Youth Support Volunteer Program in Italy - Rome
Want to make a difference to the lives of young people in Italy? International Volunteer HQ’s Youth Support project in Rome enables volunteers to assist with after-school programs or summer camps for children and teenagers, some of which are from disadvantaged communities. Volunteers will gain experience working with youth from many different backgrounds while providing them with a safe, supportive and positive environment where they can connect and learn together.
Highlights:
- Programs start every second and fourth Monday of the month
- Affordable fees from $1265 for 2 weeks
- Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Help on after school programs, some of which are for students from underprivileged communities
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Discover the fascinating art, culture and history of Rome
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Get a taste of authentic Italy by staying at a local lodge
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Most children in Italy have access to school, but many lack the support needed to continue their studies and follow their passions or dreams. Even in developed cities like Rome, a lot of young people do not have access to after-school activities, support with homework or the means to simply enjoy their free time.
The Youth Support project in Rome gives volunteers the chance to help local NGOs in ensuring that the basic needs and fundamental rights of Italian and foreign children are met, including education, health care, creativity and play. These local children and teenagers really benefit from interacting with international volunteers, as it exposes them to different cultures and enables them to learn and grow in a safe environment.
As a Youth Support volunteer in Rome, you will engage with young people and children of different age groups and help run activities for them, with a strong focus on environmental issues such as recycling, sustainability and climate change. You’ll also help young children affected with serious diseases and health conditions by spending time with them and their families, assisting them with their daily routine, and providing play and fun activities.
By volunteering with youth in Italy, you will help structure and support a calendar of activities in English, such as sport, theatre, projects with an environmental focus and so on. The topic varies according to the particular project that is supported.
Day-to-day tasks for volunteers range, but can include:
- Creating and implementing new extra-curricular activities
- Supporting existing activities
- Teaching a new sport, culture, language, theater, instrument, game, arts and crafts or anything else you are good at and want to share
- Helping local youth develop a vital universal skill: the English language
- Spend time with unwell children and conduct arts and craft workshops for them
If you have a preference in regards to the type of NGO you would like to work with, please note this in your application when you apply and we will do our best to match you to that focus area.
This youth volunteer project is well suited to aspiring teachers who would like to extend their social and teaching skills abroad, as well as any volunteers interested in a cultural exchange that involves empathy and creativity.
As you will be volunteering with the support of a local team and placement staff, you do not need to be qualified or experienced to participate on this project. However, we encourage you to come prepared with some ideas of the educational activities you would like to share with the kids and teens by studying some related topics. An online TEFL course is a great place to start.
Why do Youth Support volunteering in Rome with IVHQ?
When you volunteer with kids and teens in Italy you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Providing support to young people in a positive environment
- Helping students to progress their English language skills
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining youth work experience
- Immersing yourself in Italian culture
- Exploring Rome, Italy’s charming capital city
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”The entire program was a 10/10 experience for me, so much so, that I would like to return to the program one day. I grew so much as a person, and my mind expanded more in those 2 weeks than it has in my entire life. Although it was an incredibly sad moment, my favorite moment was saying goodbye to the children as this is where I saw how much of an impact we ...” read more
Humaira, British, 20
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Location
Rome is and has been many things - the capital of Italy, the Eternal City and the center of the ancient Roman empire. It is both brimming with reminders of bygone eras and teeming with dynamic, modern industry and entertainment. It’s also the setting of IVHQ’s Italy - Rome program, and volunteer placements are located throughout the wider city area.
Like any major city, there is a socio-economic divide in Rome and the people who fall on the disadvantaged side of this face a host of challenges. Volunteers can help make a difference to their lives by providing essential support to local initiatives designed to address these issues and others that affect the community.
Volunteers on this program should expect commutes of up to 1:45 hours one way to your placement. These long commute times are a result of Rome’s transportation system that almost always has long delays, ongoing repairs, and unpredictable schedules. Those who wish to join the Sustainable Farming project will usually have a longer commute than those on projects such as Youth Support and Teaching English, as this project is in the countryside on the outskirts of the city.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation in Rome begins on the second and fourth Monday of each month and lasts for a full day. Volunteers need to arrive in Rome on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO). You can also arrive into Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) but should expect you may need to wait to be picked up. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Rome. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Italy prior to your volunteer program and arriving overland, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a central meeting point in Rome on the Sunday before orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our Italy team in Rome. It begins the morning of your chosen start date and lasts for a full day. The orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Rome – an introduction to Italy, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and a tour of the local area. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers with whom you can swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Your specific placement orientation will be held the following day and you will be shown how to travel to and from your placement, receive an introduction to your placement, and then complete a few hours of volunteering.
Volunteer schedule example
Weekdays
After your program orientation, you will have a morning or afternoon volunteer shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. Your schedule will vary depending on the needs of your particular project. A typical schedule is as follows:
| 7.30 AM | Breakfast begins at the volunteer accommodation and is available until 10.30 AM. |
| 8.00 AM | Travel to your volunteer placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. Please note that some placements run in the afternoon and volunteers on these placements will have the morning free to use as they wish or to attend Italian language lessons (these have an additional fee). |
| 12.00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch break. Buy your own lunch from Rome’s many excellent cafes and eateries. After lunch, volunteers will continue volunteer work (where applicable). |
| 1.00 PM | Volunteers with afternoon or evening shifts travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on their project. |
| 6.30 - 10:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. After dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish. |
Weekends
On weekends, you can spend your free time discovering why Rome is one of the most popular and revered tourist destinations in the world. For a start, you can visit monuments to ancient history like the Colosseum, check out Vatican City, see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, explore the Pantheon and throw coins into the Trevi Fountain.
Once you’ve ticked off those iconic experiences you can relax and find out which of the rest of Rome’s numerous attractions you’ll see next. It might be any one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, the perfect authentic carbonara or a steaming cup of espresso, touring ancient churches, checking out the nightlife of buzzy Trastevere or stumbling upon the latest in fashion on one of Rome’s best shopping streets, Via del Corso.
If you’re ready for a change of scene, you can take a quick weekend train trip to see the ancient ruins of Pompeii, or Naples - the home of pizza. Nature lovers should also factor in a visit to the beautiful Amalfi Coast to complete the precipitous and spectacular Walk of the Gods. Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Italy, including Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Milan, Pisa and much more. You can make travel arrangements once you arrive in Rome with the advice and guidance of our expert local team.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers are accommodated in a central camping lodge in Rome. You can expect to share a room with one to two other volunteers of the same gender. Bedding and towels are provided, and there are shared western bathrooms. Staff will clean the accommodation throughout the week, however volunteers are required to keep their rooms tidy.
The lodge has a large pool as well as other social and game facilities for volunteers to enjoy in their free time.
WiFi is available at the camping lodge. It may not be available in your room; however, it is available in all of the common areas. WiFi is also available in many cafes and restaurants in the area.
Private single, twin or double rooms in the camping lodge, with the use of the communal bathrooms, can be arranged at an additional cost.
Meals
Volunteers are provided with breakfast and dinner each day as part of the program.
Breakfast is self-serve at the accommodation and available from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Breakfast generally includes tea, coffee, bread, croissants, sweets, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt, and fruit.
Dinner is served between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM and includes local staples such as pasta, vegetables, and salad.
Lunch is not provided and we recommend you budget about $10 per day to buy it from the excellent local shops, cafes and restaurants nearby. These are easily accessible both close to placements and the accommodation.
Tap water is fine to drink in Rome and the accommodation has a fountain of drinkable water where you can refill your reusable bottle. However, bottled water is also readily available if you prefer and you should budget approximately $10 (approximately $10) per week for this.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
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|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,265 Equivalent to $90/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,775 Equivalent to $85/day |
| 4 weeks | $2,285 Equivalent to $82/day |
| 5 weeks | $2,795 Equivalent to $80/day |
| 6 weeks | $3,305 Equivalent to $79/day |
| 8 weeks | $4,325 Equivalent to $77/day |
| 10 weeks | $5,345 Equivalent to $76/day |
| 12 weeks | $6,365 Equivalent to $76/day |
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, lunch, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Rome generally find US$200 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including lunches, transport and miscellaneous spending.
- Any changes or cancellations within 14 days of your start date are subject to a US$200 late change/cancellation fee.
Italian language lessons
Fluency in Italian is not a prerequisite for the volunteer program in Rome. However, we recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers. Volunteers find that taking these lessons helps immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking Italian language lessons can book these at an affordable price via their MyIVHQ account once they have registered for the Italy program.
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Rome |
| Population | 61.7 Million |
| Languages | Italian |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 |
Weather and climate
Italy’s climate is quite diverse due to its long peninsula and mountainous terrain. The coastal areas of Liguria, Tuscany and most of the South are predominantly Mediterranean with dry summers and moderately wet winters. In the northern parts of Italy and areas of higher altitudes, the climate is cooler and the winter months can be cold, wet, and often snowy. Weather in Rome, where the IVHQ volunteer program is based, is pleasant throughout the year. Winter temperatures in Rome (December to February) vary from 4°C/39°F to 14°C/57°F while spring (March to May) is slightly warmer at around 15°C/59°F. Summer (June to September) in Rome can become very hot and humid with average temperatures ranging between 18°C/64°F and 31°C/89°F. Rainfall is heaviest in November and driest in July.
