On Arrival Training

The European Solidarity Corps also includes an On Arrival Training, which is organized by the National Agency. The aim of the training is to receive information and tools that are useful for the volunteer service abroad, e. g. communication, rights and responsibilities, conflict resolution, goal setting and learning to learn, but also background knowledge about Italian culture and team building between participants.

My On Arrival Training took place in Morlupo, Rome. After 3 months, I am no longer at the beginning of my volunteer service (rather halfway), but I still learned a lot of new things in those 5 days. About my experiences so far and about my possibilities for the future. Strategies to channel my plans and make them happen. Online tools for mindmapping, teamworking, etc. I was able to visit Rome (at temperatures of 38° C 😵) and see a wonderful Italian movie ("Quo vado" - absolutely recommended).

But best of all, I met many wonderful people. Do-gooders, seekers, idealists, adventurers, dropouts, .... . Different in our motivations, backgrounds, experiences and projects, spread all over Italy and yet like-minded. Teambuilding and get-to-know-you games (yes, they really work!) broke the initial ice and brought us a bit closer. Small parties and conversations deep into the night eventually developed into friendships. We exchanged our experiences and expectations and got to know each other and ourselves better.

Once again I am grateful for the opportunities offered by the European Solidarity Corps. The On Arrival Training was almost like the volunteer project itself: in a short time I met many wonderful people, heard many stories that make me think and got many impressions that shape me. And therefore, I would like to conclude here with the wise words of Team Honolulu:

It´s not an issue, it´s a challenge
It´s not a mistake, it´s a lesson
It´s not about the goal, it´s about the journey
We are not late, we are in Italian time

😘

Comments

My experiences with migrants in Caritas

Hello everyone! It's Louise. Today, I'd like to share with you two actions in which I recently participated. They taught me a lot, both on a human level and in terms of the concrete challenges involved in welcoming and supporting migrants in Italy. Welcoming migrants on their arrival at the port Two weeks ago, I went with Marco D’Aurizio (President of Caritas Jesina) and other workers of Caritas Ancona to welcome a group of 276 migrants who had arrived on the Ocean's Viking (a boat that rescues migrants at sea) at Ancona’s port. We were there at 8am, under grey skies and a cold wind, ready to hand out breakfast: a bottle of water, an apple, a filled brioche, and tea for those who wanted it. The reception was very closely supervised by the police, which made the organisation very rigorous, but also a little tense. At first, we let people sit down, take time to eat and warm up. But soon, the police were pressing us to get the migrants onto the buses waiting nearby. So, we h...

Hello everyone! I'm the new volunteer

Hi! My name is Louise, I'm 26 years old, and I'm from France. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to go abroad to see what life is like elsewhere. Two years ago, in 2022, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Law, specialising in European Law. That’s how I first heard about the European Solidarity Corps (but only from an academic perspective, as we were studying several European programs). During my studies, I volunteered every summer with a French organisation that supports migrants in different aspects of their lives. The first Summer, I helped organise activities for children living in a refugee center. And the following years, I joined the legal advice service, where I assisted migrants with their administrative process to obtain or renew their residence permits. It was a truly rewarding experience that helped me grow personally. After graduation, I felt lost. I knew from my volunteering experience that I wanted a job that had a positive impact on society, but I wasn't ...

Volunteer Oct24. 3 months so far!

Ciao, Hola and Hi! I’m Río Rojas Mayorga and it's been 3 months since I'm an ESC volunteer here in Caritas Jesina. Let me update you briefly about my experience! The arrival and first week in Caritas was a mix of emotions between the excitement to start and the confusion of all the new people and information we were bombarded with. At first we didn't have a schedule and it was a little bit messy but, I'm glad I shared so much time with my project partner; it was nice having someone in the same situation. First month Once the schedule was set, we had to adjust not only to the work but also to the people we shared the time with. As all the services are done with local people, at first it was difficult the communication as I had no words in Italian, but I was gladly surprised to find out my will of talking and sharing was lovely appreciated and corresponded, I found out the language barrier was a challenge but i wasn’t fighting it alone. My birthday arrived eventually an...

From Europe to Jesi

Search This Blog