📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
FPD was founded in 2009, thanks the Regional Governament which granted its foundation on the basis of the activities planned for the social development of the regional rural areas. It is a non-profit regional civil organization, made by young and senior people. It's mission is to promote and facilitate the development of rural areas of the Puglia Region, thanks to the implementation of projects concerning volunteering, youth, social inclusion, environment protection, sustainable development, promotion of the importance of biodiversity, organic farming, nature and sport and outdoor activities. FPD focuses its attention on European mobility, both for the personal development of its single members and for the growth of local partner organizations at International level. The main target group is youth under 35 y.o., but the organization also works with senior people. Both the categories have in common the fact they are made of disadvantaged people from rural areas. The young people are mainly NEET, which means FPD offers them several opportunities to learn, be trained and educated at local and European level in order to enrich their curricula and get more chances for their job-placement or self-employment. FPD cooperates with several Public and Private entities at all levels, such as: a) Municipality of Taurisano (IT) - FPD cooperates in the organization of local events in several fields (waste collection, Music festivals, youth participation in decision making processes, cultural activities, music events, photo exhibitions....); b) Province of Lecce (IT) – FPD had a project concerning young people's involvement in local initiatives concerning ecology and biological food, re-use of different materials and recycle of waste; c) Region of Puglia (IT) – FPD cooperates with its Region on projects concerning promotion of natural resources of rural areas; d) Several EU NGOs are partners in the implementation of Youth Exchanges, Youth and Democracy projects, Training Courses, seminars, workshops, volunteering activties in different fields. What is more, FPD is member of numerous European Networks financed by the Europe for Citizens Programme, for the valorization of the EU Cultural Heritage (tangible, intangible, digital and natural), the promotion of Youth Mobility for learning, training, working, studying and volunteering abroad, the active participation (mainly digital participation) at EU level of youth and seniors.
💼 What the programme involves
Illegal dumps are a big problem in our Nature Park. This rural area didn't have a proper waste management plan in decades and people used this karst area characteristics (such as sinkholes, caves, spring areas, forests) as locations for discarding waste. There are a lot of locations that need to be cleaned and by doing that we will help in making this Nature Park a much safer place for wildlife, locals, visitors and cleaner and safer water (springs, creeks, canyons and waterfalls). Doing this activity, participants will be able to help in maintaining a cleaner and safer environment for all people and learn about theory and practice in ecology, recycling, sustainability and responsibility for nature. This activity is planned for team volunteering and is done outdoors in the nature, it is connected with forestry (maintaining clean forests), ecology and green skills (using simple non-motorized tools).
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation is provided in Sošice visitor center in two dorms equipped with bunk beds, lockers, toilets and showers. Meals are prepared by the volunteers, you will receive money for food and pocket money upon arrival. Local transportation to working locations is organized by Park's employees, also the transportation to Sošice upon arrival to Croatia and from Sošice after departure. Travel costs to and from Croatia will be reimbursed according to European Distance Calculator.
🎒 Leisure activities
Training will be organized in a form of lectures and workshops by Park's employees, covering topics such as karst area , conservation , recycling , waste separation , reusage of materials , ecology. etc. Also, Croatian Mountain Rescue Service will organize a workshop about safe mountain practices for volunteers.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: We expect from our participant to to be a nature lover, to have environmental awareness, to have interest in learning and doing outdoor physical work, to be responsible and committed to work, to be serious about their stay , schedule and activities, to be a team player, but also independent with their time, to be flexible and open to new ideas during their stay, to be respectful and helpful to the locals. Participants also have to be aware of the fact they will live and work in a remote village in the heart of a Nature Park so power, water and WiFi shortages can occur.
Applicants are expected to fill in the form before selection process https://forms.gle/tkizfFmsfaZpb1HY9
Deadline: 20/07/2026 12:00
ℹ️ Additional information
The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project
- Health insurance during your project
- round-trip travel reimbursement
- accommodation and food
- pocket money
- language course
- Return Week-end
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (
https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.