VITALITY

MONESIGLIO, ITALY

ESC VOLUNTEERING

DURING 2026

Ready to help bring a new cultural space to life?

VITALITY is a European Solidarity Corps volunteering project in the rural area of Alta Langa, where volunteers will join the renovation and development of Casa Parco, a future cultural hub for artists, local residents and community activities. With practical hands-on work you will be part of turning an old building into a place where culture, creativity and community can grow.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

VITALITY is a European Solidarity Corps volunteering project hosted by Parco Culturale Alta Langa in Monesiglio, a small rural village in northern Italy. The project aims to bring new energy, ideas and opportunities to the rural areas of Alta Langa through culture, community activities and international volunteering.

By joining, you will contribute to the local community, learn through practical experience and discover what it means to be part of a small cultural organisation. This is not a fixed internship for one specific role: your tasks will change depending on the season, current projects and community needs. Come ready to support with office work, creative activities, events, cleaning, maintenance, preparation of spaces and logistics.

EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS

The European Solidarity Corps brings young people together to support communities, promote inclusion and respond to social challenges through solidarity, respect, cooperation and shared responsibility.

An ESC project is primarily a volunteering experience. It offers the chance to develop skills, while committing your time, energy and ideas to the daily work of the host organisation and the local community.

Solidarity means learning and growing while also cooperating, respecting others and taking responsibility. The key question is not only, “What will I gain?” but also, “What am I ready to offer?”

Parco Culturale Alta Langa is a small, community-based cultural association working to counter the increasing isolation and marginalisation of the villages of Alta Langa.

We create and support cultural events, volunteering opportunities, international mobility projects and initiatives connected to the history, environment and cultural heritage of the area.

Because Alta Langa is a region where many services and opportunities are limited or missing, we work across different areas and aim to respond to the changing needs of the local community.

WHO ARE WE?

It’s important for you to understand before applying that you will not be joining a large organisation with several full-time departments, a fixed event calendar or a large professional team. You will be joining a small rural association where everyone contributes actively and voluntarily.

This environment offers freedom, creativity and space for initiative, but it also requires independence, patience, flexibility and the ability to work without constant supervision.

2 motivated volunteers to join our team during the year of 2026 for 8 months.

From Member States of the European Union (EU) & Third countries associated to the Programme check it out here
Who fits the profile we’re looking for and meets all the application criteria.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

LIFE OF A PARCO VOLUNTEER

At Parco Culturale Alta Langa, there is no typical working day. Your days will depend on the season, the projects active during your mobility, approved grants and the current needs of the association and local community.

Depending on when you arrive, your experience may be very different from that of previous volunteers. You may also be involved in only one stage of a project: early planning and promotion, practical implementation, or cleaning and follow-up. You may even contribute to something whose final result happens after your mobility has ended.

Erasmus+ project

We may be involved in writing project applications, promoting opportunities, selecting participants, preparing documents, supporting implementation, facilitating activities and creating visibility and dissemination materials.

Events/ Festivals/ Workshops/

Sometimes we create our own activities, following the whole process from planning and promotion to implementation and sharing the results. Other times, we support events organised by partners, mainly through logistics, preparation of spaces and practical support.

Community activities

We also often collaborate with local schools, libraries, associations and community groups to create activities for children, adults and older residents. These activities aim to respond to local needs, create opportunities and bring people together.

REMEMBER: these are examples of activities we have carried out so far, and what we USUALLY work with. Since we do not have a crystal ball, we cannot tell you exactly what you will be doing.

Your tasks will depend on the projects, opportunities and community needs that arise during your mobility.

CASA PARCO

At the moment, one of the main focuses is Casa Parco, a historic building currently being transformed into a shared cultural and community space. BUT before Casa Parco can become an active cultural hub, there is still a lot of practical work to do, and this is where your help is needed. Some of the tasks you may carry out include, but not exclusively:

cleaning spaces that have not been used for over 30 years (so expect plenty of dirt and dust);
moving furniture, boxes and materials;
scraping and repainting walls and assist in other renovation works;
sorting objects and deciding what should be preserved, relocated or removed;
creating digital archives and documentation;

This work will be more physical and dusty. It is important to understand that cultural projects are not only about the final exhibitions and events. Cleaning, organising, documenting and preparing spaces are essential parts of making those activities possible, and a real part of the work we do at Parco Culturale Alta Langa.

You are not expected to have previous experience in renovation, art or cataloguing. A supervisor will guide you through these tasks and explain how to carry them out safely and correctly. However, you should be ready to learn, work carefully, take initiative and contribute to a long-term process that will continue developing even after your volunteering project ends.

YOUR PROFILE

This project may be a good fit for you if:

you are genuinely interested in volunteering and contributing to a local community;
you are not afraid of manual work, cleaning, dust, painting or carrying equipment;
you are ready to support both visible activities and less exciting behind-the-scenes tasks;
you can manage quiet periods, limited social opportunities and spending time independently;
you can take responsibility for your time;
you are proactive, curious and ready to bring your own ideas to life;
you are patient and willing to contribute to long-term projects;
you have an open mind, are ready for challenges and can communicate honestly when difficulties arise;
you are prepared to commit to the full duration of the project.
Previous professional experience is not required. We are looking for volunteers with realistic expectations, a willingness to learn and a genuine motivation to offer their time, energy and ideas to the community.

WRITER OF YOUR OWN PROJECT

VITALITY combines tasks connected to the association’s current projects with structured self-directed time, a space for you to observe, explore, learn and create something of your own, with guidance from the coordinator.

During quieter periods, your creativity, curiosity and initiative become especially important. This is not empty time or additional free time, it is part of your volunteering project.

You will be encouraged to:

explore the local community and its needs;
identify topics or activities that interest you;
propose realistic ideas;
create a plan;
connect with local people and organisations;
ask for support when needed;
take responsibility for turning your idea into action.

From our experience, the activities volunteers remember most positively are often the ideas they created and brought to life themselves. What YOU choose to offer the community, and how you use the quieter moments, may become the most meaningful part of your VITALITY experience.

CONDITIONS

Volunteers will be reimbursed for the arrival/return travel costs. The total amount depends on the distance of the volunteer living place.
Each volunteer will receive 180€ monthly pocket money and reimbursement for food expenses up to 165€ per month
The working schedule from 9.30 to 13.00 and from 14.30 to 18.00, from Monday to Friday. The timetable can be different and sometimes can include weekends in case of events.
Magic Word: indimenticabile
*Keep this word as you might need it during your application
You are encouraged to explore the region as part of your experience. There’s a local bus to near by villages, keep in mind that is a bus in a small town, it does not pass every 15 minutes and will require some planning. You will be able to use the association car for some trips too.

Volunteers will have an apartment in Monesiglio, where they will share a room. The apartment has a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and two double bedrooms.

Volunteers will decide for themselves how to settle in the rooms, and are responsible for the maintenance of the house. In the basement, the volunteers can find a washing machine where they can do their laundry. All the accommodation expenses are being taken care of by the organization, its mantaince is the volunteers responsability.

Monesiglio is a small town in the Alta Langa region. The town has a local supermarket, a pastry store, a butcher, a store with fresh vegetables and fruits — everything you need for your day-to-day life. The social life will take you an extra effort to create, but nothing is impossible.

VITALITY works around real local challenges: depopulation and the lack of cultural and social opportunities. These are exactly the issues we want to address, but they may also make the project more challenging for you. Most of your days will be spent with other two volunteers, living together, working together and, possibly, socialising together, which can also make it intense.

There will be days when you are alone in the apartment or office, without so many tasks or social plans. These are not rare exceptions; they are a normal part of life in Monesiglio.

Before applying, research the town, read the volunteers’ blog and ask yourself honestly whether you are ready for its silence, repetition and isolation.

Volunteers Blog about Monesiglio: HERE

Volunteers weekly blog: Keeping Up with Parco

JOIN US. FILL THE APPLICATION FORM

APPLICATION

If you believe you’d be a great addition, we’re more than happy to receive your application. Just fill out the forms, and as soon as we have an available spot, we’ll contact you directly.

Important: read and answer all the questions consciously, this is what we use to evaluate if you’re the right fit. Not doing so will automatically remove your application.

This is not just your application, it’s a commitement. Are you ready to give your best?

Please be patient. Submitting your application does not guarantee that you will be contacted. We will only reach out to participants who pass the pre-selection phase.

And of course, if you have questions that are not already answered on this page, feel free to ask.

Receive volunteering opportunities

You can join our mailing list to stay informed about future volunteering opportunities with Parco Culturale Alta Langa through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme.

By subscribing, you may receive updates about:

new ESC volunteering opportunities with Parco Culturale Alta Langa

📩 We will only send emails when new volunteering positions or relevant opportunities are available.

CHECK OUT PREVIOUS YEAR ACTIVITIES

STAGED PHOTOGRAPHY ART RESIDENCY

The Art Residency project brought together five talented staged photographers from Italy, Spain, and France to recreate iconic Gothic period paintings through photography, with the breathtaking churches of the Bormida Valley as their inspiration. Local served as models, alongside volunteers, in this creative and cultural collaboration. This project was followed with different expositions throughout different towns in Alta Langa.
Volunteers were crucial in:
- Promoting the residency and its events.
- Assisting with costumes, creation and set up photography set.
- Supporting photographers during shoots.
- Acting as models in the recreated scenes.
- Assisting in the creation of a promotional video for the project.
- Set up expositions.

ALTA LANGA FILM FESTIVAL

The Alta Langa Film Festival has always placed the focus on "auteur shorts", attracting a very high number of participants from over 50 countries around the world. The festival is divided into three main sections: Fiction, Animation and Documentary.
Learn more about it here.
Volunteers played a key role by:
- Assisting with the selection and digitalization of films for screenings.
- Promoting the festival, creating and managing website updates.
- Offering logistical support during screenings, setting up the events, and handing out popcorn.
You can find the website here.

MU DANCE WORKSHOP

MU.Dance is a dynamic workshop that brings together people from around the world to connect through the art of dance. It focuses on fostering connections, sharing experiences, and, of course, dancing. Participants not only enhance their dance skills but also build meaningful bonds with others.
Volunteers contributed by:
- Promoting the workshop on various platforms.
- Assisting in the kitchen, preparing meals for participants.
- Creating graphics for the workshop’s promotion.

DIGITAL ART GALLERY ALTA LANGA

DAGAL was a project divided in three steps.
A study visit involving 12 participants in May 2023 where a location survey took place.
A first Youth Exchange involving 38 young people in July 2023 that involved creating performance art, observing nature and the local context.
A third step with the second Youth Exchange held in October 2023 that involved 36 young people participating in the creation of digital works by analyzing ancient art and reinterpreting it with these new media. At all stages, the places and works of the Bormida Gotica route were followed.
Volunteers contributed by:
- Designing the information pack for the project.
- Promoting the call for participants.
- Providing logistical support during the exchange.
- Assisting with meal preparation for participants.
- Capturing the experience by taking photos of participants.

TARTONNOS CONCERT

This was a concert organized by the locals. With live music by Tartonnos and an amzing dinner in the piazza.
For this concert volunteers assisted the locals in setting the space, and serving the food.
And after that was time to enjoy the music.

Natural Connection was a Youth Exchange that gathered young people from all over Europe. This project focused on helping participants reconnect with nature, build connections with each other, and discover more about themselves.
Find out more about the project HERE.
Volunteers contributed by:
- Designing the information pack for the project.
- Promoting the call for participants.
- Providing logistical support during the exchange.
- Assisting with meal preparation for participants.
- Capturing the experience by taking photos of participants.

NATURAL CONNECTION

REMEMBER: these are examples of activities we have carried out so far. Since we do not have a crystal ball, we cannot tell you exactly what you will be doing. Your tasks will depend on the projects, opportunities and community needs that arise during your mobility.

Vitality is a dynamic project funded by the European Solidarity Corps Programme, coordinated by Associazione Vagamondo (LEAD organisation). It aims to promote active citizenship, personal growth, and community development through volunteering activities. The project focuses on fostering solidarity, enhancing rural development, and promoting sustainability and well-being among young people, especially those with fewer opportunities.

Key objectives of Vitality include:

Mobility for Everybody
Rural Development
Sustainability and Well-being

Being Vitality volunteer means gaining expertise in wide range of activities, from workshops, cultural festivals, and environmental projects to direct community support on local and international levels. The project equips young volunteers with critical life skills, fostering a spirit of European solidarity and intercultural understanding.

Discover more about Vitality projects here.

ABOUT VAGAMONDO

VAGAMONDO is an NGO focused on European mobility, non-formal education and rural development based in Italy. It provides learning and growing opportunities to young people and youth workers.

The name Vagamondo comes from the concept of travel as a powerful tool of self-discovery and personal development: it is through direct contact with cultural and personal differences that identity becomes more visible to every individual; it is coming out of the comfort zone, getting involved in new activities, different than the usual ones, that people can identify room to grow and work on themselves.

Our vision is to contribute to the development of society, to promote, disseminate and apply through education the values of equality, freedom and care for the environment.

Vagamondo is active in the European Solidarity Corps as supporting and hosting organization since 2017.

Hear from previous volunteers

From Jo

"…Staying in the infinite landscape of Piemonte, surrounded by breathtaking nature and passionate people have changed me to the core. (mainly Dante tbh)"
Hear more from Jo HERE
From Miri

"…I would define this volunteering with the words art, culture, and diversity. It was very short, but a truly great time."
From Rita

“I feel very proud that I got the courage to go on this adventure and very happy with the moments I got to experience. ….”
From Klaudia

“….Right when I arrived I understood that it works differently than what I was used to. This apporach gave me the opportunity to gain freedom in creating and expressing myself…”
From Karla

“I would describe my volunteering as a life time experience. I’m glad that I took that challenge and I’m very proud of the version of me that I had become after this experience. …”