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Presentation - Weronika Trawczyu0144ska
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My European Solidarity Corps experience Palermo, Sicily 04.2023 - 02.2024
How did it begin? After my graduation in October 2022 I wasn’t really sure what I would like to do in my life, where I wanted to work, which exactly path I should took. I also felt a big desire to gain an experience abroad, to broaden my horizons and to improve my italian which I had learned a bit during my Erasmus exchange in Padova. For that reason I knew that Italy would be an amazing country for me to move in for a bit. On the same time I didn’t want to really lose my time, I’ve always known that when I am there I have to do something which will give me a fulfilment and satisfaction. That’s why I decided to apply for the European Solidarity Corps program and do volunteering in Palermo, Italy. In Warsaw, where I lived, I left everything - a job I just got, an apartment I just rented. I risked because I didn’t know if it was a good decision. But now, when my volunteering is about to finish, after 10 amazing months in Palermo, I can truly admit that I don’t regret this decision and It was one of the best time of my life.
Picture it - Build Your Future My project implemented as part of the European Solidarity Corps was called "Picture it - Build Your Future" and my hosting organization was Human Rights Youth Organization. I used to work on a variety of projects, usually with local community but not only! The goals of my project were: - engaging the local community in projects increasing ecological/environmental awareness, contributing to the enrichment of the educational offer in different disadvantaged neighborhoods of Palermo, sensitizing society to segregation and waste of food, increasing awareness of diversity and reduce discrimination and prejudice. - - -
My activities Main projects I worked on: Terra Franca ● Cura Project ● Palermo Pura 2.0 ● Second Life After Ballarò ● Human Library ● Rise Project ● Youth Exchange “We are what we eat” ● Youth Exchange “Permaculture Future” ● Training Course “Go Deep” ● Project writing ● Non-violent communication workshop ●
Terra Franca The main and longer-term project of HRYO which includes a volunteering activities is TERRA FRANCA - a big piece of land confiscated from the Mafia, which has turned from a landfill into a permaculture responsibilities in Terra taking care of plants (cutting, watering, keeping them in order); taking care of chickens (feeding, cleaning chicken coop, collecting eggs); taking care of vegetable and herbs garden (orto a lasagna and orto spirale); taking care (keeping it function clean and correctly). big variety of hub. My main were: Franca of the eco-toilet
Cura Project As a part of CURA project we carried out various educational workshops and moments of community development in Cruillas District where Terra Franca is located. Specifically, the workshops offered consisted of the experiential learning path in nature. My role, together volunteers was to organize informal learning activities for children aged between 4 and 6 years old, mainly on the subject of the environment and responsibilities were: brainstorming on the content of the weekly activities, preparing materials for workshops, supporting the trainer while conducting the activities and playing with children. by my organization with other ecology. contributing My main the to
Palermo Pura 2.0 As organized a series of cleaning actions around Palermo, including beaches and parks in order to increase the ecological awareness of the young generation and encourage the local community to actively participate and work for a common future. My main responsibilities were: conducting communication in social media - preparing graphics and texts for posts; activating local community in the project by talking to locals about the issue and contacting other organizations with which we share the same goals and values to invite them to cooperate with us; cleaning public spaces together with other volunteers. a part of Palermo Pura 2.0 we
Second Life After Ballarò Another ESC Solidarity project which is part of a series of strategies that the HRYO has developed in recent years, based on raising awareness on the importance of taking actions to combat climate change. The project aims to sensitize society to segregation and waste of food, which can be reused instead (e.g. to create natural compost). As part of the SECOND LIFE AFTER BALLARÒ project a weekly collection of organic waste from the local market were organized, which was then used to create compost in Terra Franca. My main responsibilities communication in social media - preparing graphics and texts for posts; activating local community in the project; collecting organic waste in the market of Ballarò together with other volunteers; transporting organic waste to Terra Franca to refill our compost. were: conducting
Human Library In June 2023 we had a pleasure of organizing this series of meetings, which aim to increase awareness of diversity and reduce discrimination and prejudice. As part of this event, people-books who experienced discrimination due to their orientation, illness or beliefs could share their experiences with readers. My main responsibilities were: conducting communication of the project in social media (Instagram) before, during and after the event - preparing graphics and texts; logistics coordination of the event during its duration. other people-
Rise Project The project “From here we rise” is about researching, discussing and debating the social and economic brought on by the COVID-19 crisis with the objective to undertake a gender-based research study, analysing the social and economic effects on vulnerable groups; to undertake a series seminars, focusing on the curtailment of fundamental rights on vulnerable groups; and to raise awareness, campaign, on media literacy. repercussions of debates and through a As part of this project I helped to organize debates with middle and high school students, research surveys and seminars on the impact of the pandemic on all spheres of our lives.
Youth Exchange “We are what we eat” I helped to organize Youth Exchange under the Erasmus+ program. We are what we eat project was a multicultural learning experience that aims to deepen the knowledge on the topic of climate change with participants from different backgrounds. That was done through non-formal activities, learning by doing, brainstorming, experimentation teamwork. The predominantly the relation between the kitchen and the environment within the working context and with nature. During youth exchange I was responsible for preparing and then activities like „Palermo treasure hunt”, icebreakers, energizers or quizzes. and issues regarded conducting the
Youth Exchange “Permaculture Future” I helped to organize another Youth Exchange under the Erasmus+ program. The Permaculture Future project aimed to create awareness on climate crisis topics while doing activities and laboratories in a non-formal education methodology. Goals of the project were to increase the level of awareness of the climate crisis through different activities and laboratories, exchange of ideas and activities for action on climate change and develop personal skills and communication international context. During youth exchange I was responsible for preparing and then conducting the activities like „Palermo treasure hunt”, icebreakers, energizers, quizzes but also I worked as a logistical support during the duration of youth exchange. capacities in a
Training course “Go Deep” I supported of the organizers team on logistic and linguistic levels during Training Course program about building. I was responsible for preparing necessary materials for participants like logbooks or any other things needed for activities. community
Writing personal project During my volunteering experience I managed to write solidarity project about non-violent communication. A Solidarity Project is an activity that a young person can carry out in a group of five people or more to help to bring positive change to the local community. The idea of my project was to organize series of workshops about non- violent communication for local community. One of the goals is to create a safe neighborhood of Palermo) where one of the main goals will be activities in the field of non-formal education in the spirit of inclusivity and diversity. The idea is to allow young people with fewer opportunities possibilities of access to different resources, to provide new skills and tools useful in daily life in order to better respond to their needs. place in Cruillas (poor to have the same
On-arrival training I participated in obligatory on-arrival training. It took place in Morlupo, small village close to Rome in June 2023. It was organized by Italian National Agency. During the training, I learned about conflict resolution and team building activities but also I had a chance to get to know better all the possibilities for former volunteers which EU gives. What is more, I met a lot of people there with whom I am still in touch!
My free time My volunteering experience was not only about work! During my stay I was travelling a lot, exploring the beauty of Sicily, hanging out with my friends, meeting new people, hiking, participating in events such as concerts or film festivals. Moreover, I couldn’t forget to mention about spending time on the beautiful Sicilian beaches too!
The best ten months so far in my life? YES! Even though it wasn't always so easy and I sometimes encountered many obstacles, I can say that ESC volunteering was the best experience that I have had in my life so far. It was a very uplifting and inspiring experience, during which I gained many practical skills that made it easier for me to quickly find a job in Warsaw after my volunteering because of all the things I’ve learned in my hosting organization. Moreover, it was a time when I developed my personal skills. I became a more assertive person, able to fight for myself, I proved to myself that I can get out of any challenging situation, of which there were many - living in a foreign country, even a visit to the doctor could be a hard nut to crack. Thanks to so many people I have met and made friends with, I have become a more open, empathetic, understanding and patient person. I learned about a different reality that changed my attitude in many life issues. I feel that I came back from my volunteering as a better person, even more curious about the world, people and all possibilities we can get.
