Kulturno izobraževalno društvo PiNA (v sklopu katerega deluje informacijska točka Europe Direct Koper-Capodistria) že vrsto let gosti evropske prostovoljce in prostovoljke, ki bogatijo njihovo delo in hkrati pridobivajo nova znanja, izkušnje in kompetence. Ena izmed njih je Alessia Nieddu, 21-letna Italijanka, ki jim je v veliko pomoč na področju multimedije. Za angleško različico njihove spletne strani je pripravila kratek prispevek o sebi. Vabljeni k branju! 

I left my native country, Italy, at the beginning of January with the perspective of refinding myself, the real me that was hidden for all this time when I was back home.

My name is Alessia Nieddu and I have been an European Solidarity Corps Volunteer (ESC) for three weeks now.

Of course I was full of fear, – considering that I’m also shy and anxious – like every 21 year old girl, who isn’t used to live alone and far from the “nest”, but that’s why I’ve chosen to take part to an ESC project, to become more independent and know how to “survive” on my own.

Another reason was obviously the fact that I could have worked with Graphic Design, which is what I would love to do as my future job and that I’ve studied for a whole year.

Compared to where I live, people are much nicer here and I’m surprised of how well Slovenian people can speak Italian and English.

I never thought that sharing the house with other people, that were complete “strangers” to me at the beginning, would have been so appealing. I’ve already made some friends and became really close with some of my housemates, a thing that couldn’t have happened back where I live, because from where I come from, people judge you for everything you do – or at least this has happened to me every single day – but here it feels different, it feels like a better place.

Every day feels like an adventure and the place where I’m working at, PiNA, is actually pretty nice. The new office is wide and bright and every one in there greeted me warmly and made me feel like I actually am at home.

The tasks that I’m receiving are interesting and they are “stimulating” my creativeness, and I’ve already learnt a lot even though I’ve not spent so much time here yet, especially about how to edit videos and photography, which I decided to choose as the main topic of my personal project for these six months.

Escaping from my comfort zone was probably the best thing that happened in my life and everyone should do an experience like this at least once, because I know that it will help me grow and become more confident with myself and the others.