29/03/2026
Italy
participants
The goals of our activity were to empower new volunteers to fully embrace ESN’s core values and to equip them with the practical and analytical skills necessary to translate these principles into concrete actions. Specifically, our objective was to train them in event organization, digital tools, and the Guidelines for Action Taking, in order to form active citizens capable of effectively welcoming international students and fostering a more inclusive community in Pisa.
The activity consisted of a two-day training weekend based entirely on Non-Formal Education, facilitated by an expert trainer from ESN Italia. Both days ran from 09:00 to 19:30 and utilized an interactive "learning by doing" approach, interspersed with shared meals, energisers, and retrospectives to build team cohesion.
Saturday began with an introduction to the Guidelines for Action Taking and an analysis of our local Section's civic engagement and university context. Volunteers then participated in a hands-on Role-Play workshop, brainstorming solutions for realistic scenarios faced by international students. After a team-building lunch, the afternoon focused on ESN's Vision, Mission, and Values, and explored the importance of network alliances.
Sunday shifted towards practical skill-building, starting the morning with an intensive Inclusive Communication workshop aimed at dismantling biases, breaking down barriers, and ensuring everyone feels truly welcomed. After a team-building lunch, the afternoon continued with a training session on our digital tools, resource management, and goal-setting. Following this, volunteers learned how to structure activities using SMART objectives and immediately put their new knowledge into practice by collaboratively designing a concrete event from scratch. The weekend officially wrapped up with a final feedback round, followed by a closing dinner and a social programme to bond the new generation of volunteers.
Outcomes
The most positive aspects of the activity were the genuine sense of community and the enthusiastic participation we saw throughout the weekend. We really found a great balance between learning a lot and just having fun together. All the shared experiences and practical work clearly left a strong impression on everyone, helping to build a close-knit and highly motivated team.
This activity is part of the project:
Voices of Change - Local Phase and National Dialogues