Greetings to fellow changemakers in the European Solidarity Corps community in Europe and beyond with the project Knowledge Garden 2. 

Today marks the end of our second week of being in Altamura and working at Agorateca together with Associazione Link APS. We are a group of eleven enthusiastic volunteers coming from different countries, and we are excited to share with you what we’ve accomplished so far. We’ve poured our energy, creativity, and lots of teamwork into this project—but let’s start from the beginning.

Who we are

We are a diverse group of young people in our twenties, each coming from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. We are at different stages of our lives: some are taking a gap year after high school or university, some are still studying, while others are already working. What unites us is our shared love for art and our curiosity to explore, create, and learn new skills—especially through bricolage.

Our first steps

The first two days were about settling in: exploring Agorateca, meeting the team from Link, learning each other’s names, setting rules and expectations and bonding as a group. A treasure hunt in the city helped us get to know Altamura better and, of course, each other. We also learned about the main project: improving the Knowledge Garden by building modular furniture to be used in future activities at the library. Together, we brainstormed ideas to make the space more inviting and comfortable for visitors.

Learning by doing
Then the real work began. First, we learned to use a variety of bricolage machines—table saw, circular saw, jigsaw, bandsaw, Japanese saw (yes, five different types of saws!)—as well as the drill. Antonio, the project’s architect, presented the plan in detail, gave us measurements, and guided us as we cut wooden panels and assembled them into modular chairs. We then moved on to the bar table, creating its open-book-shaped support system, adding wheels, and designing covers so it could be easily moved and stored. We also prepared fabric pieces for chair cushions.

The most beautiful part of this process was working together and supporting each other. Some of us became skilled at cutting wood, others at drilling or painting. Even though it was our first time building furniture, each of us contributed in our own way. Day by day, the Knowledge Garden began to take shape, and we’re excited to see the final result of our hard work. A big thank you goes to Antonio, Giuseppe and Mariangela (and later also Dario), who guided us patiently, taught us essential skills, and encouraged us to make improvements along the way.

Life outside Agorateca
Of course, our time here hasn’t been only about work. In our free time, we explored Altamura, enjoyed Italian food, went out for drinks, played card games, and relaxed together on our big balcony—the favorite spot in our house. One highlight was meeting Graziella and Teresa from Forno Antico Santa Caterina, the oldest bakery in town, where we even sang an Italian song together. We also attended the Allergia music festival at Asfodelo, where we joined workshops—making postcards from old magazines and creating music with kitchen instruments. The festival featured four local singers and bands, who we found very talented. This event became another special moment where our team bonded even more.

Weekend adventures

During our first weekend, we went on a trip along the coast and nearby towns. We visited Polignano a Mare (where we enjoyed the beach), Monopoli, Castellana Grotte—where we rented a trullo house for the night (which we nicknamed “the music house” thanks to its two pianos)—and Alberobello. We walked a lot, ate delicious Italian food, sunbathed, and most importantly, had fun together as a group.

Cultural nights
Food has been another way of connecting. We organized an Italian Night, when Mary and Nunzia from Altamura cooked pasta all’assassina for the whole team and our guests. Later, during Greek Night, Anastasia from Thessaloniki prepared gyros. The rest of us joined in with cooking and cleaning, and we all shared in the joy of experiencing each other’s cultures through food.

Looking ahead
This has been our journey in Altamura so far, two weeks full of learning, creating, exploring, and connecting. We feel grateful for the opportunity, and we can’t wait to see what the next weeks will bring.

Signed by Cătălina, Anastasia, Elli, Valentin, Miriam, Weranika, Kamile, Milan, Omar, Nunzia and Mary

These are some moments during these days...