Fabrizio en Barcelona
At the end of October, I received the news that I had been chosen to carry out a volunteer experience in the beautiful city of Barcelona, at the Fundació Catalunya Voluntària.
Well, this year on Halloween, I got the “treat” instead of the ‘trick’. Because I had been dreaming of having an experience like this for a long time and I was very excited about the possibility of working in a foundation with the values of the FCV. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever heard of non-formal education? I had a rough idea at the beginning but, since I arrived here, I have realized its real meaning and everything it involves: cooperation, creativity, personal contribution, overcoming fears and embarrassment to participate, using somewhat atypical tools and getting away from all the logic of passive learning, transforming each input into at least one output.
That is why Tuesday meetings are an important occasion to break out of pre-established schemes and contribute something new and good to the community.
From the beginning I felt welcomed at FCV like a family; that must be endured and with which we must consider how we can produce an effective change that leads to more peace, more empowerment of youth and more mutual learning following a horizontal logic.
In a few weeks I have learned about the personal development opportunities that the European Union finances and how to get young people to mobilize and decide to go on Erasmus and enjoy these educational plans, in which you have to apply both your brain and your heart, since they are both those that move us as human beings.
Barcelona is amazing. There is always something to do and the city’s cultural offering in terms of theatre, sports, music, cinema, museums is incredible. There is always a place from which to see a spectacular sunset and snack on some tapas to accompany it. There is always someone to play basketball with on the city courts and someone to challenge at ping pong. There is always someone playing live music in the Ciutadella park (and what performances!). There are always green parrots whose sounds mix with those of the seagulls, producing that irresistible phonetic totem associated with the sea and freedom. I am grateful for all this and for what is to come, because true education consists of trying to be the best version of oneself, and peace and solidarity are the paths that must be walked.
Fabrizio
