TEMPO DI VIVERE Youth Exchange, Part 7

Marta from Italy tells us:

I wake up, take my backpack on my shoulder and go! I arrive in Tempo di Vivere ecovillage and I actually don’t know what I’m going to live in the next days. Probably agriculture, some skills about community life, homemade production…a lot of interesting things! Ready? Yea, maybe! But something strange is happening. The hosting community and our facilitator are asking to make a circle. And then the magic starts! Yes! The power of human beings sitting in a circle sharing feelings, needs, emotions, ideas….honestly, watching at each others’ eyes, in a word: “naked”. How much beauty, how much strength there are in our fragilities!

And what about love? Yes, love. How much are we scared about this word? And how much magic and power there are in it instead! So, if I you ask me to share with you what I’m bringing with me at home from this YE I say love. Love for all the beautiful people I’ve met, for me and for my courage, for the place which has hosted us. And of course…lots of laughs, tears, food memories, new ideas and new knowledge too ;). Thank you all, thanks Mother Earth

Mónica from Spain tells us:

I could have never imagined how much I would learn at Tempo di Vivere. This youth exchange has taught me a different way of living which I was not familiar with. We learned about agriculture, carpentry, cooking, expressing emotions, recognizing feelings, socializing, being open, dancing and many other fun activities. From the first moment we were conscious that TDV was a sphere of respect and responsibility, the community showed us that we could be ourselves and not have the usual fear of being judged by others and specially by ourselves.

We created our little parallel space where we could do what we most liked. I have learned many different skills specially those related to the emotions and how to be able to interpret them and let other people help me with them or just listen to them. This kind of learning is not taught at school or university, and it is very important for our society, young, adult or old, it is never too late. I could never thank enough the community for their openness and kindness.