Culture, Youth Participation and Community Life in Sicily: ESC Volunteering at Mistero Buffo
Circolo Arci Babilonia APS
Acireale, Italy
Description
Mistero Buffo is a small youth and cultural centre run by Circolo Arci Babilonia APS in Acireale, Sicily. We are looking for volunteers who are autonomous, proactive and willing to turn their own ideas into concrete activities for the local community. Each volunteer should arrive with at least one project idea to develop during the mobility, for example theatre, drawing, music, yoga, manual activities, board games, language courses, intercultural events or other cultural and social initiatives. Volunteers will also support the daily life of the centre, communication, preparation of spaces, events and team meetings. Activities take place mainly in the late afternoon and evening, with occasional weekend events. Before applying, please check our Instagram profile to understand our activities and the informal, community-based reality of Mistero Buffo: https://www.instagram.com/misterobuffoacireale/
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
Two volunteers will share an apartment in Acireale's historic centre, a few minutes' walk from Mistero Buffo. There is one private single bedroom and one open-plan sleeping area connected to the kitchen, plus a shared bathroom, equipped kitchen, washing machine and terrace. Rent and normal utilities are covered. Volunteers receive a food allowance, ESC pocket money and travel reimbursement according to programme rules. The railway station is about 25 minutes away on foot.
Training during the activity
Volunteers will receive an initial orientation about the centre, tasks, safety, accommodation and local context. Regular meetings with the tutor and mentor will cover work, wellbeing, learning and possible difficulties. They will take part in the on-arrival training and, when applicable, the mid-term evaluation organised by the Italian National Agency. Online Language Support will be available for Italian. Learning progress will be reviewed through reflection meetings and documented with Youthpass.
Participant profile
We are looking for young people aged 18-30 with autonomy, initiative and a concrete idea for a personal project. Possible fields include theatre, drawing, music, yoga, crafts, board games, language courses and multicultural events. Experience is not required, but applicants must be reliable, collaborative and able to organise part of their work independently. They should be available mainly in the late afternoon and evening, accept occasional weekend activities and help with practical tasks. Before applying, please check our Instagram to understand who we are and what we do.
Activity dates
A total of 26 week(s) during the period 01/10/2026 to 01/04/2027
Activity location
Via Pennisi, 25, Acireale, Italy
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Activity topics
Creativity and culture
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 30/08/2026 12:00
Project code
2025-2-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000372192