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Description
My name is Mirko; I am a designer and PhD student, and I am currently working on a research project focused on adaptive fashion and design for people with disabilities. I live in the heart of the Tuscan hills, in a small country village just a few kilometres from Florence.
My house is spread over three floors and is surrounded by a garden. My aunt and cousin live on the ground floor, whilst I live on the first floor. On the lower floor, I have set up a creative workshop where I salvage and transform materials, particularly textiles. The workshop is equipped with a laser cutter, a 3D printer, a sewing machine and other tools for design and self-production.
In 2025, I founded a cultural association that organises events and services for the local community, with the aim of keeping the village’s social fabric alive, promoting its heritage and expanding the area’s cultural opportunities.
A few months ago, we secured an operational base just a few metres from my home, which we have transformed into a multi-service socio-cultural centre: a space open to the community, dedicated to cultural activities, workshops, meetings and moments of sharing.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
LGBTQ
Politics / Social justice
Videography
Sustainability
Self development
Culture
Farming
Charity work
Carpentry
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Gardening
Photography
Plant care
Music
Art & design
Architecture
Nature
Mountain
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Here, the experience is not just about work, but above all about sharing and community life.
Volunteers will have the chance to get to know both my daily life and that of the small local community where I live. By working on the association’s premises, they will also be able to participate indirectly in the cultural life of the village: events, meetings, workshops and social gatherings with local people.
The house and the association’s centre are informal, open spaces where time is shared naturally: we work together, cook, chat and take part in daily life, with a constant exchange between different people and cultures.
For my part, I can share skills related to design, planning, self-production and the reuse of materials, particularly textiles. I can also introduce volunteers to the use of tools and techniques such as 3D printing, laser cutting and the artisanal processing of materials. Furthermore, the experience with the association allows one to observe at close quarters how a cultural and social project is born and grows in a small provincial setting.
At the same time, I hope to learn a great deal from the volunteers: new perspectives, different practical skills, alternative ways of living and organising tasks and daily life, as well as cultural exchanges that can enrich both the project and the local community.
Registered charity
This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).
Help
I would really appreciate some practical help with day-to-day tasks, both at home and at the association’s premises.
The tasks are simple and vary slightly over time: they mainly involve helping with painting some rooms and furniture, looking after and maintaining the garden (including small tasks such as pruning trees), and cleaning and tidying the indoor and outdoor areas of the association’s centre.
When we organise events, help with setting up the spaces, during the activities and with the final tidying up is also very useful.
And in everyday life, it’s always nice to share moments in the kitchen, with daily cleaning and meal preparation.
It’s a very informal and collaborative environment, where things are done together and with a practical spirit, adapting to the needs of the moment. If anyone has a creative streak, they can use the equipment (laser cutter, 3D printer and sewing machine) I have in my home workshop and design all sorts of products together.
The association is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting cultural, environmental and community activities. Workaway volunteers participate exclusively in educational, cultural and community-focused projects and will not be involved in providing services or direct assistance to guests, visitors or paying participants during workshops, events or other activities organised by the association. Workaway guests will also help and be responsible for the care and maintenance of the association’s premises and, separately, of the host’s private home, which is in no way part of the association’s activities.
Languages
Languages spoken
Italian: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Spanish: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
The house is nestled in the Tuscan hills and features a garden, two terraces, a utility room, a bathroom, a kitchen-diner and a living room.
The sleeping areas consist of three bedrooms: two double rooms and one single room. One of the double rooms is my private room, whilst the double room with a balcony and the single room are reserved for guests.
The kitchen is the heart of the home: this is where we prepare and share meals together. Depending on the time of day and the weather, we can choose to eat at the table, in the living room whilst watching a film, or outdoors on the terrace or in the garden.
We can provide three meals a day for Workaway volunteers during their stay.
The atmosphere is simple and convivial, with shared spaces that encourage daily life together but also allow for moments of relaxation and independence.
What else ...
The house is situated in a small country village nestled in the Tuscan hills, just a few kilometres from Florence. It is a peaceful setting, surrounded by greenery, ideal for those who love nature and a slower pace of life.
For getting around, there are bus services to nearby villages and Florence. A few kilometres away is a station with good connections to Florence station, where you can catch trains to other towns and cities. Whenever possible, I’m happy to help with transport or organise lifts.
In your free time, there are plenty of options: walks in the hills, visits to nearby villages, trips to the coast, excursions to Florence and the surrounding area, or simply relaxing in the garden or within the house and the association’s premises. During the summer and beyond, the local area also offers cultural events, festivals and local initiatives.
My lifestyle is fairly simple and flexible, alternating between research work, planning activities and managing the association. The house is a shared space, so it is important to maintain an atmosphere of mutual respect, collaboration and care for the communal areas.
There are no strict rules, but we value shared responsibility, open communication and participation in daily life in a natural and collaborative way.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
For digital nomads, an internet connection is available in the house and in the main areas, and is stable enough to work remotely and carry out daily online activities. The communal areas and the association’s spaces can also be used as informal workspaces, depending on requirements and in harmony with the other activities taking place in the house.
Space for parking camper vans
For those travelling by motorhome or caravan, parking is available directly in the garden. Guests will, of course, have access to the house’s kitchen and bathroom, ensuring a comfortable stay.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Photos
