Leonardo

Hi, my name is Leonardo Ricci, I am 23 years old and I come from Italy. Last year, I completed my Master’s degree in Humanitarian Action, and this volunteering experience in Greece gave me the opportunity to see in practice many of the realities I had previously only studied academically. Spending five months working in this context was deeply inspiring and helped me better understand the challenges connected to migration, asylum seeking, and humanitarian support on the field.

Working with teenagers from different cultural backgrounds allowed me to create meaningful connections and to reflect on the importance of empathy, communication, and inclusion in everyday life. This experience also strengthened my interest in pursuing a future path connected to humanitarian action and refugee support. At the same time, I had the opportunity to conduct research related to migration and social issues, which helped me continue developing my academic and analytical skills in a practical environment.

Beyond the project itself, this experience gave me the chance to meet incredible people from different countries and cultures. I created strong bonds both with local people and with the volunteers and professionals involved in the project. Living in Ioannina and sharing this experience with others helped me grow personally and professionally, and I will carry these memories and lessons with me in my future journey.