A clean slate – Alex’s story as volunteer in Abatino wildlife rescue centre
We coordinated Alex as a European Solidarity Corps volunteer from October 2025 to June 2026 in our partners of Abatino wildlife rescue centre, where he supported their activities in maintenance and animal husbandry.
The project was funded by the European Commission through the European Solidarity Corps programme and the Italian Agency for Youth.
This is his experience!
Hi everyone, my name is Alex and I have just finished my volunteering project at Abatino wildlife rescue centre.
My role has been primarily with maintenance. I started my days by refilling the furnace with the olive pomace it uses for fuel and cleaning the firebox of ash. Then I took out the trash and walked up the park to turn off the ACs of the monkey enclosures.
After that’s done, the day differed depending on what needed to be done. It could be cutting trees, chopping wood, cleaning branches, digging channels to direct waterflow, operating the tracked mini loader, repairing fences, managing the waste bins or carrying out enrichment projects for the animals. On some days I also performed the standard duties of cleaning enclosures and preparing food and therapies for the animals.
Besides work, occasionally I used to go into the nearby forest. The Rieti-Rome pilgrimage path offers a nice walking path to some of the nearby villages.
To celebrate the 2778th birthday of Rome on the 21st of April, I went to Rome for five days to help set up tents and camp on the Circus Maximus, and parade through the city as part of an ancient Roman reenactment event.
The learning is more than just work and formal guidance; you learn about cultures, the land, people, but also, yourself: how you handle routine, different personalities, challenges and discomfort. I think the best learning is in the quiet moments of reflection, which is something that, here, there has been plenty of opportunity for.
I’m satisfied with my role at the park. I maintain good relations with the keepers, and the variety in my duties ensured that no two days were alike. The manual work provides ample exercise, and the project has given me plenty of space for thought concerning my future aspirations.
This reflection has allowed me to form a solid plan upon returning to Finland. Before this experience I wasn’t quite certain whether to pursue a career as a plumber, an animal caretaker or something else. I knew I wanted to do manual work, but I lacked a decisive direction. Here I gained a renewed sense of purpose: I intend to work in the mines in Lapland.
Though I had considered it before, I previously hesitated, deterred by the distance and unfamiliarity. The opportunity to volunteer here has allowed me to approach life with a clean slate, giving me the confidence in my ability to pursue ambitious goals. I have already sent applications to almost every professional school with mining courses in Finland.
To anyone in a similar position of uncertainty considering volunteering, I say: go for it. It could be just what your mind needs to reorient itself and discover a deeper calling”.
There have been some hard times, but now in the end, I think that this has suited me more than any other type of project. I am very glad that an opportunity like this exists, and that it is what I chose. It has taught me a lot, and it has cleared my vision for my future.
I’m grateful to everyone who has supported us during our stay.
