ITALY
Welcome to... IVHQ ITALY This is an interactive PDF. Please scroll through the brochure or click on the quick links below. You can click on the IVHQ logo at the bottom of each page to return to the quick links. You will also find buttons on many pages throughout the brochure that provide additional details. Enjoy browsing! PROGRAM OVERVIEW PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS LIVING DETAILS PROGRAM SCHEDULE IVHQ FEES WHY IVHQ? FAQS IVHQ COMMUNITY WHAT NEXT?
PROGRAM OVERVIEW»» TEACHING ENGLISH»» AFTER SCHOOL CARE»» NGO SUPPORT»» ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM LOCATION The IVHQ Italy Program is located in Naples, the capital city of the Campania region in Southern Italy. Volunteer placements are located throughout the wider city area of Naples. PROGRAM START DATE AND DURATION The program begins on the first and third Monday of every month. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 2 weeks to 12 weeks. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS Volunteers must be over 18 years of age at the beginning of the program. Volunteers must speak fluent English. Volunteers must present a recent *criminal background check to IVHQ s partner organization staff upon arrival in Italy. Italian is not a prerequisite for the IVHQ Italy program, however we recommend volunteers take advantage of the highly affordable Italian lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our partner organization in Italy. Capital: Rome Population: 61.7 Million Official language: Italian Currency: Euro (EUR) Airport for volunteer pick up: Naples International Airport (NAP) Climate: Weather in Naples, where the IVHQ volunteer program is based, is pleasant throughout the year. Winter temperatures in Naples (December to February) vary from 4 C to 14 C (39 F to 57 F) while spring (March to May) is slightly warmer at around 15 C (59 F). Summer (June to September) in Naples can become very hot and humid with average temperatures ranging between 18 C and 40 C (64 F and 89 F). *
TEACHING ENGLISH The city of Naples has a high student drop-out rate with many children choosing to leave their education early in favor of finding work on the streets. In some areas of Naples, public schools do not have the means to offer extra-curricular activities to students or alternative applied ways of teaching. The Teaching English project is ideal for volunteers who would like to help improve the English language skills of children while also developing their interests and life ambitions. Volunteers on the Teaching English project will either assist local teachers during the day at a local public school or work on an after school program organizing activities and workshops that can help children improve their English ability. Volunteers placed in a local public school will assist teachers in their daily English classes and those placed on the after school program will provide extra-curricular English workshops for local children, aged from 4 to 18 years-old. Volunteers on the after school program, according to their Italian language level, may have the opportunity to support the social workers in additional extra-curricular classes for the children. Volunteers may assist the local teacher on their own or paired up with another volunteer. Volunteers will work with groups of children and follow the local school curriculum as a basis for planning engaging English classes, workshops and cultural activities. Volunteers will either have the morning or afternoon free to plan their work for the day or take advantage of the Italian language lessons offered by our local team. As volunteers work with the support of IVHQ s local team and placement staff, they do not need to be qualified or experienced teachers to participate on the project. However, we encourage volunteers to come prepared by completing some relevant training, like a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) course. Visit our Online TEFL course page to learn how to gain an internationally-recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate. Please note, if you apply for the Teaching English project during the school holidays (mid June to mid September), you will be switched to a special summer camp project arranged through our local team. During this time, volunteers support in creating opportunities for the children, some of which are recent migrants to Naples, to learn English by assisting with playful activities including sports and the arts, and most activities take place in an outdoor environment, rather than a classroom.. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS AFTER SCHOOL CARE In some poor neighborhoods of Naples, children often spend their free-time on the streets without any adult supervision and do not have the opportunity to participate in team building activities or safe leisure activities after school. Volunteers on the After School Care project provide care to children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Volunteers are expected to organize after school workshops and educational activities, incorporating music, art, cooking, sports, games and leisure activities. While some basic resources are available, volunteers are required to use their initiative to develop activities and bringing resources to assist with activities is encouraged. The After School Care project is well suited to volunteers who enjoy working with children outside of the classroom. Strong organizational skills and the ability to improvise will be highly valuable on this project, as providing care to children in an unstructured environment can be challenging. However, the children are incredibly enthusiastic and you will receive a lot of gratitude in return. As the After School Care project is run in the afternoon, volunteers have the morning free to plan for the day s work or take advantage of the Italian language lessons offered by our local team. Please note, if you apply for the After School project during the school holidays (mid June to mid September), you will be switched to a special summer camp project arranged through our local team. During this time, volunteers support in creating opportunities for the children to learn English by assisting with playful activities including sports and the arts, and most activities take place in an outdoor environment, rather than a classroom. NGO SUPPORT NGOs in Naples generally have limited resources and rely heavily on local and international volunteer support to run their various initiatives. The NGO Support project provides volunteers the opportunity to assist local NGOs who work in the fields of community development, child and youth welfare, immigration and migrant support, and human rights (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community). These NGOs require volunteer support, primarily in administration, organizing and running community workshops, conferences and outreaches, English language support, networking and communication, organizational development, and research. Daily volunteer tasks vary as required by the organization in which volunteers are placed and according to their current initiatives. Volunteers who have relevant experience, may have the opportunity to become involved in counseling and legal support to migrants seeking humanitarian asylum. This project is well suited to volunteers who are highly motivated and self-driven, and those who would like to gain work experience within an NGO abroad. Please note, you are able to list your preferred NGO field, however you will be assigned to the NGO that has the most need for assistance at the time. Volunteers who wish to join the NGO Support project must be 18 years of age or older and have relevant experience in the field they wish to work in. This can either be university studies or relevant working experience. Volunteers must participate on the project for a minimum duration of 4 weeks and bring their own laptops.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL The aim of the Environmental project is to help preserve the many historical and UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Naples. Your work may focus on environmental preservation and awareness, preservation of archaeological ruins or protected marine life, farming and bio-construction as well as general support to the Environmental NGO in administration, organizing and running community workshops, conferences, outreaches and research. There is a wide range of projects that volunteers may work with and you will be placed within an Environmental NGO requiring assistance at the time of your project. Your exact tasks will vary depending on the specific NGO in which you are placed but can include litter collection, cleaning monuments, protecting restricted areas of national parks, cleaning archaeological ruins and excavation, research, event planning, assisting in administration, farming, preparing gardens for cultivation, and bio-constructions (vineyard, urban gardens, etc). Please note, all work is completely dependent on the weather. This project is well suited to volunteers with high energy levels and an interest in environmental preservation, as you can expect long days of physically rewarding work. To participate on this project, you must be 18 years of age or older and able to commit to a minimum duration of 3 weeks. Please include your skills and motivations for volunteering in your application so that our local team can arrange a suitable placement for you. To be considered to work within marine preservation, you must be a strong swimmer, although diving is kept to a restricted depth so you do not need to have scuba diving experience. Please note that marine preservation work is not available during the winter months (November to March). This specific placement only runs from Wednesday to Sunday and it takes an hour to get to this project using public transport. Volunteers should budget US$5 per day for the use of public transport to and from their placement.
LIVING DETAILS Accommodation Volunteers are accommodated in one of two dormitory-style, volunteer apartments in central Naples. The bedrooms can accommodate 4 to 8 volunteers at one time, and you should expect to share a bedroom and bathrooms with volunteers of the same gender. Bathrooms are equipped with western style toilets and showers. Bedding is provided, however volunteers will need to bring their own towels. As the accommodation is a shared living space, all volunteers are expected to help keep their personal living space tidy. There are also staff who clean the accommodation daily. Both volunteer apartments in central Naples have WiFi which volunteers are able to use. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected. For volunteers who wish to arrange a private room, accommodation upgrades are available at a local Bed & Breakfast nearby the volunteer accommodation. The price is dependent on the season in which you are booking, but typically ranges from US$30 - US$50 per room, per night. The accommodation upgrade is subject to availability and can be booked through our local team directly, once you have registered for the program. Meals Volunteers are provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the week (Monday to Friday), and breakfast only on Saturday and Sunday. Lunch and dinner will be the responsibility of the volunteers on weekends. Breakfast is self serve at the accommodation and includes tea, coffee, fruit, bread and cereal. Lunch and dinner during the week are provided by a local catering company and are delivered to the volunteer accommodation daily in time for lunch and dinner. Lunch is the largest meal of the day with dinner being a much lighter option. Meals will include pasta, rice, meat, seafood, vegetable and salad dishes. There are shops just two minutes walking distance away from the accommodation and volunteers are able to buy very affordable food if they wish to. If your placement requires you to be away from the accommodation during lunch, a packed lunch can be provided upon request. Tap water is fine to drink in Italy, however bottled water is readily available if you prefer and you should budget approximately US$10 per week for this.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE Arrival and Departure The Italy program begins on the first and third Monday of every month and we ask that you arrive in Naples for pickup on the Sunday before your program start date. Orientation is held at the volunteer base on the first Monday of your volunteer program. Accommodation is provided from the Sunday before your start date through to (and including) the Friday night of your final week. You can then depart after breakfast on your final Saturday. If you arrive one day early, or depart one or two days later, additional nights of accommodation in the volunteer accommodation can be arranged. Extra nights of accommodation (including meals) cost 30 (approximately US$35) per night, per person, paid directly to the local staff and are subject to availability. Volunteer Week (example) First Day: On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with. Weekdays: After the initial orientation, you will have a morning, afternoon or evening shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. A typical schedule is as follows: Orientation Orientation is hosted by our Italy team in Naples. 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 Italy Introduction to Italy, Culture and Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities, Introduction to Project and Placement as well as a tour of the local area. The orientation will also give you a chance to sign up for Italian language lessons and to meet other volunteers with whom you can swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing. 7.30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer apartment. 8.30 AM Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating on. 1.30 PM Work at the placement usually ends. You will travel back to the volunteer apartment for lunch or in some cases eat a packed lunch at your placement. 2.30 PM You are free to plan for the following day s activities or use your free time as you wish. This could include sightseeing, some shopping or taking Italian language lessons. 7.00 PM Dinner at the volunteer apartment. After dinner you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish. Please note this schedule will vary depending on the needs of your particular project. Weekends: Volunteers have the weekends free (except for some Environmental volunteers) and Italy is universally recognized for its history, art, culture, cuisine and natural beauty, so there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do while in Naples or further afield in Italy! Naples has many UNESCO World Heritage sites and volunteers can fill their free time visiting the many historical sites and attractions, tasting the amazing cuisine, sipping espresso in the many café bars or simply exploring parts of Naples by wandering through the beautiful alleys. Rome, home to the Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel, is just an hour from Naples by train, and the ancient ruins of Pompeii are also just a 45 minute drive away. Nature lovers can hike the nearby Mt. Vesuvius and visit the beautiful Almalfi Coast to complete the 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 so much more! Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Naples, with the advice and guidance of our local staff. *
IVHQ FEES Registration Fee (Applies for each program you join) Program Duration Program Fee Total Cost (Program and Registration Fee)»» Currency conversion»» What do the fees cover?»» What are my additional costs? $299 (USD) 1 week N/A N/A 2 weeks 685 984 3 weeks 915 1214 4 weeks 1145 1444 5 weeks 1375 1674 6 weeks 1605 1904 8 weeks 2065 2364 10 weeks 2525 2824 12 weeks 2985 3284 All fees incur a 5% transaction and currency conversion fee (added to your total at point of payment) and are to be paid in US Dollars.
WHY IVHQ? AFFORDABILITY IVHQ was established in 2007 to provide volunteers with high quality, safe, responsible and yet extremely affordable volunteering opportunities abroad. Since our inception, IVHQ has developed a reputation as the world leader in affordable international volunteer programs. Thousands of volunteers travel abroad with IVHQ every year and an insight into their experiences can be found in our Volunteer Abroad Reviews. By working directly with local organizations in the countries where our programs are based, IVHQ is able to provide high quality volunteer programs at affordable rates. To view our low program fees starting from just $180, visit our Program Fees page. EXPERIENCE Every year, IVHQ places thousands of volunteers on our programs abroad, making us one of the most experienced volunteer travel organizations in the world. Our directors and staff have traveled to our volunteer programs and experienced these programs first-hand. We have lived in the accommodations and eaten the food that our volunteers are served. We have visited the placements and inspected the projects that our volunteers are working on. We have helped thousands of IVHQ volunteers prepare for their trips and we understand what it is like to travel abroad. It is this experience that has helped establish IVHQ as the world s most trusted volunteer organization. RESPONSIBILITY The implementation of responsible volunteer travel practices is paramount to any high quality international volunteer program. At IVHQ we understand the importance of ensuring our volunteer programs are sustainable and responsible, and we have a dedicated Risk and Responsibility Advisor who oversees this aspect of our programs. IVHQ s Responsible Volunteer Travel Policy is discussed with IVHQ volunteers during their in-country program orientation before they begin volunteering. In addition, all volunteers are required to read, understand and sign the IVHQ Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy before they can begin their program. QUALITY Although IVHQ has built a reputation for providing low program fees, we pride ourselves on the high quality programs and superior service that we provide to all IVHQ volunteers. IVHQ and our local teams are motivated to provide top quality programs and support services for IVHQ volunteers and as a result, IVHQ is consistently rated as one of the top volunteer travel companies on independent review sites. Since 2007, we have grown to become one of the world s largest volunteer companies and our growth has been built on volunteer feedback. Each year, we send thousands of volunteers abroad, and an insight into their experiences can be found in our Volunteer Abroad Reviews. NEED IVHQ actively seeks partner organizations that offer quality projects in genuine need of volunteer assistance. Whether your stay is a short or a long one, our partner organizations will do their utmost to ensure that you do make a difference.
WHY IVHQ? SUPPORT From the moment you pay your Registration Fee, you will receive ongoing support from IVHQ until the day you finish your volunteer program. Once registered on an IVHQ program, you will gain access to a number of features within My IVHQ to help you prepare for your trip, including information booklets and check-lists. You will also be connected with a dedicated IVHQ Program Manager who is directly responsible for managing your program and helping you prepare for your trip. Once you reach your volunteer program destination, our local team takeover the initial support role and will be your first point of contact until the day you depart your program. While your IVHQ Program Manager becomes a secondary layer of support at this stage, he/she will remain in touch with you via email and will be accessible should you require assistance. SAFETY Traveling to a foreign country and experiencing a different culture can be a daunting experience at the best of times, but when you are volunteering and living among the local community, this apprehension can often be compounded. While safety can never be totally guaranteed wherever we are in the world, IVHQ and its partner organizations do all we can to ensure your volunteer program is as safe as possible. Volunteers are placed in trustworthy institutions and accommodations, all of which have been screened by our local teams. We conduct risk management audits on our frequent visits to programs, while providing our local teams with risk management guidelines to help minimize risk for our volunteers. FRIENDSHIP Volunteers on IVHQ programs often form life-long friendships with their host families and the people they assist while volunteering. However, they also form strong bonds with the other volunteers on their programs. Although many volunteers come from very different cultures and backgrounds, the experiences that these volunteers share forge strong ties that can last a lifetime. As one of the world s largest volunteer organizations, sending thousands of volunteers abroad annually, IVHQ volunteers are always in the company of other international volunteers. LOYALTY Loyalty is one of the foundations that IVHQ has been built on. We make your registration fee refundable so if you change your mind (no later than 60 days before your program start date), you will receive your money back. We also reward our returning and multi-trip volunteers with a 10% registration fee refund. We show strong loyalty to the communities in which we work, IVHQ sets up sustainable long-term partnerships with local organizations and institutions, which allow long-term prosperity for the people in the communities where our volunteers are placed. ENJOYMENT At IVHQ we recognize that there is more to a great volunteer travel experience than simply volunteering. While we are focused strongly on providing top quality volunteer programs, we also realize that many IVHQ volunteers are first-time travelers to their program destinations and wish to take time out for sightseeing and to explore. To accommodate this, our local teams have established partnerships with local travel companies to provide volunteers with access to high quality and often discounted travel and tour activities.
FAQs Do I need a visa to go to Italy? Visa requirements vary depending on the following factors: your purpose of travel, length of stay, nationality and place of residence. Purpose of travel: IVHQ trips fall under the category of volunteer tourism and we recommend you state your purpose of travel as tourism when asked by immigration officials. If you state work or volunteer work as your purpose, immigration officers often demand that you pay extra and acquire a work/employment visa, which is not necessary for your volunteer program. Length of stay: Tourists are permitted to stay in Italy for up to 90 days and most nationalities are eligible to gain a 90 day tourist stamp on arrival. Nationality and place of residence: Volunteers of most nationalities can obtain a tourist stamp upon arrival in Italy. Please check the requirements for your nationality with your nearest Italian embassy. How to apply: Our recommendation is to obtain your tourist stamp upon arrival in Italy. To enter Italy, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your intended departure and must have at least two pages reserved for immigration authorities. If your nationality requires you to obtain a tourist visa prior to arrival in Italy then this can be obtained through your nearest Italian embassy. What is the currency in Italy? Currency: Euro (EUR). We recommend checking out the current exchange rate before your departure. Managing your money: We recommend taking some United States Dollars (around US$200) to keep away in case of emergencies and a VISA or Mastercard credit/debit card to withdraw cash in local currency as you need it. ATMs are easily accessible in major cities and tourist areas, and hotels, shops and restaurants in tourist areas generally accept credit cards. You will need Euro for public transportation, taxis and independent shops and hospitality venues. Most currencies can be exchanged easily at the airport (although you will not receive a favourable exchange rate) and at any bank. I want to get cheap flights! Can you help me? IVHQ prides itself on providing high quality volunteer trips abroad at incredibly affordable prices. However, our volunteers often discover that one of the biggest costs when preparing for their volunteer trip abroad are their flights. To help overcome this, International Volunteer HQ has partnered with STA Travel to create flight itineraries especially for IVHQ volunteers. STA Travel s mission is to open up the world to eager, enthusiastic, exploratory travellers and as the world s largest travel company for students and young adults are committed to helping you travel with a purpose at an affordable price. Once you have registered on the program (paid your registration fee) and have your dates and location confirmed, you can request a flight quote from STA Travel. Before registering on the program, you can view a list of indicative flight prices from STA Travel for our most popular flight routes. Naples has many airlines flying in and out of the city. Airlines include but are not limited to; Alitalia, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, EasyJet, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air.
FAQs I have never been to Italy before and am worried! How safe is it? While Italy is a developed country, like all countries around the world, there are areas where criminal activity is more prevalent. Safety and security is a high priority for IVHQ and you will not be placed in areas where we feel your safety is at risk. You will be accommodated and placed with other volunteers, so it is unlikely that you will ever be alone during your time on the program and we do everything in our power to ensure your volunteering trip is as safe and secure as possible. The IVHQ office is based in New Zealand and we work closely with local partner organizations in each country in which we have programs. One of the strengths of IVHQ is our partner organization selection process. It is a sad fact that there are many volunteer programs with sub-standard accommodation and services, even though they charge a small fortune to volunteers to allow them to help. Every program that IVHQ offers has been personally inspected and selected by a director from IVHQ. We have lived in the home-stays, experienced the orientations, worked on the projects and built strong, trusting relationships with the staff from our partner organizations. If we did not believe the placements were safe enough to send our own children on, we would not offer them. Placements and homestays are monitored on an on-going basis to gauge volunteer experiences and we are continually improving our projects through feedback from our volunteers. Security and safety of our programs is constantly being reviewed and if you have any concerns we encourage you to discuss these with the local staff at orientation. During orientation, our local staff will provide guidance in the area of safety and security and in the unlikely event that something was to happen, you will be able to call on the local staff for support 24/7. The staff at your placement are also available to provide you with assistance if needed. Is it easy to keep in touch with friends and family at home? Phone: You can bring your own mobile phone and if it is SIM card compatible and unlocked you can buy a local prepaid SIM card for approximately US$5, which is great for keeping in touch with other volunteers and also loved ones at home. Both International and local calls can be made and the country code of Italy is +39. Internet: The volunteer apartment has free Wi-Fi and there are also a number of internet cafes in Italy where volunteers can access WiFi. Do I require vaccinations to travel to Italy? No vaccinations are legally required to enter Italy. Any other vaccinations remain a personal choice and we recommend you visit a travel doctor (ideally 4-6 weeks prior to your program start date) to discuss vaccinations, as the list we provide below is only a guide. Your doctor will advise you of the benefits and implications for vaccinations available in accordance to your full travel plans so you can make an informed decision. We recommend considering the following vaccinations: Tetanus Hepatitis A & B Diphtheria Typhoid Polio Yellow Fever: A certificate of vaccination is required if you are arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
IVHQ COMMUNITY Looking to gain a first-hand insight into our programs and network with past and present IVHQ volunteers? Our social media channels have what you re looking for! Join the International Volunteer HQ Facebook group and like our IVHQ Facebook page to browse the thousands of photos, videos and travel tips from IVHQ volunteers. Plus connect with other volunteers on the same program as you. If you re tweeting, follow @IVHQ on Twitter and keep us posted with your volunteering plans. Smartphone users may also enjoy browsing the growing library of #IVHQ photos posted on Instagram. And tune in to our YouTube channel and Pinterest boards to get an insight into the volunteering experiences waiting for you with IVHQ! Our volunteers are never short of memories to share from their trips, so to help share these special moments, we run monthly photo and video competitions on our website. Flick through the Photo Competition entries and watch the Video Competition clips to grab a glimpse into our programs and remember to vote for your favourites! IVHQ Volunteer Diaries To give future IVHQ volunteers a better feel for our programs, we encourage our current volunteers to write a volunteer diary, sharing the day-to-day experiences of an IVHQ volunteer. These diaries are published on the Volunteers Diaries section of our website and are available for you to read!
WHAT NEXT? To secure your place on an IVHQ program and begin preparing for your trip abroad, just follow these simple steps: 1. Browse our range of affordable volunteer programs at www.volunteerhq.org 2. Select the program that you wish to volunteer on and apply online using the online application form. Within 48 hours, you will receive an email from IVHQ, informing you of whether there is space on your selected program. 3. After being accepted on an IVHQ program, you can confirm your place by paying the registration fee of US$299 (refundable* if you choose not to go) and becoming a registered IVHQ volunteer. 4. As a registered IVHQ volunteer, you will be connected with a dedicated IVHQ Program Manager for ongoing support and you will gain access to our interactive volunteer training, comprehensive information booklet and predeparture check-lists. * Terms and conditions apply. Contact Us Please note that IVHQ is based in New Zealand and office hours are 8.30am - 5.00pm, weekdays (NZST). EMAIL info@volunteerhq.org PHONE +64 6 758 7949 (International) 1-877-342-6588 (USA/Canada Call Free) 0-808-234-1621 (UK Call Free) 1-800-557-380 (Australia Call Free) POSTAL ADDRESS International Volunteer HQ PO Box 8273 New Plymouth NEW ZEALAND