To soon to say goodbye

🌿Our final week in Liveloula came with a bittersweet feeling. Projects were wrapping up; the days felt fuller; and every moment together seemed to matter more.

🪨The altar project, started with wheelbarrows and vision, was finally complete. Under Steve’s guidance, we built a dry-stone wall; filled the space with sand; and decorated it with woven details, land art, and gentle brushstrokes. That evening, we held an opening ceremony beneath the moonlight and the plane tree; sharing personal stories in a circle that felt timeless.

💧The Rainbow Project – a new pond shaped like an eye – was finished too. It’s now ready to welcome insects, amphibians, and the life that will grow around it. We added soil, stone, and even mosaic tiles to give it beauty and care. A future habitat made with intention.

🍅One more afternoon was spent side by side with our neighbors, helping build a garden dedicated entirely to tomatoes. It was laughter, teamwork, and muddy hands; a true exchange of care.

📝That spirit of cultural exchange showed up again one night, when we translated the poem “Liberté” into every language spoken in our group. French, Romanian, Italian, German, Greek, Georgian, English… our diversity turned into a shared voice.

🌕And then, it was time to say goodbye. Some hugs were quiet; others long and tearful. But all of us left with new stories, new friendships, and a sense of something we helped grow.

💭What stayed with us this week?

That endings can also be beginnings; and that even temporary communities leave lasting traces.

🇪🇺 Eyes Wide Open is a European Solidarity Corps programme supported by the Education & Culture Executive Agency, and co-funded by the European Union. A Hopeland initiative hosted in Liveloula.