Volunteer vacations are a popular way to travel, and it’s not just developing countries that need volunteers. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities for a volunteer vacation in Italy.
Read on to learn more about the options and which one is the best match for you.
Help Rebuild an Abandoned Tuscany Village
If you have skills in gardening, building, or general maintenance, consider a unique volunteer experience in beautiful central Tuscany right in the middle of the Casentino National Park forest. You can take part in turning an abandoned village into a sustainable community by helping with the greenhouse, vegetable garden, rainwater storage solutions, design improvements and more on a homestead hotel this spring.
Basically, in exchange for a few hours of work each day, you will be provided with a room and three meals a day. You also have the opportunity to take Italian lessons with the homestead’s neighbor. On your time off, explore the surrounding area, including swimming in the nearby river, going for hikes in the countryside, mountain biking and more.
Teach in Naples
Education is struggling in Naples, Italy. Many students opt to drop out of school to look for work. At the same time, the public schools lack resources for extra-curricular activities. When you volunteer as a teacher in Naples, you will help close this gap by helping out local teachers in public schools, organizing afterschool programs, and running workshops that help students learn English.
The age range you can choose to work with includes 4 to 18 years old. In order to teach English, you’ll need to have a TEFL certificate and pay the volunteer fee. If you choose to volunteer over the summer, you can expect to work with local children as well as newly arrived refugees in a fun, outdoor environment.
Volunteer with Dolphins
Do you love the sea and the creatures within? Then consider living aboard a dolphin research boat for a volunteer vacation to Italy. You will sail along the Ischia coastline on a historical sailing boat in the protected area of Neptune’s Kingdom.
As a volunteer, you’ll find yourself immersed in dolphin conservation that includes studying their behavior and recording bioacoustics and other data. Programs run from 1 to 3 weeks and include a single bunk. The program is open to those aged 16 to 70 with 6 volunteers serving at a time from mid May till the end of September.
Shadow Doctors in Italy
Spend 3 weeks over the summer with the Atlantis Fellowship that provides pre-med students with the opportunity to shadow doctors in international hospitals. This fellowship is AAMC-compliant and gives you a chance to live out your medical passion. You can plan to spend 20 or more hours per week in various medical settings as well as discovering the local culture.
Did you know that Italy is ranked fourth when it comes to the most visited countries in the world? It’s true! While there are several factors that likely attribute to this, one of the biggest factors is the food. After all, who doesn’t love authentic Italian cuisine?
Are you planning a trip to Italy? If so, one of the most appealing factors is likely the food. After all – who doesn’t love authentic Italian food?
The majority of tourists who visit Italy flock to the most well-known spots, such as Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. There’s good reason – these places are truly amazing and full of authentic restaurants, old-world hotels and historical landmarks.