Building resilient communities through sustainable action in Sicily: six months at Serra Guarneri, a center for environmental education
Palma Nana Coop. Soc.
Cefalù, Italy
Description
Serra Guarneri is an environmental education center located in the Madonie Mountains. Part of Palma Nana social cooperative, we work with kids and adults to teach environmental awareness, conservation, sustainable tourism, permaculture, circular economy, community living, and much more. A tiny village in the woods, we live as a community and embody our teaching, living simply and in tune with our surroundings and neighbors. Volunteers are expected to become apart of this community, taking part in diverse activities and caring for the structure, village, inhabitants, and local community. The project is rooted in revitalizing rural life by encouraging creativity and equipping participants with practical skills for sustainable living. During much of the year, the structure hosts groups of children and adults, who come for school camps, summer camps, environmental trainings, yoga retreats, and more. Our priority of the project is caring for these guests and teaching them our way of life.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
In a rural contexr, volunteers live in a 3-bedroom structure with other volunteers, max 2/room. There is a shared bathroom and kitchen, shared with other guests and community members as needed. There's no AC, and heating is from a wood stove in winter Meals are usually prepared by staff and shared with guests. Staff purchase breakfast items and any additional food necessary for volunteers weekly. Food is mainly vegetarian, local, in season, and organic. Volunteers should arrive with green travel. There is a bus stop 45 mins by foot in the nearby village, which can take you to the train station
Training during the activity
Training takes place in the context of the practical work, and you will learn based on your interests and what you involve yourself in. Things you could learn at Serra Guarneri: environmental education philosophy and activities; Sicilian recipes and low-waste cooking; foraging and local plants; cleaning and upkeep of rural structures; hospitality and sustainable tourism; Sicilian culture and traditions; low-budget construction, maintenance, and renovation; organic/permaculture gardening; circular economy & closed-loop systems; alternative economy.
Participant profile
Volunteers must have personal motivation to engage in community living, must take initiative and responsibility, and are enthusiastic about becoming an essential part of an ecological community that hosts guests on a daily basis. The project is for those who are able to live with less comforts in a rural setting, can adapt to a different culture, are good at problem solving. Volunteers must be flexible to daily work, as plans can change often. Experience in practical work, cleaning, and gardening is a plus. Volunteers must be willing to do any kind of work, even in uncomfortable situations. We hope to find volunteers who are excited about what each day has to offer and seize opportunities to meet local producers, explore the natural areas, and get to know the local community members and culture.
Activity dates
From 17/01/2026 to 16/07/2026
Activity location
C.da Guarneri s.n.c., Cefalù (PA), Cefalù, Italy
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Activity topics
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 24/01/2026 18:00
Project code
2024-2-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000288989