On Saturday 9 April, the seventh Volunteering Fair was held at our College – a day filled with lovely outdoor activities and opportunities for the over 300 students from all over the region and our students to socialize after two years in which this had no longer been possible owing to the pandemic.
The Volunteer Fair is a project the College feels very strongly about and which has grown and evolved over time thanks to a fruitful collaboration with the local area. From a chance for our students to share the importance of volunteering within the UWC educational model it has become an opportunity for many young people to get together, socialise, meet volunteering associations and take part in interesting activities and workshops.
The schools that joined us this year were: the Liceo Statale France Prešeren and the Liceo Petrarca in Trieste, the ISIS della Bassa Friulana and the ISIS Michelangelo Buonarroti in Monfalcone. The collaboration with these schools was not limited to the participation in the actual event but also in its preparation, because the event has been included in the local PCTO – regional opportunities for students to develop soft skills during internships at partner associations. Twenty-six students from Liceo Petrarca and ISIS Buonarroti thus also participated as organisers.
At UWC Adriatic volunteering plays a pivotal role. Indeed, what sets the United World Colleges apart from other schools is the combination of a challenging curriculum with a strong ethical component. Our students learn that studying hard is not enough: to reach their full potential and one day be able to make a difference in the world it is essential to develop empathy and a sense of connection with others. In this respect, volunteering is an experience like no other.
For several years now, the Volunteering Fair has chosen to focus on a specific theme. This year’s it was exercise and well-being. Indeed, physical activities play a huge role in the UWC educational model. At UWC Adriatic sports are not so much a competitive, results-oriented activity, but rather an educational experience that helps young people challenge themselves, develop team skills and have a healthy lifestyle. On Saturday the young participants meet different associations and had a lovely time taking part in physical ativities both outdoors and indoors.
The associations involved in this year’s Fair were: ASD Calicanto Sport Integrato, Clic Trieste, Fierascena, Progetto Riabilitazione, Venjulia Rugby Trieste and Trieste Atletica, while the project partners that joined Mondo 2000 – the College’s voluntary association – were: the Municipality of Duino Aurisina, Solidarietà Trieste, Liceo France Prešeren, Time for Africa and the Associazione Comunità e Famiglia Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The 7th edition of the Volunteer Fair received financial support from the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
