A journey from survival to flourishing at AGAPE (A Place of Love)
When I arrived at Agape Centro Ecumenico in Prali, Italy, on 3 June 2026, I knew I was beginning a three-month European Solidarity Corps journey. What I did not know was how much those three months would change me.
At first, everything was unfamiliar. New people. A new country. New routines. New language, New Diet, New responsibilities. I had to learn how Agape worked, understand my responsibilities in Servizio, and work with people who had completely different personalities and ways of doing things. Sometimes, I wondered whether I was really prepared for the experience, but I believed in my potential and trusted the process. But slowly, Agape began to feel less like a place I was visiting and more like a community I belonged to. My main work was in Servizio, serving camps ranging from 33 to 105 campists, which was fun because I worked with them, and doing table setting, meal preparation, dishwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting the entire sector with the help of other volunteers.
At times, I coordinated shifts and helped other volunteers learn what needed to be done. This taught me a lot about leadership. I discovered that leadership is not simply telling people what to do. Sometimes it requires teaching, listening, encouraging, remaining calm when things become stressful, and helping the people around you succeed. Outside of work, camps, hikes, parties, conversations, games, trips, and countless small moments made the experience special. I met people from different countries and backgrounds, and every person brought something different to my understanding of the world. One of the most valuable parts of ESC for me was learning across cultures. Living together meant I could not simply stay within my usual way of thinking. I had to listen, communicate, and sometimes reconsider my assumptions. I learned that people could approach the same situation very differently and that neither person necessarily has to be wrong.
The experience also pushed me outside my comfort zone. I participated in activities I would normally avoid, became more socially open, travelled independently, and learned to deal with unexpected situations. One example was attending the 5-day On Arrival training in Rome, which was amazing because I got the opportunity to meet more amazing people. I began to understand that resilience is not about having a perfect experience. It is about finding ways to keep going, learning from what happens, and allowing yourself to grow through it.
One of my favorite memories came from something very simple: drawing and painting during an activity. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed drawing. Sitting down and creating something brought back a part of myself I had not made much space for in a long time. It reminded me that volunteering is not only about what we give to others; it can also help us rediscover parts of ourselves. As my time at Agape came to an end, I realized how attached I had become to the people and the place. Saying goodbye was not easy. I wrote individual handwritten letters to some of the people who had become important to me. Writing those letters made me realize how much I had been paying attention to the people around me: their stories, struggles, personalities, humor, and kindness.
On my final journey away from Agape on September 7, 2026, I felt a mixture of exhaustion, sadness, and gratitude. Looking back, I would describe my experience as a journey of growth, responsibility, relationships, resilience and learning to live. Three months. Countless memories. Many people. One unforgettable journey.
Doris Nyator