Eyes Wide Open 2025 | ESC Team Volunteering in Bergolo, Italy (Fully Funded)

An exciting opportunity for young people from all ESC program countries who are interested in joining an international team of 10 volunteers for 30 days in a beautiful rural area of Piedmont, in northern Italy, to apply for the ESC Team Volunteering project "Eyes Wide Open 2025" which takes place in the small village of Bergolo from 25th of August to 24th of September 2025. This project is organised by the "New Welless Education" association from Italy in collaboration with the "Hopeland" organisation from Greece, with funding from the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union.

About "Eyes Wide Open 2025" 

Eyes Wide Open volunteering project focuses on raising awareness, promoting, and supporting the presentation of Cultural landscapes in rural areas. 

- 50% of the Project is focusing on:

• Training on visual media and digital literacy 
• Video making and visual media products creation 
• Digitalisation of cultural history 
• Promotion and protection of the cultural landscape involving the local community 

- 50% is dedicated to creating a nurturing eco-community:

• Hands-on work to support the Bergolo municipality with village maintenance 
• Work in a Learning community, garden, planting, and take care of plants
• helping to clean the hiking paths and trails around the area

Project Venue

Bergolo is a village of 54 inhabitants located on the hills of south Piedmont in Italy. It has a long tradition of music, art, and cultural festivals, and is a peaceful destination for nature and outdoor activities.

From the 70's to 90's, Bergolo was very well-known for a huge music festival that fascinated a lot of people interested in cultural activities. In 1993, the municipality started to hold an art contest as a way to revitalize the vibe in the village and attract visitors and youth. Now, Bergolo has become an open-air gallery with 68 unique and creative art objects.

The village becomes the ideal place for diving in nature and disconnecting from busy city life. Since 2018 village has hosted regular youth exchanges and trainings organized by different youth organizations.

Eligibility Criteria 

Organizers are offering this opportunity to 10 participants to ensure the intercultural dimension of the project. Participants should meet the following requirements:

- Young people aged between 18 and 30 years old (no older than 30 on the 25th of August 2025)

- Resident in one of the ESC covered countries without need to apply for a VISA to enter Italy, check the list from HERE

- You are facing a challenging situation in your life as described here

- Ready to live in a rural environment in northern Italy for 4 weeks

- Having an interest in visual arts or digital tools, or cultural and artistic. 

- Enthusiastic with hands-on activities and practical tasks like gardening, painting, cooking, cleaning, etc. 

Special Skills: Organizers are looking for a couple of volunteers with media skills, such as photography and filmmaking, to document this whole experience for everyone, not only but also to support the other activities, digital marketing and promotion.

Expenses and Benefits

- Participants will live together in Cozy Alveare hostel, named "The Hive" in Bergolo.

- The hostel offers a welcoming ambiance and a communal dining area, comfortable shared bedrooms with 2/3/4 beds, and a well-equipped kitchen catering to group needs.

- The hostel has a laundry room and a public Wi-Fi network available to anyone.

- Volunteers will cook and have meals in the hostel kitchen. The kitchen has all the necessary cooking equipment, so volunteers will be in charge of preparing meals together as a team.  

- You will receive 5 EUR/day as pocket money to cover your small expenses. This is not a payment for the support given.

- Besides the European Health Insurance Card, you are going to be offered private volunteering insurance at HENNER. 

- Volunteers will receive bicycles that they can use in their free time. Once a week, they will have the chance to go to the supermarket by car.

- Your international travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the distance between your home and Italy, according to the following limits: 

• from 10 – 99 km - 56 EUR (Green Travel)/ 28 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
• from 100 – 499 km - 285 EUR (Green Travel)/ 211 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
• from 500 – 1999 km - 417 EUR (Green Travel)/ 309 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
• from 2000 – 2999 km - 395 EUR (Green Travel)/ 535 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
• Calculate your budget from HERE

IMPORTANT: 

• Green travel is mandatory; you must travel sustainably (bike, train, bus, etc)
• Keep all your travel documents and tickets for reimbursements. No documents = No reimbursement!
• Please send your travel proposition by email to the organisers and wait for their confirmation before purchasing your tickets!

- Participants are entitled to receive a YouthPass certificate after the project, where you are expected to self-assess your own learning, and you can add it to your CV. 

Timeline

Application deadline: ASAP

Arrival day: 25th of August 2025

Project starts: 26th of August 2025

Project ends: 23rd of  September 2025

Departure day: 24th of September 2025

You will have 48 hours to arrive at the project venue, and 48 hours to reach your home on the way back after the project. If you wish to do so, keep in mind that you need to cover the costs of your accommodation & and food during travel time.

How to apply?

If you’re interested in joining the Eyes Wide Open 2025 - ESC Team Volunteering Project, please complete the online application form as soon as possible. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting volunteering opportunity!

More Details

For additional information about the Eyes Wide Open 2025 - ESC Team Volunteering Project, including project details and requirements, please check the opportunity info-pack from HERE 

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Opportunity Website⇗

By applying to this volunteering program, you take on the responsibility and risks. Inform yourself about the regulation and potential risks. "Opportunity 4U" can't be held liable for any of the potential risks, and this post is only for informative and popularising purposes.