Living the Community
Create, share, transform
The Two Souls of the Community
The Two Souls of the Community
Volunteering:
Do you want to experience the joy of making a difference — together?
At Valle Benedetta Retreat Center, you can, through volunteering. Every day, we offer the opportunity to actively contribute to the life of the center.
It’s a precious occasion to cultivate love and compassion, to give and receive, and to feel part of a living, evolving community.
Scholarships:
We support young people under 25 and individuals who are experiencing a period of financial hardship.
For this reason, we have created our scholarships—participation grants designed to make our retreats and the transformative life of community accessible even to those who may not be able to afford them at this time.
Living Community at Valle Benedetta
At Valle Benedetta Retreat Center, we believe that life becomes fuller when we take part in its creation.
The Living the Community volunteering program is an invitation for those who wish to contribute with enthusiasm and live authentically, becoming part of a living organism that grows day by day.
Immersed in nature, here you can rediscover the joy of giving and of living in simplicity and connection, in service of a shared dream.
The Spirit of Volunteering
“Volunteering means freedom.
Doing what I feel is true.
I do it because it arises from the heart,
here and now.
It is my yes to life.
It is my yes to collaboration.
It is my yes to the creation of something beautiful,
together.”
— Eraldo
Participating with joy, serving with heart
Community thrives on the energy of those who live within it. Everyone is invited to contribute to the activities that keep the center alive—from the kitchen to the garden, from hospitality to maintenance, as well as supporting seminars and shared practices.
There are no fixed roles, but a spirit of genuine collaboration, where each person offers what they can, with who they are.
Outside of service time, enjoy free moments to breathe, connect, share, explore the beautiful nature of the Livorno hills park, or simply savor life in the Valley.
Through your contribution, you become an active part in creating a place that inspires transformation, regeneration, and a sense of belonging.
Regenerating the Earth, Nurturing Life
We believe that the transformation of the environment and that of the human being are inseparable. For this reason, our commitment also extends to the land that hosts us.
Being part of the community also means embracing projects of soil regeneration, mindful agriculture, and care for the landscape.
Every seed planted, every garden tended, every gesture of attention becomes part of a larger process that weaves together care for the environment and collective transformation.
Come and Create with us
For those who need accommodation, a limited number of simple and welcoming service lodgings are available, reserved for participants who actively take part in the program.
To support community life, we offer reduced rates:
- Bed in shared rooms: €10 per day
- Access to the community restaurant: €15 per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Come create with us. The community is waiting for you.
From your very first day, you can join our daily yoga and meditation practices to cultivate balance, energy, and presence.
If you choose to stay for at least one month, you will also be able to take part in one of our transformative retreats free of charge.
The vegan pantry
Learn the Basics of Plant-Based Cooking
25 February 2026
Simone Cipriani
A practical introduction to vegan cooking — exploring ingredients, plant-based alternatives, and DIY essentials.
Learn how to create healthy, satisfying, and sustainable dishes — no prior experience needed.
Saucha: the art of purifying the body and mind
Return to yourself with renewed energy and lightness.
6 - 8 March 2026
Simone e Alessia
A journey of purification and renewal: through gentle yoga practices, conscious breathing, healing sounds, and plant-based cooking classes, you’ll lighten your body and mind — and return home deeply renewed.
Naturally vegan
Traditional Italian Cuisine, Naturally Plant-Based
11 March 2026
Simone Cipriani
Rediscover the roots of our regional cuisine and its naturally vegan dishes. In this course, you’ll learn how to creatively and simply reinterpret traditional Italian gastronomy in a plant-based way.
Qi Gong - The Eight Pieces of Brocade
The Ancient Practice to Cultivate Energy and Vitality
13 - 15 March 2026
Donato Panaccio
Nurture your well-being through Qi Gong. Discover the Eight Pieces of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin), an ancient energy practice, simple yet profound, for cultivating health, harmony, and longevity.
Wim Hof Method: Fundamentals Workshop
Reconnect with your inner power through the core pillars of the Wim Hof Method.
22 March 2026
Tommaso Cambrelli
Reconnect with your inner power through the core pillars of the Wim Hof Method.
Fun Dining
The Creative Potential of Plant-Based Cuisine
25 March 2026
Simone Cipriani
A course to explore the most creative side of plant-based cuisine and shape gourmet dishes with simplicity and imagination.
For those who want to experiment, have fun, and create their own plant-based menu at home.
To Exist or to Function?
The Power of the Silent Mind and the Illusion of Urgency
27 - 29 March 2026
Vincenzo e Fabio
A retreat to slow down and step off the treadmill — rediscovering space and silence.
Through contemplative practices, mindfulness, writing, and open dialogue, you’ll explore the subtle boundary between “functioning” and “existing,” and reconnect with Presence and Freedom within yourself.
The path of calm abiding
An Invitation to Silence and Presence
24 - 26 April 2026
Chiara Nalin
An immersive retreat into the practice of Resting Calm (Shamatha) meditation — to learn how to cultivate inner stillness, presence and grounding, even amid the chaos of daily life.
I Trust and I Surrender
Rediscover trust in your steps
15 - 17 May 2026
Francesca Greco
Two-day experiential retreat immersed in Nature. A brief yet powerful pause to return to the Essential, to deepen trust in yourself and learn to surrender to life.
Longchenpa's 7 Mind Training
Dzogchen teachings to align body, speech and mind
30 May - 2 June 2026
Tulku Ösel Dorje
A practical and transformative path to cultivate clarity, presence and inner freedom thanks to the wisdom of the Dzogchen tradition.
Natural leadership
Your Presence Is Your Power
2 - 4 October 2026
Eraldo e Komal
For those who lead and support others, yet feel the need to return to themselves. Amidst nature, Dzogchen wisdom, and contemporary practices, you’ll reconnect with the strength that rises from your center and you'll rediscover your leadership as a Presence that inspires.
Scholarships
Participate with Support
At Valle Benedetta Retreat Center, we wish to make participation in our retreats more accessible to young people under 25 and to those who are experiencing financial hardship.
This is our way of opening the doors to those who feel a genuine calling to practice and inner inquiry, because we believe that money should never be an obstacle to accessing transformative experiences.
We offer scholarships to broaden access to the Valle Benedetta learning community. Scholarships allow participation in a selection of workshops organized directly by Valle Benedetta, as well as room and board for those who wish to experience community life.
Valle Benedetta is deeply grateful for the support of generous individuals, foundations, and organizations, whose contributions enable us to expand the reach and impact of the Valle Benedetta Scholarship Program.
Eligibility, criteria, and application deadlines vary depending on circumstances.
Eligibility Criteria
Scholarships are open to adults (18+) who:
- feel a sincere motivation toward practice and personal growth,
- are in a financial situation that limits their ability to participate,
- wish to contribute, when possible, to the life of the center in a spirit of reciprocity.
To apply, simply send us a brief personal introduction describing your motivation.