Volunteering

University is not only about studying. It is also about living and growing up, and I definitely enjoyed it all. In 2007 I joined the forestry students’ association of the Tuscia University in Viterbo, Italy, and in 2008 I became president and contributed to the growth of this association. At that time, there were similar associations at other Italian universities as well (Turin, Padua, Molise, Naples, Palermo, Nuoro and Reggio Calabria). We came into networking and decided to create a confederation. We met in 2009 and founded the Italian Confederation of Forestry Students’ Associations (AUSF Italia), whose objectives were to carry out social activities focused on quality and implication of students in higher education at universities, to build a network of students to share experiences, ideas and initiatives, and to promote interaction between students and companies, professional and academic bodies. I was the first president of AUSF Italia and head of the organizing committee of the first national meeting that took place in 2010, with students, professionals and academics coming from lots of regions in Italy. AUSF Italia is still active and national meetings take place yearly since 2010.