Hi! I'm Eeva, I'm 19 years old and I'm from Finland.

I volunteered with the European Solidarity Corps in the small mountain village of Milena and in the big city of Palermo.

In Milena, we dedicated ourselves to the regeneration of an old fountain, transforming it into a true work of art on water. We painted an Italian poem on its walls and created an artistic backdrop, hanging paintings that tell the meaning of water for each of us.

In Palermo, we renovated the nature trails on Monte Pellegrino, collected trash, renovated trail signs, and rebuilt a natural stream so that a dried-up lake can be filled with rainwater.

I decided to participate in the European Solidarity Corps because I wanted to have new experiences and see the world. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to see places you would otherwise not visit.

The best memories were definitely the landscapes we worked in. It was also nice to be able to do versatile work. Sometimes it was physical work, art work or nature conservation. There was also enough free time to explore the city and culture.

I recommend this experience to young people, because you get to know new people and new places. All you need is an open mind and the desire to learn and help, and then the trip will be amazing.

Eeva Karevaara