Applications for 2019 program will be posted online by October 15, 2018 – Stay Tuned!
Opportunity to Volunteer in Italy!
Summer Camps organized by the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan in partnership with the Oratories of Lombardy
.
Two Programs offered: 6 weeks – 2019 DATES TBD
Do you speak some Italian? Want to live in Italy with a family next summer? Here’s a great opportunity – volunteering at a summer camp in Italy!
After the great success over the last three years the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan in partnership with the Lombardy Dioceses, is again offering an opportunity to live in Italy while volunteering as a counselor at a church-run summer camp.
Get free accommodation, perfect your Italian, and add invaluable experience to your résumé.
Who’s eligible? You must be a college student between 18 and 25, born in the US or US resident for at least 10 years, a native speaker of English, and you must possess a good working knowledge of Italian. Those accepted will work at summer day camps in Lombardy (Northern Italy – look it up!). You’ll have the choice of participating for 3 weeks,, or for 6 weeks. The camps are all run by the Oratories of Lombardy.
Your task will be to help with the educational and recreational activities organized by the Parish Oratories for kids aged 6-14. Your main task will be to help teach English while engaged in fun activities (it’s summer camp, not school!). You’ll also work with the other counselors organizing games, sports, art activities, and trips that the camp offers. Importantly, you’ll have a chance to improve your Italian. At these camps, Italian is the primary language of communication, so you must have the basics down.
The project is open to all volunteers without distinction of sex, race, religion, political opinion, or social conditions. Preference will be given to candidates who passed the Italian AP exam, and/or have taken intermediate to advanced Italian college-level courses. Also, candidates who participated in earlier programs are eligible, and strongly encouraged to re-apply.
The program will offer:
~~ Free accommodation (room and board) in an Italian family. For the entire three or six-week program you’ll be living with Italian families who belong to the camp’s parish.
~~ Health care and accident insurance for the period of stay in Italy under the tutelage of the host organization.
~~ A great cultural and linguistic experience. You’ll experience a vibrant part of Italy few tourists get to see — the real family-centered Italy far away from the long museum lines in Florence and Venice.
Unfortunately, the program doesn’t offer airfare. You’ll need to buy your own plane ticket.
A transfer from the Airport of Malpensa to your hosting families is scheduled at the Arrival Terminal (day TBD) If you plan on arriving at a different day, you will be responsible to organize your transportation to your hosting family.
You’ll be expected to do the following:
~~ Work together with young Italian volunteers to create and lead activities and games in English and other types of activities as programmed by the host organization (a commitment of 5-8 hours a day from Monday to Friday, with some Sunday mornings).
~~ Behave in a way that is respectful of the professional and ethical standards of these Catholic organizations.
Notes on the application process:
First, complete the entire application (you won’t believe how many fail this part!), and don’t forget that it must be in Italian. Second, send contact info (email and name) for two recommenders not related to you. VoluntarItaly will contact them for a recommendation. One letter should be from an Italian teacher who can speak to your language proficiency. The final due date is 3/15/19, and letters of acceptance for those applicants will be sent by 3/31/19.
- 6 settimane
Per i partecipanti l’arrivo è previsto per la mattina presso la sala arrivi internazionali dell’Aeroporto di Malpensa-Milano, da cui saranno trasferiti a cura dell’organizzazione presso le famiglie ospitanti. La partenza del gruppo è prevista nella mattina presso lo stesso aeroporto.
~~ospitalità gratuita (vitto e alloggio) per sei o tre settimane presso famiglie italiane nelle parrocchie/Oratori in cui i giovani prestano servizio;
~~l’assistenza sanitaria e l’assicurazione per infortuni per il periodo di permanenza in Italia indicato nel bando.
Per ulteriori informazioni si prega contattare VoluntarItaly