ISOLA DELLE FEMMINE

The main activity was to support Natural Reserve’s staff in restoration of the flora of the little island with planting new plants (as part of a thirtyyear plan put in practice by the local partner Lipu), maintening the existing vegetation by watering plants, cleaning the costline of the protected area which is subject to different marine streams that bring waste from the sea At the end of the two volunteering teams, volunteers planted more than 30 plants, collected 20 bags of trash (mostly plastic) and watered 100 plants.

In addition, volunteers had different workshops about environmental education, team building activities, presentations about natural species living on the island, meetings with a local youth association and guided visits to the “No Mafia Memorial” in the nearby Capaci, a remembrance place dedicated to the memory of a magistrate and police men killed by Mafia.

Volunteers worked together to create a campaign to raise awareness about marine litter and related-environmental disasters, reduction of plastic and the impact of incorrect waste management on seas. In fact, one group produced a video published on the social media; the other group created and printed postcards distributed to the inhabitants of Isola delle Femmine

WHAT volunteers said

It has been a really satisfying experience in which I have been able to develop many skills and get to know a new culture and integrate as much as possible within my possibilities

I have learnt more about environmental actions (especially on a local scale) but also about Italian culture In addition to that, I have learnt a lot about myself and others

I was really happy with the people that I met And also I like the experience of living in another country with other activities

It has been an amazing experience It was even better than I expected

The experience has fulfilled my expectations The description of the work and the condition of life was really accurate, I knew what I was going through