Gergő in Italy

I was excited and curious, but also afraid, when I flew to Turin on September 9, 2025. Nevertheless, I was happy and felt brave taking this step. During the first few days, we took care of some bureaucratic things, such as creating an Italian fiscal code and a GTT (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti, the local public transportation service) card. I received many new impressions. During the first weeks, we visited all the places where we could work. We visited different centers, including daily care centers for people with disabilities, a homeless shelter, and a refugee shelter located in Cirié. In the meantime, we got to know each other, the volunteers, the mentors, and, most importantly, everyday life in Italy. Then, I started working at a service for adults with intellectual disabilities. In addition to helping them with daily activities and tasks and accompanying them, I held interactive workshops. At the ESC office, I helped promote the ESC program. There, I collaborated with colleagues, including my mentors and another kind colleague. The work was interesting.

In November, we participated in an On-Arrival Training. I encountered fantastic people and well- prepared trainers. The hotel service was also first-class. In March, we took part in the Mid-Term Evaluation, which was fantastic as well. The program was high quality, and the people were kind and friendly. For me, these two trainings were the highlights of my entire ESC experience: meaningful conversations on the terrace and international connections.