Meet Xenia, our ESC volunteer from Spain, who spent 10 months with us in Tramonti. Here is her story:
Ten months ago, I stepped into something completely unknown. I didn’t know what to expect from volunteering at ACARBIO, or from myself, really. I was in a strange in-between place, not sure where I was going, what I wanted, or who I was becoming. I just knew I needed a change.
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What I found in this small, quiet corner of the Amalfi Coast was much more than a project or a “volunteering opportunity.” It was a turning point. I came in feeling lost, and I’m leaving feeling more myself than I’ve ever been.
ACARBIO is an organization in the hills of Tramonti, dedicated to preserving local biodiversity and culture, promoting sustainability, and creating opportunities for youth and volunteers to engage in meaningful work. But when you’re there, you realize it’s something much deeper. It’s about people. It’s about place. It’s about the connection between the two, and how small actions, when done with heart and intention, can create real change and I will bring that back home.
During my time there, I got involved in all kinds of things, supporting Erasmust exchange projects, gardening and cleaning paths, writing content, organizing workshops, creating events that brought people together. Every day was different, and every task, no matter how small, felt like it mattered. But it wasn’t just the work that changed me.
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It was the way we lived. A house full of volunteers from all over the world, different languages, different ways of seeing things, different stories, learning how to coexist, to collaborate, and to care for each other.
We shared everything: food, ideas, responsibilities, music, bad days, early mornings, laughter. In such a short amount of time, we formed bonds that felt real and deep. These weren’t just housemates or coworkers. They became my support system, my friends.
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Living in community like that taught me so much. About patience, about vulnerability, about how important it is to show up for other people. I learned that connection doesn’t take years, it takes presence. I learned that being open and being kind can create space for other people to do the same.
And slowly, I started feeling more comfortable just being myself. Not trying to impress anyone, not trying to play a role, just being.
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I also discovered a different way of living, one that’s more connected to the land, to time, to people. Life in Tramonti moves slower, but it’s fuller in a way. You notice things. You pay attention. You respect the natural rhythm of things.
The way the locals care for their land, their food, their relationships – it all left an impression on me. I began to see how we shape the world through our daily choices, and how sustainability isn’t just about “saving the planet”, it’s about the way we live with each other and the earth.
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Most importantly, I got to know myself again. I had space to ask the big questions: what do I want? What makes me feel alive? What kind of person do I want to be? And I had time to sit with the answers. I stopped feeling like I had to chase something all the time. I stopped feeling like I had to know everything right away. And in that quiet space, I found clarity.
Now, looking back, it’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for this experience. I know I’ll carry this experience with me wherever I go.
To the people I met along the way – thank you. For seeing me, for supporting me, for reminding me what community can feel like. To ACARBIO – thank you for creating a space where people can grow, learn, and contribute to something meaningful. And to myself , thank you for taking the leap.
I’m a different person now. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where l’m supposed to be.
