Margherita's experience in France

At the end of the quarantine period in Milan in 2020, I decided to return to my hometown, Cesena, in Emilia-Romagna. I wanted to enjoy a bigger home and a greener, more natural environment after so many years surrounded by buildings and city noise. However, after a few months, I began to miss the independence I had in the city, and even a bit of the hustle and bustle I was used to.

I then decided to embark on a new adventure, since I had never had the chance to do Erasmus during university. After some research into opportunities abroad, I found the European Solidarity Corps project in Istres, a small town in the south of France. I was specifically looking for French-speaking countries, preferably outside large cities, so I could improve my French while enjoying the natural surroundings. The project in Istres seemed perfect!

After the interviews, I quickly found out I had been selected, and once I received all the administrative details, I set off for this new adventure. Upon arriving in Istres, I immediately felt at home. My roommate Rocío, from Madrid, and I got along very well, which was a relief since we had to live and work together within the same project.

After the first week of settling in, the real adventures began. Rocío, myself, and six other local participants who were doing their civil service with us had an extraordinary year, starting with a week-long stay in Istremont, a small twin town in the Alps. Even though we had only just met, we were encouraged to share our experiences and challenges with each other, always keeping in mind the goal of becoming a strong team.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy. There were moments when it felt like we might fall apart. Personally, I sometimes felt inadequate—because of the language, my role, or not always understanding the projects—but with every challenge, I realized how naturally we overcame it together as a team.

We took part in a wide variety of activities and services: working in a nursing home, a school, conferences organized by the municipality, environmental projects for the restoration of a park and a farmhouse, creative projects to express our artistic side, and even a food collection initiative for families in need—truly a bit of everything!

Among all these activities, the aspect I found most meaningful was that everything always connected back to the “red thread” of the year, chosen by the coordinators: gender equality. This is a topic very close to my heart, both as a woman and as a person. The workshops and projects on this topic gave me energy to continue working on my law thesis on domestic violence and the custody of children who witness it. It was striking to see how universally relevant the issue is and how important it is to discuss and understand it.

I was always aware that the project would last less than a year—nine months—and that eventually I would have to say goodbye to the friends I had made there, not forever, but at least for a while. However, as the months went by, that thought became increasingly difficult to accept.

As I write this article, I have just returned to Italy, still a bit unsettled by the move. I can honestly say it was one of the most beautiful and important experiences of my life. It helped me grow and continue my journey of self-discovery. I feel lucky to have chosen the right project, one that offered a variety of activities so I could understand what I truly enjoy doing.

A year in Istres taught me how to live in a community but also independently, how to take my own space, reflect on myself, and grow. In short, it taught me how to truly grow up!