Civic Service in Loppiano: a life-changing choice

It is 26 May 2026, just after 11 o’clock. The meeting table in the reception room is laid with a simple yet generous spread: crisps as always, an ice-cream cake, schiacciata with mortadella, croissants, fruit juices and Spritz. All around, and gathered behind the desks, are the young people, the Focolarine and the Focolarini who work in the Auditorium. At the centre of the scene are the guests of honour: the three volunteers who, over the last 12 months, have served in the little town through Universal Civic Service. Albert, Niamh and Daniele have been invaluable in welcoming groups, organising programmes and sharing the experiences one can have in Loppiano.

The choice to stay

In recent days, Niamh, from Glasgow in Scotland, also celebrated her birthday. So, for her, today’s celebration is doubly special. “I feel that this has been the year I became an adult, the year I discovered my independence. Looking back on these last 12 months, I’ve realised just how many different things I’ve managed to do,” she smiles, looking around. “Thank you for everything, you have been my family here.”

Niamh, a psychology and music student, arrived in Loppiano in 2024 to attend the Gen School. During those first nine months, on various occasions, she had the opportunity to engage with visiting groups, not just English-speaking ones: evenings with young people, mornings of sharing, simple yet always meaningful encounters. Hence her decision to stay in the little town, taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the Universal Civic Service.

“The first group I welcomed was from Hong Kong. Then it was the turn of another from the Philippines: two countries I have visited myself and which are very close to my heart, so it was the perfect start for me!” she confides enthusiastically.

The toughest challenge? Welcoming the nearly one thousand young people who, on their pilgrimage to the Jubilee, stopped off in Loppiano. “Between logistics, meals, programmes and the unexpected, it seemed impossible to manage. But when the first group arrived, the air was filled with enthusiasm: they were having a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we were part of it!”

There have been so many experiences this year, but there is one she holds dearest in her heart: “I spent a whole weekend with a group of children preparing for Confirmation, aged 10 to 11. We formed a wonderful bond. At the end of the Mass, which also marked the end of their stay, they all rushed over to hug me! It was a moment that truly moved me!”

The value of service

Albert Senneh Mansaray is originally from Sierra Leone, a country that experienced civil war from 1991 to 2002. “The war,” says Albert, “has deeply marked my life and my identity.” Born in 1997, Albert grew up in the post-war period. He studied Public Health at the University of Makeni and, after graduating in 2024, enrolled on the Master’s degree in “Peace, Dialogue and Communication” at the Sophia University Institute in Loppiano. Last year, he decided to apply for the Universal Civic Service programme. He explains: “My experience was not simply a period of service but also a journey of solid formation. Thus, I learnt that serving does not just mean doing extraordinary things but doing ordinary things with responsibility, perseverance and heart: supporting a colleague, helping someone in difficulty, contributing to a community project, spending time with a group of young students. These simple gestures, when repeated over time, have a profound impact; they build a bridge between generations.”

Among his tasks was that of supporting groups of young visitors, sharing his life experience, preparing programmes and games, and accompanying them on visits to the various communities in Loppiano.

“Civic Service has strengthened in me a deeper sense of civic responsibility and solidarity. And then – he adds with a smile – I’ve made so many friends, with Daniele, Niamh, but also with many young people from Tuscany. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly!”

The courage to take risks

Daniele is the only Italian. He has been living in Rignano sull’Arno for just over a year. He comes from Lazio, more precisely from Colleferro, a small provincial town halfway between the capital and Frosinone. He graduated with honours in Film from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome (R.U.F.A.). For almost 10 years he worked in the audiovisual sector, alternating between working on his own projects and collaborating with major productions, small companies and medium-sized enterprises. “Always with a single driving force,” he explains, “that of being a conduit for the stories that most deserve to be told, and which, above all, the world needs to hear. I believe that the stories of Loppiano fall into this category.” Daniele has supported the Loppiano Communications Office with his voice and his vision. He chose Loppiano to carry out his Civic Service without knowing it. It could have been a disaster, but instead: “I was coming out of a very difficult period in my life and I said to myself, ‘Well, let’s give this a go, meet some new people, try to make a life for ourselves here’.” What I didn’t expect was all this: I’ve learnt so much, I’ve discovered a wonderful place where there are people who know how to give love and know how to receive it, who have listened and always made themselves felt close by.” Then, he picks up his guitar, strums a poignant melody and gives voice to his emotion.

Thank you, guys! And this isn’t a goodbye. Just a see you later.