ESC: Six months in the Centre for Environmental Education Serra Guarneri

Code: 48953 Copied

Italy European Voluntary Service European Voluntary Service Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

💼 What the programme involves

Serra Guarneri is an environmental education center located in the Madonie Mountains. Part of Palma Nana social cooperative, we work with kids and adults to teach environmental awareness, conservation, sustainable tourism, permaculture, circular economy, community living, and much more. A tiny village in the woods, we live as a community and embody our teaching, living simply and in tune with our surroundings and neighbors. Volunteers are expected to become apart of this community, taking part in diverse activities and caring for the structure, village, inhabitants, and local community. The project is rooted in revitalizing rural life by encouraging creativity and equipping participants with practical skills for sustainable living. During much of the year, the structure hosts groups of children and adults, who come for school camps, summer camps, environmental trainings, yoga retreats, and more. Our priority of the project is caring for these guests and teaching them our way of life.

🏠 Accommodation on site

In a rural contexr, volunteers live in a 3-bedroom structure with other volunteers, max 2/room. There is a shared bathroom and kitchen, shared with other guests and community members as needed. There's no AC, and heating is from a wood stove in winter Meals are usually prepared by staff and shared with guests. Staff purchase breakfast items and any additional food necessary for volunteers weekly. Food is mainly vegetarian, local, in season, and organic. Volunteers should arrive with green travel. There is a bus stop 45 mins by foot in the nearby village, which can take you to the train station

🎒 Leisure activities

Training takes place in the context of the practical work, and you will learn based on your interests and what you involve yourself in. Things you could learn at Serra Guarneri: environmental education philosophy and activities; Sicilian recipes and low-waste cooking; foraging and local plants; cleaning and upkeep of rural structures; hospitality and sustainable tourism; Sicilian culture and traditions; low-budget construction, maintenance, and renovation; organic/permaculture gardening; circular economy & closed-loop systems; alternative economy.

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: Volunteers must have personal motivation to engage in community living, must take initiative and responsibility, and are enthusiastic about becoming an essential part of an ecological community that hosts guests on a daily basis. The project is for those who are able to live with less comforts in a rural setting, can adapt to a different culture, are good at problem solving. Volunteers must be flexible to daily work, as plans can change often. Experience in practical work, cleaning, and gardening is a plus. Volunteers must be willing to do any kind of work, even in uncomfortable situations. We hope to find volunteers who are excited about what each day has to offer and seize opportunities to meet local producers, explore the natural areas, and get to know the local community members and culture.
Deadline: 20/12/2025 18:00

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.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📅 Available sessions

IT48953

17/01/2026 → 16/07/2026

Closed

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Deadline: 20/12/2025

ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–30 years old

Solidarity donation

0.00 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

90015 Cefalù, PA, Italy

Italy

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)

Timezone

Central European Standard Time

Local time: 21:57 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Italian