CALL FOR VOLUNTEERING FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING AND COOKING IN A FARM IN ITALY

Associazione Kora is currently looking for a volunteer that will support the staff members in sustainable gardening and cooking, from garden to plate.

Volunteering Position: “Garden to Plate” volunteer
Where: Passignano sul Trasimeno, Italy (at the educational farm “La Buona Terra”)
When: from 15 February to 14 November 2025 or from 1 June to 15 December 2025
Who: Volunteers aged 18-30 from EU member countries and Ukraine
Application Deadline: 12 January 2025

Hosting Organisation: Facebook – Instagram

Associazione Kora was founded in August 2015 to promote environmental, intercultural and social awareness through projects for young people. Kora coordinates non-formal education projects with Erasmus + and with the European Solidarity Corps, such as training courses, youth exchanges and volunteering projects on various topics in Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
It is based on La Buona Terra school farm, the first educational farm in Italy, with over 30 years of experience in working with children, young people and adults of all ages. La Buona Terra produces organic olive oil, essential oils of various aromatic herbs, and offers environmental education for groups of all ages.

Our Expectations from Volunteers:
At La Buona Terra and through Kora’s projects, we greatly value the sense of community and shared experiences. However, it is essential to understand that while community life is a fundamental part of the experience, the primary focus is on contributing meaningfully to the tasks and responsibilities outlined in the programme. Volunteers are expected to show a strong commitment to their assigned roles—whether it’s farming, eco-building, or content creation.
If your main interest lies solely in the community aspect and you’re less inclined to fully commit to the work tasks, this environment may not be the ideal fit for you. We believe in balancing both community life and dedication to tasks, as this ensures a truly enriching and fulfilling experience.

Work Commitment:
You will work 35 hours per week on assigned tasks, with two consecutive free days per week (not necessarily Saturday and Sunday). These hours include 1 hour for a meeting with the coordinator of the activities, that coaches the volunteers on their tasks, meetings with the mentor, that evaluates the volunteers’ project, satisfaction and learning process, and the Italian language course, that will take 4 hours a week for the first 2 months. You will dedicate an additional 7 hours per week to shared community responsibilities such as cleaning and cooking. While we encourage volunteers to engage in community life, we expect everyone to approach their roles with dedication and reliability.

Tasks:

You will support the staff members in the following tasks:

• Taking care of the vegetable garden
• Involvement of other volunteers in garden and kitchen
• Cooking for groups
• Preparing seasonal menus and shopping lists
• Making conserves from the farm and local farmers
• Updating Kora cookbook (recipes, videos, photos)
• Building kitchen related furniture and cooking areas
• Carrying out cooking workshops with groups
• Independently of your role, when Kora hosts a group, all volunteers and staff (as a team) help prepare for the arrival and clear up after the departure of of the group.

What’s Unique About This Role?
This role provides a unique balance between creativity and hands-on experience with sustainable farming and cooking. By living on the farm, you’ll not only immerse yourself in eco-friendly practices but also take part in fostering cultural exchange through Kora’s workshops. The experience offers an excellent opportunity to develop your professional skills while contributing to a sustainable future.
Additionally, by the end of your volunteering experience, you will have the opportunity to apply for a Permaculture Design Certificate, which will further enhance your knowledge and qualifications in sustainable living and ecological design. This certificate is internationally recognised and will provide valuable skills for your future endeavours in sustainability.
This role is for those who are truly dedicated to their tasks while also appreciating the value of community. If you can balance both aspects—task dedication and community living—this experience will be deeply rewarding, both personally and professionally.

Support:

Food and accommodation will be covered by the European Commission; you will have health insurance, pocket money (5 euro per day) and an Italian language course. Food will mostly be vegan and vegetarian for environmental reasons, and an opportunity to discover more about Italian and Mediterranean tradition. Travel expenses will be refunded up until a fixed amount (285 € from 100 to 499 km distance, 417 € from 500 km to 1999 km, 535 € if more; the budget is higher if you travel only by train or bus). You will be accommodated on the farm premises and will share the room with another volunteer or 3 other volunteers of your same gender. The house is equipped with kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, wi-fi, washing machine.

We support different diets and promote the use of local and sustainable products as much as possible. Please be aware that we do eat animal products and work with animals on the farm.
We try to source as many products as possible, within our budget, through partnerships with local farmers and shops.
If you follow specific diets, please be aware that it might be your responsibility to take care of your own dietary requirements (i.e. cooking or complementing meals if needed), especially when there are no groups hosted on the farm.

Criteria:

• Available for the whole duration of the project
• 18-30 years old
• Resident in EU member countries or Ukraine
• A passion for farming and cooking
• A collaborative spirit with a willingness to take initiative
• Practical problem-solving skills and adaptability
• Respect for community living, sustainable practices, and eco-friendly lifestyles
• Interested in learning Italian
• Ready to live in an intercultural context in a rural area, where the closest town with facilities is at 20 minutes on foot
• Basic level in English
• Driving license is welcome but not necessary.

How to apply:

1. Fill the online form below
2. Send your CV with picture to [email protected], writing “Application for Kora garden to plate” in the object of the mail.

Deadline to apply is 12 January 2025. The pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an online interview.

Infos and questions: [email protected]