HI! My name is Irene Lombardero, I am 26 years old and I am from Gijón (Asturias) located in the north of Spain.
I was a volunteer in Sicily, in the province of Caltanissetta. For 10 months I worked in the Association "I Girasoli".

In the association I began to study Italian with the educators and with the immigrant children of the center, until I learned the language. It was a challenge for me who didn't know Italian when I arrived, and who now speaks perfectly fluently.

When I learned the language I started helping with lessons for the children of the association, both children and adults and families. My task was to support educators in daily activities, schoolwork and to carry out creative and recreational activities with them.

When I decided to have my volunteering experience I was in a moment of great confusion in my life, I wanted to travel, break personal barriers, get to know new cultures and do projects different from those I was used to in my city.
I had several options, but I always wanted to visit Italy, both for its gastronomy and its culture in general.

 

I was very interested in participating in a project related to immigration, as I was considering the possibility of orienting my professional future in this field. Today, thanks to this project, I have overcome my doubts and it is clear to me that I want to continue my working life and my studies in the socio-cultural field.

In addition to working in the association, I used my free time to travel and get to know the island. I had the opportunity to go to many beaches in the summer and camp in nature.

I made new friends, both Italian and from different parts of the world, who I met through various activities and assessments in Rome, where other volunteers in Italy met. I met wonderful people there and we are still in contact today to plan future trips to see each other again.

I had to expose myself to situations and break habits being in a new country, and especially in my case being alone as a volunteer, but the memories and good moments I experienced there I wouldn't change for anything in the world.

I visited places like Agrigento, Sciacca, Syracuse, Ragusa, Ortigia, Palermo, Catania, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, Trapani, Modica, Etna and Erice, among others.

In the association I shared part of the culture of my country of origin, such as the cuisine of typical dishes and music.
I also learned a lot about kids culture. We exchanged ideas, customs and stories from each country, which gave me a new perspective on things and thanks to which we experienced unforgettable moments, we became a big family.

I carried out artistic activities with them in which we all participated, when we weren't giving Italian lessons.
I worked on a personal project where I collected all the photos that represented my experience there and the most special memories we had together. I made a handmade album with dried tree leaves and some of my drawings. Another part of my project was to decorate the center with one of my paintings depicting tea time, to remember one of the most beautiful moments of the day, when we were all together.

When I decided to volunteer, I had many doubts and insecurities about my future and I was very afraid of taking risks. Thanks to this experience and the people I shared it with, I gained confidence, courage and determination. I learned a lot from myself and from others, and this meant great personal growth.

Many doors have opened for me. I have discovered the ability to do what you set out to do, if you really want it. The happiness that this period of my life has given me cannot be described in words.
For this and many other reasons I highly recommend young people from all over the world to take advantage of this opportunity and gain experience.

It is clear that I intend to return to Sicily; this place and its people have taught me valuable lessons and a million memories that I will carry with me always.