While in Rome I met the most incredible people, from the coordinators that really showed up for me and helped me adjust to the new environment, to the on-site ladies who taught us our way around our accommodation and volunteer projects, to the awe inspiring friends I met who volunteered alongside me. I adore everything about Rome and will forever be grateful for the experiences I was lucky enough to have there, I think this trip was put together very well. Most importantly the volunteer placement I was volunteering at truly gave me a new outlook on how beautiful the world is when we work together for a common goal. I absolutely fell in love with the local volunteers and the kids who attended. I adore Rome and everything that goes along with that wonderful city.
Youth Support Volunteer Program in Italy - Rome
Purpose
Start dates
Duration
Volunteer hours
Age
Accommodation
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Project details
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.
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.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Italy photo gallery
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
IVHQ provided much support before my trip which I was very grateful for. Even though I didn't speak the same language as the children, I was still able to grow friendships and gain experience in supporting children, something that's really important to me.
The IVHQ Rome Program is something I do recommend. I gained a lot of volunteer experience and cultural experience. I feel like I learned a lot about the Italian culture, including things about foods, schools, activities, and my favorite, museums. In Rome there is so much to do, and I did something new almost everyday. The programs are excellent via schools, students, and teachers. The students especially helped me learn more Italian, including things like colors, foods, sports, etc. I really liked the program guide IVHQ gave us. It detailed what volunteers should be expecting based on travel, packing, budget, etc. and helped me to prepare.
The local team was amazing. They did an amazing job guiding us and ensuring we were safe, learning, growing, and experiencing. I know that volunteering not only impacted me and my personal growth, but the people I worked with as well. The accommodation is amazing for volunteers to find a community and safety in a foreign country. Going into this program I had no idea what to expect, and that was the best part about it. My experience volunteering abroad was everything and more than I thought it was going to be. This was out of my comfort zone, something I didn't think I could do on my own, but the local team and other volunteers made it feel like I was right where I needed to be. If you have the opportunity, do it.
I loved every part of my experience and plan to travel to various IVHQ destinations in the future! Volunteering my time abroad has completely changed my life and has only inspired me to do this more often! While visiting a country is great, being apart of the life there is even better and so rewarding. I tell everyone I know to go for it and do it! What better way to take in a foreign country than to be apart of the life there and make a difference. It was so eye-opening, like viewing life through a different lens.
First time getting out of my comfort zone and totally worth it. I received the support I needed and met amazing people that made my experience even better! Just risk it and go, you'll come back with an awesome story to tell! IVHQ had all the resources I needed to make my experience successful! Received support needed with questions and a detailed orientation guide. The local coordinators were sweet hearts! They were attentive, friendly, and gave us lots of tips and support when needed! The accommodation was a nice simple place, as described in the guide, and was even better than what I was expecting. The whole experience definitely made me get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person. A new country with a different language, part of a group with people I didn't know yet and doing a new kind of work with kids from a different culture. It was amazing being part of all of it, and I can see how much I grew, even in only 2 weeks.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
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 creditLocation
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 project should expect commutes of up to two hours one way from the accommodation to their placement, via public transportation. These long commute times are a result of Rome’s transportation system that almost always have 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. |
| 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 CA$15 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 US$10 (approximately CA$15) per week for this.
Pricing
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately CA$452) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
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.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,645 Equivalent to $118/day |
| 3 weeks | $2,315 Equivalent to $110/day |
| 4 weeks | $2,985 Equivalent to $107/day |
| 5 weeks | $3,655 Equivalent to $104/day |
| 6 weeks | $4,325 Equivalent to $103/day |
| 8 weeks | $5,665 Equivalent to $101/day |
| 10 weeks | $7,005 Equivalent to $100/day |
| 12 weeks | $8,345 Equivalent to $99/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately CA$452) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- 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.
- Breakfast and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- 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.
- Lunch
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Rome
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Rome program.
Enjoy a stress-free ride from your accommodation to the airport, organized by the local team.
Arriving outside the airport pick-up times? Book this add on now!
Arriving early or departing a few days after your program has finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.
Check what's required to visit Italy
Safety and support
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
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.
