ESC: Volunteering in Insectarium Esapolis and Butterfly House, Padova, Italy

Xena Center for Exchange and Intercultural Dynamics is a non-profit cultural association founded in 1995.

It promotes local and international initiatives to develop personal and social growth, intercultural learning and active participation in societytag. It combines over 25 years of experience with constant updating that aims at innovation in its sectors of interest.

It has always achieved significant results in design and implementation in its main areas: transnational internships (VET), training of citizens and operators, facilitation of groups, non-formal education for young people and adults, especially in projects under the European Erasmus+ Programme, starting with the European Voluntary Service now ESC European Solidarity Corps.

It is characterized and recognized for its work on international mobility, both abroad and in reception in Italy, also in order to make it more accessible to different targets through information, guidance, planning. In the field of Orientation, it has been a training body accredited by the Veneto Region and a point of the Eurodesk network for about ten years; since 2010 it has been a local point of the Euroguidance network.

On the local front it is very active; In addition to joining projects promoted by other bodies, it promotes and coordinates innovative paths to catalyze socio-cultural processes, both by networking different subjects and by involving citizens in initiatives that include intercultural dialogue and the development of alternative economies.

The Xena working group is made up of trainers, experts in European programmes, educators, psychologists, animators, facilitators, experts in youth training, information and guidance, language teachers.

All team members work in Italian and English, most of them also speak Spanish and other languages. The role of the voluntary work provided at all levels by Italian members and members of various nationalities is also valuable.