TESTIMONIALS
Eleonora De Dominicis
Age: 30
Eleonora was a volunteer sent by MVNGO to Uganda (Kampala) in the context of a Job Shadowing within the Erasmus Plus Capacity Building Youth project “Art for Social Change”, coordinated by the Bulgarian organization Open Space Foundation. During her stay in Uganda, lasting a total 2 weeks, Eleonora had the opportunity of working in the slums of Kampala, the capital of the country, putting in place activities focused on promoting the social inclusion of young people through Arts. Eleonora carried out a fund-raising programme aimed at financing an Art exhibition in situ which was the final outcome of her experience as a volunteer. Moreover, she developed a strong connection with the country and the hosting organization, driving her to continue her effort of fund-raising also after her return to Italy. Her effort achieved substantial results, allowing her to collect the necessary funds for financing the construction of a public sanitation facility in the area where she was a volunteer.
“Being a volunteer in Uganda was fundamental in myself developing my personal perspective over the world and a ground-breaking experience of learning as well as fulfilment. It is not possible for me to overestimate the personal impact getting to know such a different, challenged yet vibrant reality, had on me in terms of dispelling the stereotyped views of this region of the World and of its people which had been stamped on me by the second-hand narratives of the media and of a flawed common sense. Throughout my stay, I felt part of something important, surrounded by people who, despite being often faced by challenges, hardships and suffering which would be appaling to the average “Western” sensibility display the greatest of humanity and never cease to hope and work for a better future. I was surrounded by persons who made me feel belonging to a family, united under a common purposes, whose strife I joined and made part of my mission in the World. Having being able to make a difference, small yet tangible as it may be, fills me with untold pride and makes me even firmer in my belief that the only difference between dreams and reality is made by motivation and hard, purposeful work”
Valeria Zampagni
Age: 27
Valeria was a volunteer on behalf of Mine Vaganti NGO in the Job Shadowing in Senegal (Ziguinchor) organized in the frame of the Erasmus Plus Capacity Building Youth project “Inclusion Through Sport”. Valeria was hosted in the premises of the Senegalese partner organization “Jeunesse en action GNO FAR” for a 14 day Job Shadowing between May 6-21 2017. During her stay in Ziguinchor, Valeria had an active role in the implementation of educational activities focused on use of Sport as a tool of social inclusion with an audience of disadvantaged young people. The activities wherein Valeria was involved in a responsibility role included workshops on Non Formal Education with children in Ziguinchor and sessions of Football practice with a local female Football team.
“My experience in Senegal was formative and enriching from an educational, cultural and human perspective. I had the occasion of getting to know different persons and of measuring myself in a cultural context different from the one I was used to. I discovered the positive value of Sport practice and had the occasion of directly experiencing it by practicing Sport together with local females, thereby getting to know first hand how Football is seen by them as a tool to prove their worth, fulfil themselves and engage in their local community, fighting stereotypes and exclusion which affect them in their daily lives within the community. Working with children was very important in my personal growth as a youth leader and prospective educator as well as gave me a crucial gateway for entering into contact with the kids’ families, thereby integrating in the local community”
Luca Argalia
Age: 30
Luca was a volunteer sent by MVNGO to Russia for a long-term EVS experience in the frame of the project “Volunteering in Kirov”. Luca’s experience in Russia lasted a total 8 months in 2014. During his stay as a volunteer, Luca carried out activities of Non Formal Education targeted at the youth in Kirov, including Italian language courses.
“I was amazed by the positiveness of my impact with the local reality in Kirov and by the enthusiasm as well as participation I encountered among the local communities and the young people during the activities. I was pleased and honoured of having been so readily accepted in the hosting organization and of having been able to create such a profound personal and emotional relationship with all the staff and fellow volunteers. This experience helped myself to be more assertive and ready to put my effort on the line to build the processes of exchange and mutual understanding which make up the core essence of European citizenship as well as Europe’s added value in the World”.
Carlo Massei
Age: 28
Carlo was a member of the MVNGO Youth Division between 2013 and 2015. Carlo took part in the design and implementation of several MVNGO project initiatives at the local and European levels. In addition to providing logistical support, he was also a Trainer in various MVNGO projects, working with an audience of both young people and youth operators. Carlo is presently studying Journalism at the prestigious “Scuola Holden” in Turin.
“I will always think back with fondness to my experience at Mine Vaganti NGO, where I had the occasion to be part of a close-knit, friendly and hard-working group of professionals. When the strictly professional dimension of my engagement in MVNGO is added up to the human perspective of it, I cannot stress enough the positive and impacting dimension related to the trust and confidence in my potential that MVNGO’s Team displayed with me throughout my involvement in the organization. I had the occasion to be a part of the Team in the most complete sense, being involved in important projects with a role of responsibility and always with the support of professional advice and motivation from my colleagues and my superiors, with each task being an occasion for both service and learning. I was also a Trainer and tested my skills with groups and diverse as young people and experienced youth operators, developing personal sensibility and relational capacities, while at the same time learning to counter even stressful situations with friendliness and optimism. This was very useful in my personal growth and still is in my learning as a prospective writer and journalist”.
Marco Medda
Age: 29
Marco is a former volunteer of Mine Vaganti NGO, who cooperated with the organization from 2015 to 2016. Marco then moved on to establish his own entrepreneurial initiative, founding his Travel Agency “Escursi- Escursioni in Sardegna”. The Agency is web-based and offers a series of tourist services centered on the heritage of Sardinia from an environmental and cultural perspective.
“Being a volunteer in MVNGO taught me the importance of hard work and vision in whatever context wherein one sets themselves the objective of making a difference. I also learned that the worlds of NGO and business are not as different as one may suppose, as both require an attention to financial sustainability and the human dimension, from the perspective of both the staff and the customers. I had the occasion of benefitting from the experience of Mr. Roberto Solinas and Mrs. Maria Grazia Pirina, President and Vice President of MVNGO, who were always more than willing to exchange ideas with me and stimulate my reflection over how to give shape to my life and business projects”.
