Nights of Connections - ESC Team Volunteering in Mussomeli, Italy (Fully Funded)

An open call for 15 volunteers from all over Europe to join the ESC Team Volunteering project "Nights of Connections" in Mussomeli, Sicily, Italy, for one month. Volunteers will assist the host organization in turning evenings into opportunities for the local community, creativity, and connection. This volunteering project is organized by "Strauss APS" and funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union.

About the Volunteering Project

Strauss APS from Italy is calling 15 volunteers from all over Europe to join them in the heart of rural Sicily to co-create meaningful night-time events for the local community – no alcohol, no smoke, just pure energy, empathy, and exchange. The project aims to transform ordinary evenings into a safe, welcoming space where people of all ages can meet, share, and grow together.

As a volunteer, you will assist in the following tasks:

- Design and lead creative and interactive evening events;

- Organize intercultural encounters, storytelling labs, board game nights, and civic-themed evenings;

- Learn how to use games as tools for social inclusion and democratic dialogue;

- Reimagine what it means to manage an inclusive and community-driven space;

- Work in an international team of 15 young people from across Europe;

- Promote a culture of respect, listening, and non-formal education, free from alcohol and smoke.

Eligibility Criteria 

Organizers are offering this opportunity to 15 participants to ensure the intercultural dimension of the project. Participants should meet the following requirements:

- Young people aged between 18 and 30 years old from all over Europe;

- Open-minded, collaborative, and creative;

- Interested in community building, youth work, and intercultural learning;

- Willing to live and work in a rural setting;

- No specific skills or previous experience required – just motivation and curiosity! 

Expenses and Benefits

- Volunteers will be hosted in a large flat. It is surrounded by many of the historical and artistic monuments of Mussomeli. 

- On the ground floor, there are the offices of Strauss APS and spaces for recreational and educational workshops, while, on the first floor, in an area of about 390 square meters, there is the volunteers' house.

- The flat has 2 entrances, one internal and connected with the offices below, and one independent. The house is provided with 5 bedrooms, all with windows, 1 kitchen, 2 bathroom areas, a laundry room, and a large terrace.

- The detailed complete address of the accommodation is: Via della Vittoria, 8 - 93014 Mussomeli (CL), Italy. Volunteers will be the only ones who live in the apartment.

- The participant will receive a total of €11 per day, composed as follows:

• 6 € /day as pocket money
• 5 € /day as food allowance
• Payments will be managed directly by Strauss APS and will be transferred in euros (€) at the beginning of the month.

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

- 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 (by bike, train, bus, etc)
• Keep all your travel documents and tickets for reimbursements. No documents = No reimbursement!
• Please send your travel proposal by email to the organizers 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: 30 August 2025

Arrival day: 4th or 5th of September 2025

Project starts: 5th of September 2025

Project ends: 2nd of  October 2025

Departure day: 2nd of October 2025

If you decide to arrive earlier on the 3rd of September and/or leave later on the 4th of October, food and accommodation expenses for those extra days will be up to you.

Logistics info

- Volunteers are recommended to search and buy tickets to land in Palermo Airport because it's easier to get to Mussomeli (The project Venue).  

- Please also search for tickets arriving in the morning, or no later than 3 pm, to get to Mussomeli with public transportation. If you land later or in other airports, there could be a need to spend a night there, and it that case, you must cover all your expenses related to food and accommodation.

How to apply?

If you’re interested in joining the Nights of Connection - ESC Team Volunteering Project, please complete the following two steps:

Step 1: Fill in the online application form as soon as possible.

Step 2: Apply also on the ESC portal from this page

 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting volunteering opportunity!

More Details

For additional information about the Nights of Connection - ESC Team Volunteering Project, including project details and requirements, please check the opportunity info-pack from HERE 

Apply Now⇗

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.