The next few days in Trento, the European Capital of Volunteering, will be very intense. In fact, starting from tomorrow, Friday 10 May, the city will see a succession of meetings and conferences which will culminate next week with the European meeting “Spring volunteering congress” and the event with which volunteering presents itself to the city entitled “One hundred associations in the square” (details on the online agenda).
The third meeting of the CSV presidents
May 10th and 11th at Palazzo Benvenuti in Trento the third Presidents’ Meeting of the 49 Italian Volunteering Service Centers – CSV. After the first two events in the already capitals of volunteering Bergamo (2022) and Cosenza (2023), the event has established itself over the years as precious opportunity to systematize the analysis process and listening that led to the redefinition of CSV’s vision. The objective of this Meeting, carried out with the support of the CSV of Trento, is to define some strategic themes on which to articulate common programming and challenging projects to support Italian volunteering in the next three-year period 2025-2027.
The scheduled event opens up to the European dimension from Tuesday 14 May, when approximately 115 people will arrive in Trento who will take part in the event until Friday 17th Spring Volunteering Congress in Trento, an important opportunity to exchange good practices and enhance Trentino volunteering.
From 22 countries to discover good practices
The participants, coming from 22 European countries and divided into two groups, they will begin their visit Wednesday 15th with the meeting of the management of the European Volunteer Center at the Vetrina del Volontariato in via Manci and with the general assembly of the Center at Palazzo Benvenuti, to continue in the afternoon with a visit to theSolidarity Emporium of Christ the Kingmeeting place, space for listening and food distribution, and with the knowledge of experience Feeding Trento.
Thursday 16th – we read in a note – the day will begin with a rich program of study visits. During the morning, those present, divided into four groups, will be able to learn about the Migola Social Ovena public bakery open to all where courses and workshops are organised, the Slingshot projectwhich supports minors with homework help and games, the association Intertwiningwhich promotes social inclusion and intercultural dialogue through sport, Trentino Solidaritythe organization that encourages inclusion, sustainability and the fight against waste with various projects, Orlando Housewhich hosts homeless people and is managed by the same former homeless people who found support there, and theIvy Emporiumwhich aims to offer members a sustainable alternative to large-scale retail trade while offering a meeting and cultural place for members.
It’s still, The Forest – Community Academywhich in a regenerated space of the Rovereto train station hosts and promotes numerous opportunities for research, meeting and mutual help, Dad’s Denwhich offers meetings in Rovereto to strengthen the bond between father and son and opportunities for discussion between parents, theOpen vegetable garden of the Clarina neighborhood and the White Madonna Librarytwo projects born within the Common Goods framework to respectively promote socialization in the care of green spaces and the promotion of reading and knowledge.
And finally, the Garden of aromasthe collaboration agreement born within the Stra.bene e curated by the La Rete cooperative for the valorisation of the aromatic herb garden located along the Fersina, e Speck&Techthe organization that promotes conscious use of technology and organizes numerous activities on the topic.
The React conference
In the afternoon they will instead take part in the React Conference – Vote, Volunteer, Vision which will take place from 2.30pm to 5.30pm Geremia palace, where they will be welcomed by the mayor of Trento and Lejla Sehic Relic, president of the European Volunteering Center. After an initial introductory moment curated by the director of the Gabriella Civic Center, we will talk about educating communities, trends in the world of volunteering, local development and impact of volunteering.
And again, shared administration and management of common goods, adaptation of the legal and political framework to changes in volunteering, artificial intelligence, corporate volunteering and communication. At the end, the five themes to be explored in depth at the EP meeting, which will take place in Brussels in September, will be voted on.
The conference will continue at the Volunteering Pavilion in Piazza Duomo to end at the Muse, where, starting from 7pm, the EVCapital@10 Celebration.
Friday 17 May, participants will finally be able to take part in the guided tour of the city organized by the Trento Tourism Company, concluding the experience with an aperitif at Palazzo Roccabruna.
Opening photo by Daniel Funes Fuentes on Unsplash
