About the project – A Journey of Inclusion and Creativity
This European Solidarity Corps team volunteering project took place in May 2025 and brought together young people from across Europe and Aruba for a unique experience rooted in creativity, inclusion, and intercultural exchange. Hosted by Tur Cos Ta Posibel, the project focused on community art and youth engagement in collaboration with local organisations such as Briyo di Solo and KIA. Over the course of two weeks, volunteers co-created murals, led workshops and sports activities, and immersed themselves in Aruban culture — from learning Papiamento and tasting local food to visiting the donkey sanctuary and exploring Oranjestad. Funded by the Dutch National Agency through the European Solidarity Corps, the project fostered solidarity, personal growth, and meaningful connections among all participants.
Pictures
Pictures by sporchidimondo
More info about the project
Our colleague Milica shares some of the activities of the first days.
Day 1:
That was the first time we got to meet the amazing people from Briyo di Solo. They welcomed us with open arms and were super open to all our ideas and plans. We kicked things off by getting to know each other through sounds and movements. Soon after, we dove into our main project: two murals we’re painting together. While some of us worked on the murals, others kept the good vibes going with ball games or cooking with our new friends.
To top off a beautiful first day, we visited the donkey sanctuary – definitely a highlight! We had so much fun feeding and petting the donkeys.. and the baby cats stole our hearts too. 
A perfect start to introduce the volunteers to the spirit of this solidarity project. 
Day 2:
We continued painting the murals side by side with the Briyo di Solo crew, and threw in some dancing while waiting for lunch to be ready. In the afternoon, we visited the butterfly farm where a lovely guide told us all about how butterflies grow and live. Some even landed on us! 
During these intense and beautiful days at Briyo di Solo, we’re also busy planning our next steps: murals and creative activities in KIA. We have already visited the place and are co-creating something meaningful together.
Day 3:
Thursday was full of different activities – from mural painting to cooking and some well-deserved pool time!
We proudly finished our first mural: a beautiful tree made from all of our handprints as leaves – a symbol of unity and growth. 
To cool off from the Aruban sun, we hopped into the pool and just enjoyed the moment with everyone.
Later, we had our first Papiamento lesson and got to learn more about the local culture. The perfect cherry on top? Tasting our first pastechi – and yes, it was delicious! 
Day 4:
Friday was our last day this week at Briyo di Solo – and probably the most exciting one!
Before heading to Oranjestad, we wrapped up the murals and were surprised with a little celebration organized by the amazing Briyo di Solo staff. There was dancing all morning, a tiramisu station (yes, it was as tasty as it sounds 
), and a whole lot of joy shared between the volunteers and the guys from Briyo di Solo.
In the afternoon, we explored the capital of Aruba. We took a tram ride through the colorful city center and visited the Archaeological Museum, where a wonderful guide walked us through Aruba’s history and culture. We learned a lot – and had so much fun along the way! 
At the same time, we are finalizing our preparations in KIA – designing the murals, preparing activities, and building meaningful connections for the creative journey we’ll share with the young people there.
Project co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union 🇪🇺. The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
