Stories of volunteering

 

Hi! My name is Bence Baranyi, I'm from Budapest, Hungary, and I'm 28 years old.
I volunteered in an eco-community called Gaia Terra in Northern Italy with theESCMy volunteer experience began in July and ended in December 2025, giving me the opportunity to spend five months and five days there. At Gaia Terra, I participated in various activities and met diverse people. My experience included building with natural and reused materials, practicing permaculture, organizing numerous events, and focusing on personal development and community strengthening.

I decided to do a volunteering experience with theESC Because I wanted to try volunteering abroad. I find an international environment more stimulating and rich in learning opportunities, such as learning a new language and experiencing a different culture. The project itself at Gaia Terra caught my attention from the start, as I've always been interested in green building and community life.
During the first two months, I tried out different skills, such as gardening, cooking, and fermentation. In the last three months, I specialized in construction, as it's the area in which I have the most expertise. I've also been actively involved in community building.

Organizationally, I helped improve daily cooperation by creating a large board with magnets to help organize daily activities. Socially, I suggested mountain hikes and other shared activities.
Some of the best moments were those when we worked together and had time to talk deeply for hours, as well as those when we danced, played music, and jammed together. The hardest part was finding time to read or be alone, especially during the winter, since there was only one heated living room, which was often noisy and bustling.

I highly recommend everyone to participate in a program ESCThrough volunteering, I discovered a different work culture and met many passionate people who love doing meaningful work for others. I made many friendships during these five months, and I'm sure some of them will last a lifetime. Volunteering is also one of the best ways to learn a language: I learned Italian from scratch to A2 level. The support ofESC He made me feel safe throughout the project. I was fully insured, and the financial support was enough to cover my expenses.

Progetto n. 2024-1-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000231046

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