works in the Marche region in cooperation with public and private institutions and is also involved in the European Solidarity Corps. As the coordinating organisation, it is thus the link between us - the ESC volunteers - and the host organisation, such as Caritas Jesi. For us, Vicolocorto is responsible for all organisational matters concerning our ESC volunteer service, supervision and language course. At this point, thank you very much for your support 💙

Comments

The subway in Jesi

It´s really a great fortune. Since I arrived in Jesi almost four months ago I ´ve had the privilege of meeting so many, interessting people. Friends, collegues, acquaintances of friends, collegues and acquaintances. If I would try to draw all these connection that link all these people, it would probably look like a subway map. Another wonderful opportunity to expand this map I got the other day. The station is called subwaylab and there I sat at lunch with two people who turned their passion into a business. Subwaylab is a small film studio in Jesi and seems itself like a caricature out of a movie. Do you know "Dawson's Creek"? This place reminds me of Dawson's room. Movie posters hang on the walls, props, movie figures, scripts, ... it´s everywhere. There's even an arcade machine in one corner. And the two (of four) founders of subwaylab , with whom I had lunch, also fit the bill: friendly, enthuastic and nerdy in a good way. One discovered his passion as a

Arrivederci and Danke!

Now the time has come. My things are packed and the room is tidy. The only thing missing is my last article here to say goodbye. To tell how this experience here was, whether my expectations were fulfilled, what was good or bad. That is really not so easy. When I think about my first day, the day I arrived, it seems like it was just a month ago. The excitement, all the unknown. How can it already be half a year ago? But then I see the many fully written pages in my travel diary and remember. Six months in Italy, in Jesi. Six months with Caritas. Six months of adventure, boredom, joy and sadness. Six months of growing friendships. Never in my life have I met so many people in a short time, never in my life have I been so much on my own. In Rivestiamo I was able to be creative, master the hustle and bustle in the kitchen together with wonderful people, drowned in clothes at Magazzino and moved furniture. I walked at sunsets and sunrises and when the sun was at its zenith. I climbed mou

THE LÄND

I had to smile when I was sitting thoughtlessly at the bus station to the Frasassi Caves, waiting for the bus, and my gaze happened to fall on this sticker. "Nett hier. Aber waren Sie schon mal in Baden-Württemberg?" In English: "Nice here. But have you ever been to Baden-Württemberg?" These stickers are part of a promotional campaign by the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany and by now they can be found all over the world (supposedly also on Mont Everest, in Chernobyl and in the Jordanian desert). They are placed by tourists who love their home state of Baden-Württemberg and are proud to be from THE LÄND. I also have a deep affection for this state, more precisely for the Ortenau region. It was my home for the last five years during my studies. Here I have met valuable people, I have made experiences, I have grown. Here I put down roots and here I was able to leave this nest. Embedded between the Black Forest and Alsace in France, it is characterized by rolli

From Europe to Jesi

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