Volunteering abroad – 10 months in Molfetta

My name is Jasmin and for 10 months I got the opportunity to live in Molfetta and get to know the italian culture and language quite well. I volunteered at the association “Appoggiati a Me”, which is an institution for children and teenagers with disabilities. I got to be part of a small group containing a few young people with autism and accompanied them in their daily life. Together we played a lot of games, cooked typical italian dishes, cleaned and participated in other fun activities like yoga or music sessions. By initiating my personal project, an international cooking workshop, I got to share my own culture with them by preparing German dishes.

During my time I made some very beautiful and deep friendships with other volunteers. They made this experience unforgettable for me. We had so much fun together and they became my second family, which helped me to not feel too lonely so far away from home.

This journey has influenced me and my future life immensely and will forever have a special place in my heart. Although it wasn’t always easy and there were many problems, I realized I would find a solution every time and eventually everything would be alright. My ESC project taught me to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to a new environment while staying open minded. I developed greater self confidence and independence by living and working abroad.