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Program Description
Affordable Volunteer Service Projects throughout Italy!
Description
Volunteers For Peace offers over 3000 affordable, short-term voluntary service projects in 100+ countries, including over 275 in Italy each year. These international voluntary service projects are an opportunity to participate in meaningful community service while living and interacting in an intercultural environment. Volunteer projects vary greatly since they arise wherever there is a need in a given community.
Most projects are limited to ages 18 and up and there are over 250 programs just for ages 15-17, occurring typically in the summer months. Voluntary service projects are usually from May through September and are of 2 to 3 weeks in duration, although there are projects available in the 'off-season.' A USD 350 per-project registration fee ($500 if under 18) includes accommodation and food. Transportation is arranged and paid for by the volunteer. Please visit our site for additional information.
Highlights
Large choice of programs and locations. Affordable intercultural immersion-volunteers from at least four countries in every program.
Ratings and Reviews
14 of 25 people found this review helpful
Best travel experience of my life!
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18 of 30 people found this review helpful
Unforgettable Italian Experience!
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I have volunteered in Italy through Volunteers for Peace three times - twice in the south and once just outside of Venice. Each project was a unique experience, but all of them included opportunities to learn about little corners of Italy that I would never have found as a regular tourist. Perhaps most amazing of all were the opportunities volunteers got to meet and work with local people - at one project we were taught the traditional regional dance and went on holiday outings with groups of local people, and at another we volunteered every day with retired Italian men and women. The sense of connection was so strong I felt like I had found a home away from home!
VFP and their partner organizations in Italy were just wonderful to work with. I honestly can't say enough good things about my volunteer experiences with them.
My first volunteer abroad program with VFP was to an eco-village in NW Italy, near the border of France. It was absolutely magical! We lived and worked in a newly-restored medieval village and helped the village families harvest olives, tend the groves, gather wood, and do other odd jobs.
On one day off, we took the bus to town and the train to France.. On the other, we hiked to several miles over a mountain top into France and stayed the night in at an alpine hut.
All our meals were vegetarian. Breakfast (as is typical in Italy) was essentially coffee and toast (sometimes cookies). I like a big breakfast, so if I were to do it again, I'd bring a jar of peanut butter! Lunches and dinners were lovely, big Italian meals. Dinner (again, typical in Italy) was served late.. around 8-9 pm.
In this particular camp, we had beds in rooms shared with 2-4 other volunteers. We also had indoor bathrooms and solar heated showers, which is luxurious compared to a lot of other camps. If creature comforts are important to you, I'd advise you to pay close attention to this sort of thing when you are choosing a camp, because accommodations vary widely.
I met some of the most wonderful and interesting people from all over the world. We worked hard during the day and spent our afternoons and evenings cooking, eating, drinking, singing, dancing and forging strong, lasting friendships. I honestly didn’t want to leave when it was over.