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15 Sep 2025
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Description
Hello! My name is Federica. I am an architect, researcher, and curator based in Pennabilli, a small village nestled in the Italian Apennines. Here, alongside a diverse group of friends and collaborators, I am experimenting with earth construction techniques and curating local initiatives, such as creative residencies and workshops. Together, we co-run a community café and art space that serves as a vibrant hub for creation, connection, and collaboration.
What makes this project truly special is its community-driven nature. This is run by a collective of local inhabitants, each bringing their unique expertise and passion to the table. Among us are farmers, educators, yoga teachers, Reiki masters, writers, artists, cooks, innkeepers, foragers, fishers, activists, researchers, artisans, elderly card players, and young new residents of the valley. Together, we form an interdisciplinary and intergenerational collective united by a shared mission: to keep the spirit of the old village social club alive by fostering connections, sharing ideas, and celebrating our diverse experiences.
At the heart of the project is the kitchen, a place of conviviality, dialogue, and the celebration of diversity through the practices of caring and hosting. It’s also a meeting point for local associations and the wider community—a space to gather stories, experiment with innovative forms of social engagement, and explore new ways of managing and caring for the “common good.”
This self-sufficient, networked, and intergenerational space is designed to create opportunities for the development of solidarity economies, promote ecological health, and foster an intergenerational culture in the Pennabilli area. Our approach is rooted in action and interaction, aiming to create a positive impact on the territory and the local community.
The focal point of this project is Pennabilli and the Alta Valmarecchia region, a breathtaking valley in the Italian Apennines surrounded by the Sasso Simone e Simoncello Natural Park. Here, we are building not just a space, but a living, breathing community that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and care.
Join us in this journey of connection and discovery—there’s a place for everyone here!
AAA. OUR TEAM IS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for a friendly, responsible, and creative person (we also accept couples or small collectives) to support us in documenting and sharing the life and atmosphere of our spaces (cafè and seminar) and contribute to a community archive. Your role will focus on:
Taking photos and videos that capture the spirit of our community spaces and its guests
Helping with social media content, storytelling, and basic communication
Supporting small creative projects or decorative updates in common areas
Assisting with welcoming guests and creating a positive, respectful atmosphere
Occasionally helping document or organise events, workshops, or group activities
This is a great opportunity for someone with a creative eye and a passion for community spaces. If you're interested in living in a vibrant hostel environment and contributing through communication, creativity, and presence, we’d love to hear from you!
The commitment is about 15 hours per week with flexible scheduling and two days off, making it easy to enjoy the area. Minimum stay is 2 weeks.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Interests
Farming
Sustainability
Culture
Politics / Social justice
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Performing arts
Writing
Music
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Outdoor activities
Nature
Dancing
Mountain
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The community cafè is managed by a collective of inhabitants, it counts 180 associated and is located in the heart of the historical hamlet of Pennabilli. During opening hours, it hosts a variety of visitors: groups of elderly people who gather to play cards, choral singing groups, painting workshops, live music nights, cooking events, and moments of broader sharing through hands-on activities (such as sewing) and artistic events like art exhibitions and film screenings. Through these activities, travellers can learn about the values of intergenerational collaboration, the importance of learning from old people to maintain local traditions alive, and the power of collective action in sustaining community spaces in marginal rural settlements. Guests/volunteers will gain a deeper understanding of rural Italian life becoming themselves hosts, the challenges and opportunities of living in a small village, and the innovative ways in which communities like Pennabilli are keeping their cultural heritage alive while creating job opportunities for young people who still live in the area.
Moreover, the café serves as a platform for dialogue and mutual learning where visitors can share their own experiences and perspectives by supporting the creation of new initiatives, creating a two-way exchange that enriches the community and the new temporary inhabitants.
Help
The required volunteer hours per week are 15 hours without meals, divided into different tasks:
Main helps
: Document life in the cafè and the seminar space
: Tyding up the community spaces
: DIY (creating small furnitures, decorations etc)
: Keeping our social media accounts alive with posts, stories
: Renewing the interiors with artistic installations
Depends on the period of the season there could be:
The support for the project involves active integration into a variety of proposed activities, offering volunteers a dynamic and enriching experience. distributed across the following areas:
Art Residencies and Exhibitions: Assisting in the conceptualization, organisation, and setup of exhibitions, including curating displays and engaging with artists and visitors.
Recreational and Cultural Events: Helping to organise and run events such as concerts, creative residencies, and workshops, which may include logistical support, promotion, and coordination.
Workshops: Supporting the planning and facilitation of hands-on workshops, such as painting, sewing, or cooking, and contributing to the creation of a collaborative learning environment.
Local Farming and Associations: Collaborating with local farmers and associations on community-driven initiatives, which could involve hands-on tasks, event coordination, or sharing skills to support their activities.
Volunteers are also encouraged to propose new activities based on their talents, skills, and interests. Whether it’s organising a new workshop, initiating a cultural event, or introducing innovative ideas, there is flexibility to tailor contributions to the group’s needs and the volunteer’s passions.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Portuguese: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We are a group of friends managing the spaces with different background and coming from different places of the world...all ended up in this village :) we speak many languages and look forward to meeting people from all over.
Accommodation
We can offer accomodation in private rooms, shared rooms and private apartments (upon availability) in one of our hospitality structures (that was a seminar (the school for the priest)) in the center of the village or in the other volunteer's house depending on availability.
In accomodation there will be no receptionist and limited internet access.
Meals have to be prepared autonomously, an equipped kitchen will be available to the volunteers. Fresh products can be found every Saturday morning or Thursday morning at local markets or at the farm.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
internet in the area is not always fully accessible but in the cafè it works.
Space for parking camper vans
camping space designated to hospitality is in the village of Villa Maindi. A compost toilet will be available from next summer. Water is available via a public fountain
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
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Me and three others were the first volunteers on a new project:… read more
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Me and three others were the first volunteers on a new project:… read more
