TOLA C.O.

  • August and holidays
    August was a very intense month but also a month of reflection. The Occupational Centers here in Valencia are often closed during this month for the hot and for the holiday atmosphere, so I didn’t work in August. This allowed me to have time to reflect on the future and do a thousand other things.
  • Molecular July
    June was a special month for the middle training that I had in Malaga, so all June passed through this big event. Differently, the end of June and July were built up of a lot of micro events, Deleuze would say that for me was a more molar June and a more molecular July.  This
  • Mid-term training in Mollina
    The month of June I will always remember because of how intense the mid-term training was. I was excited to meet so many volunteers but I didn’t excpected for it to turn out to be as intense as it was. The stories volunteers shared and the safe and intimate space the coordinators created opend me
  • Ongoing war in Gaza
    My mind in may was very much occupied with the ongoing genocide happening in Gaza which made me aware of more wars going on in other countries. It is so strange that the war is already going for so long while responsible organizations are doing so little. It made me think about how come we
  • A special Middle Training in Mollina
    This month a lot of things happened! But without doubt it was a great month especially for the five days that I spent in a little town near Malaga called Mollina for the Middle Term Training Course. I went without a lot of expectations and to my surprise I met, I spoke, I danced, I
  • Seven months with the “intellectual (dis)ability”
    Now the months in Spain are seven, or I can start to say that there are five months left until the end of the project and my return to Italy, although I do not exclude a possible return to Spain in the future.1, 2,3,4,5,6,7(-5),8(-4),9(-3),10(-2),11(-1),12 (0). The first half has been crossed, now it’s time to
  • Las Fallas de Valencia
    March was a month full of emotions, I finally experienced the most awaited event in Valencia, namely Las Fallas. Three weeks with fireworks and firecrackers at all hours, many events, music, colours, diversity, mix of ancient and modern, visits to museums and new encounters. Experiencing this event is something that cannot be understood without having
  • Volunteering – March
    The name of the month of March in Valencia should be changed to Fallas. The money, the organization, the energy it goes in preparing this festival here is inspiring. Luckily for us there were also night trains so we could stay in Valencia longer. The food, the drinks, the music, the people, … yes, it
  • Volunteering – February
    February was a month of being sick. I don’t remember when was the last time i was that sick – it was worse than Covid. I stayed at home for two weeks but despite the flu I had such a great time because my bosy was calling me to stop and finally I had some
  • After four months
    This is the fourth month here in Spain for me and life is almost completely familiar. Now I don’t have to make mental efforts to change the habits I had in Italy to adapt them to the Spanish ones, I’m starting to understand that maybe it will be difficult to change the habits that I’m
  • Volunteering – January
    The month of January started aswell in a festive mode. We celebrated flatmates birthday and prepared him various fun games he needed to participate in. It was also an emptional moment since he was leaving few days later since his volunteering ended this month. The volunteering started to get more relaxing and comfortable since I
  • Change and not change
    Even though it feels like I arrived yesterday, I’ve been in Spain for three months now. Before starting to write this post I reread what I wrote here two months ago and to my great surprise I realized how many things have changed in a short time. Now I consider a bit mine the house
  • Volunteering – December
    Decemeber was colored with upcoming holidays! The atmosphere was relaxed and in awaiting of celebrating with the closed ones or im my case, near ones. Or at least this is what I wanted. I was excited about having more holidays than in my country but at the end i spent the days finishing the project
  • My volunteering – November
    My volunteering in the month of November felt quite overwhelming, mainly because of the new environment and the new language. Before I arrived to Spain I have had few spanish classes but I soon figured out that there’s a big difference between taking spanish lessons in a class an speaking with people. Regardless of this,
  • From integration to interaction
    I’m Francesco, I’m 26 years old, I’m Italian, I recently graduated with a master’s degree in psychology and after having done a year of internship in a Psychiatric Hospital in my city in Italy I decided to try to have an experience in Spain. What brings me here is the desire to learn a new
  • abril y mayo – meses 6 y 7
    Al principio del abril nos fuimos para unos días a Alicante para participar y ayudar en un proyecto de Amics en relación con juventud. Fui muy interesante y también divertido conocer a nueva gente y hablar sobre varios temas. Ademas me ha gustado muchísimo visitar la cuidad. Así que fuimos a ver el castillo desde
  • March – 5 months in
    And again, another month is over. And unfortunately, so are Las Fallas. The most spectacular and beautiful time we have had here so far.  But let’s start with the beginning of March…At the beginning we flew back to Berlin for a few days to be able to attend the birthday of my little sister, which
  • Already a quarter of our time past
    Since we wrote last time, a lot has changed and we have experienced a lot of new things. Back in December we got to know Valencia at Christmas time: we strolled through the Christmas markets, looked for gifts for our loved ones back at home and went to a candlelight concert.  Then I spent the
  • Already a month gone
    (Maxima – Germany) As they say, time flies when you’re having fun. I can’t believe that just a month ago I was running around my home in Berlin trying to get everything into my suitcases. When Camillo`s (my boyfriend) and my adventure started with the flight from Berlin to Valencia, I was very excited, nervous
  • Tola, my ESC project
    This month I want to share a bit more about what I am doing at work as I think a lot ofpeople cannot imagine volunteering in a centre for people with functional diversity. Before Icame to „TOLA “(which is the name of the Centre), I did not know what to expect, especiallysince I never worked