Or Environment and sustainable development in Europe: a challenge for Youth First of all it requires a group of people (slaves? Hm…, no, volunteers) from various corners of Europe, that will live together for a little more than a week sharing food, bathroom and trying to use the water in an ecologic way. Later on these poor fellows have to get acquainted with the craft: pilling, sawing, drilling, cleaning the reed (canne) and putting it together on an iron wire. Themselves they will learn to make some side products (bijouterie, weapons for hunting, musical instruments, what else?) limited only by imagination.


In the given time, volunteers will introduce each other to the their cultures, will learn to swear in Italian, will climb the highlands, go down to the Etna crater, bathe in the sea (not all, only the most passionate ones, for who the water temperature of +16 C is acceptable), see Greek temples and learn about the technology of the ricotta cheese production. And, of course, they will fall in love with each other, knowing that they might never see each other again.

Tears of farewell, last song, and the plane is carrying everyone to their homes, where nothing has changed during the 10 days. But now they already know about the Sicilian crafts and their advantages.

During the work none of the volunteers was injured and the reserve of Biviere di Gela got 56 trash bin covers richer. Having fashionable clasps they will protect the garbage from the birds and wind and vice versa. And of course the territory was put in order as result volunteers’ hard work!

But, what is Sicilian artisanship now? Today Sicilian artisanship has international flavor and spirit of adventure, acquired during the project “Environment and sustainable development in Europe: a challenge for Youth” which took place in Gela, Sicily, from 8th to 17th of April 2009, in natural reserve Biviere di Gela. The reserve is managed by the environmental organization "LIPU" (birds protection league) that organizes scientific researches, cleaning up activities and organizes small tours for groups of students. One of the tasks of the project was to introduce participants from Bulgaria, France, Italy, Russia and Ukraine with activities of the reserve and exchange about environmental protection in different countries, discuss possibilities to combine practical activities in the nature with social integration, and foster feeling of ownership of the environment. The project was organized by Service Civil International – Italy in the framework of “Youth in Action” programme of the European Commission.

Prepared by Anna Novgorodova

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