I'm Marina Margareto Torrededia, I'm 23 years old and I'm from Barcelona, ​​Spain.

From June to January, I had a wonderful experience in Sant'Agata di Militello, volunteering with Caritas Patti. It was an intense seven months that gave me so much.

I wanted to have this experience because it's an opportunity that allows you to contribute and help the people of a local area. I also wanted to continue learning Italian, since I was starting out with a basic knowledge, and what better way than to live in a place where it's always spoken?

I also knew I could share new experiences with other people and create new memories. I also wanted it to be an experience that would give me more self-confidence, so I could get to know myself better, both personally and professionally.

During my volunteering, I was able to do so many things. In the summer, I started with the Grest program, where I met many volunteers from around the world, as well as local children. We organized activities for children aged 6 to 12 and ran the summer camp mornings. The heat, the children, and the group dynamics were challenges that helped me grow, and which I gradually overcame with the help of the Caritas staff.

Then, once the summer camp was over, I took on other tasks, such as managing the clothing warehouse. My job consisted of sorting boxes by age and gender, cataloging new donations, and transporting them to distribution points for families. I also helped in the food warehouse, preparing packages and transporting essential goods.

We also organized several events: we set up spaces such as the Youth Center, organized a Christmas market and a school supplies drive, among many other activities.

Another key part of my journey was being part of Sartoria Sociale, which was tied to my Personal Project. The main goal was to connect older women and young people in the community. We created a space to share knowledge about crochet and sewing, where I taught young volunteers some techniques. Together, we created items to raise funds for local families in need.

For me, one of the best moments was when I got together with friends. Usually, on the weekends, we'd make plans, like simply going for ice cream or hiking in the mountains. I was able to share many experiences with them, and I'm very happy. 🙂

In terms of work, I'd add that it was wonderful to see when you've worked on something for a long time and finally see the result. For example, when I finished some crocheted items and, in December, we prepared the space for the Christmas Market so we could finally display them. The Grest camp was also a wonderful experience, because I shared special moments with the volunteers who came from out of town, and I'm still in touch with some of them. 

I would definitely encourage all young people to take advantage of this type of opportunity. Volunteering is an experience that not only allows you to help and contribute to the growth of a region, but also allows you to make new friends, create new memories, and discover a different place and culture.

I love knowing that the work I've done, and am doing, will be useful in the future. It's something that belongs to the present, but it remains available to the organization, so that new volunteers can continue to build on what I've accomplished.