My experience volunteering at Boodaville Barcelona 2022! – Vianna

In 2022 I began the 12 month volunteering project to start the Boodaville Barcelona, I have been involved in several European Solidarity projects over the years and have spent the last 3 years involved with Boodaville. It was my goal to complete the volunteering before I turned 30, although with COVID causing many delays, I am 7 months later than planned…

Saul and I had the opportunity to build this project with Anna, from the very structure of the timetable and our schedule and to identify our own personal and collective goals with this project. Throughout the year I spent a lot of time in Poble Sec, getting to know the barrio and attending and organising events with the associations who are already supporting the community in a big way and bringing ecosocial transition into conversation and action. For many reasons, it has become one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Barcelona, with Montjuic’s nature being a regular escape from the city. 

Throughout the year I spent many Friday’s in Hort de la Font Trobada, a community garden which is also tucked away in Montjuic. With rows of allotments growing aromatics, fruits, veg and edible flowers… This was a real oasis for me, reminding me of how my mum used to tend the garden when I was a kid, she always planted a lot of lavender. I spent a lot of time continuing to learn about the medicinal uses of plants, and collecting things that were growing in abundance to make herbal healing salves and oils. 

Some days I spent hours on the computer, researching, learning, writing and organising, completing the necessary, behind the scenes tasks. Mostly I loved being outdoors, with the plants and insects, in the shade of the trees and getting my hands dirty. I love being fully immersed in nature, most of the year I was living in La Floresta and that meant that I had a lot of time to spend with the trees and occasionally running into wild boars.

We achieved many things this year, including building and maintaining some petit jardinets, working in Hort de la Font Trobada and organising and supporting community events as volunteers or participants, learning about permaculture design and sustainability in the city, organising the 4th Maranya Festival and starting our weekly ecosocial meet up.

It’s difficult to summarise in a short blogpost how this year has changed me, and all of the things that we achieved. I will say that I am grateful for the growth and learning that took place, for the reflection and the challenges. This has helped to shape my values and perspective on the world in a more positive and loving way.