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OPEN CALL

GARDEN TO PLATE

How to apply

Fill the online form below.

Infos and questions:
sve@associazionekora.it
The deadline to apply is 22 November 2026.
The pre-selected candidates will be invited to an online interview
PROJECT ID: 2026-1-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000402323
Call for volunteering in sustainable gardening and cooking on a farm in Italy
GET INVOLVED
NEWSLETTER

PROJECT DETAILS

WHERE? Passignano sul Trasimeno, Italy
WHEN?
From 1 May
to 31 December 2026
HOW LONG? 8 months
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
18-30 years old citizens living in EU member countries other than Italy
DEADLINE FOR APPLYING: 22 November 2026

ACTIVITIES

Cooking and food preservation (core activity)Supporting the preparation of seasonal menus and shopping lists; helping to cook meals for hosted groups following environmentally sustainable practices; preparing conserves and preserved foods using ingredients from the farm or local farmers.
Workshops and knowledge sharingInvolving other volunteers in kitchen activities; co-organising and facilitating cooking workshops for hosted groups.
Communication and social mediaCreating content for social media, including recipes, photos and videos, to document and share daily activities and sustainable food practices.
Shared cooking support for short-term and team volunteersDuring some periods, the volunteer will help with the team’s daily cooking: supporting simple menu planning, shopping, and preparing shared meals together with other team members, following environmentally sustainable practices.
Gardening supportIn their spare time, and especially when there are no larger groups hosted, the volunteer will help with basic activities in the small garden, such as planting, weeding, watering, harvesting and drying herbs.
Team support during group hostingRegardless of their specific role, all volunteers and staff work together as a team when Kora hosts groups, helping with preparations before arrival and cleaning and resetting spaces after departure.

LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT

Food will be provided by Kora, mostly vegan and vegetarian for environmental reasons and as an opportunity to discover Italian and Mediterranean traditions. Volunteers also get 20 euros a month for food extras, managed autonomously, and can request specific dietary options after the selection.
Accommodation will be in a house on the farm premises, in rooms shared with other volunteers of the same gender. The house is equipped with kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, wi-fi and washing machine.
Pocket money of 6 euros per day.
Health insurance is provided through Henner (www.henner.com).
Travel expenses will be refunded up to a fixed amount: 211 € from 100 to 499 km, 309 € from 500 to 1999 km, 395 € if more. The budget is higher if more than half of the itinerary is made by sustainable means of transport (train, bus or carpooling).

CRITERIA

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

Volunteers 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, who coaches the volunteers on their tasks, and meetings with the mentor, who evaluates the volunteers’ project, satisfaction and learning process.

An Italian language course can also be organised, if the Italian-speaking volunteers, supported by Kora staff and provided with the materials from past courses, are happy to lead it. In that case, the course will take 2 hours a week.

Volunteers 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.

HOSTING ORGANISATION

The project is organised by Associazione Kora in collaboration with different supporting partners.

APPLY

About you
We want to understand who you are, what made you apply, how you think you will contribute to the group and what skills or experience you bring with you. Please answer honestly: it helps us select the most motivated participants.
Name *
Surname *
Gender *
Email *
Phone number *
Include the country code, for example +39.
Date of birth *
City and country of residence *
Nationality / citizenship *
You can write more than one if that is your case.
Motivation
What is your motivation to apply for this project? *
What is your interest in the topic? *
How do you expect to use what you will learn? *
Experience and role
Have you ever participated in international projects? *
Tell us about them *
How many projects? Which type? Where?
How would you rate your level of English? *
Where did you find out about this project? *
Inclusion and support
The European Commission encourages the participation of youngsters with fewer opportunities or disadvantaged backgrounds:
  • Disabilities: mental (intellectual, cognitive, learning), physical, sensory or other disabilities
  • Health problems: chronic health problems, severe illnesses or psychiatric conditions
  • Educational difficulties: learning difficulties, early schoolleavers, lower qualifications, poor school performance
  • Cultural differences: first or second generation immigrants, refugees, ethnic minorities...
  • Economic obstacles: low standard of living, low income, dependence on social welfare system, young people in long-term unemployment or poverty, homeless, in debt or with financial problems
  • Social obstacles: discrimination because of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, (ex-)offenders, (ex-)drug or alcohol abusers, young and/or single parents, orphans
  • Economic obstacles: low standard of living, low income, dependence on social welfare system, young people in long-term unemployment or poverty, homeless, in debt or with financial problems
  • Geographical obstacles: young people from remote or rural areas, small islands, less serviced areas
  • Discrimination: discrimination linked to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or intersectional factors ..
Feel free to tell us if any of the above cases applies to you and what you will need, so we know how to support you at best.
Optional. Answering has no negative effect on your application.
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Your CV *
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Cover letter (optional)
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Data protection

In accordance with Article 13 of EU Regulation 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR), the parties are informed that the personal data collected and processed in the context of this agreement will be used exclusively for the purposes of implementing and managing the Erasmus+ project referenced above.

The data controller is Associazione di Promozione Sociale Kora (Via Campagna 26, 06065 Passignano sul Trasimeno, PG - [email protected]). Data will be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently, and will be kept for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which it is collected, in compliance with applicable legal obligations. Data subjects have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, and object to the processing of their personal data, as well as the right to data portability and to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali - www.garanteprivacy.it).

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