21 August 2026
People at work, works that grow
«Staying sat at the desk, many encounters happen in which is clarified the sense of what you’re doing»
“Two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one” wrote, rather cryptically, G.K. Chesterton. It’s a highly successful paradox that can be better understood at the Meeting than with many analyses.
Patrizia and Monica, two florentine friends, have been affectionate visitors of the Meeting since its very first time. At some point came the decision to volunteer. An almost natural step.
«The first time – tells Patrizia – was in 2010. Since I was a math teacher, I was asked to serve as the guide for a scientific exhibition. Is was a really personal decision. I told myself: if every time that I come here at the Meeting I see so much beauty, it’ll be so much more beautiful for me to contribute, in whatever way I can, so that this beauty can be reality».
An intuition that, judging by her tone, has clearly been confirmed. In the last two years, together with Monica and many others, she animates the “Dona ora” desks, where she meets many people that freely, and often loyally, support the Meeting.
«The motivation behind the donors is, ultimately, the same that inspired me to volunteer. Whether they give a little or a lot, from the look in their eyes you can understand that their desire isn’t just to help build this beauty, but for the whole world to be able to experience it».
Monica, a now-retired nurse who spent many years as a visitor, decided to try this experience for herself after seeing her son work as a volunteer. «Experiencing the Meeting means realizing just how important it is – for yourself and for others – that this reality can exist; it was so wonderful that I didn’t think twice about doing it again».
It’s not just about making a contribution, it’s about being part of a life. «Even when I’m sitting at my desk, there are so many encounters that help clarify the meaning of what you’re doing and why the Meeting is important; above all, you realize that people are driven by hope. Here it’s possible to look at reality in a different way, discovering the positive experiences that the world around us often hides from us».
When that happens, it’s only natural to desire that the Meeting will continue to exist. Monica recalls: «Last year, a young man who was visiting for the first time stopped by the desk. Out of breath and in a hurry because he was about to leave, he told us, “Everything here is wonderful and free; I couldn’t leave without making my contribution to all of this”».
