Volunteer Programs in Italy

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Spend a week on the Greek island paradise of Corfu, where we will spend our mornings working at a local farm and helping out the community and local orphanage. Projects vary and are based on need but you may find yourself working at a food bank or clothing donation store and helping out with the animals on the farm. In addition to your service work, we will experience everything Corfu has to offer! Explore castles, try your hand at watersports, snorkel the bright blue sea, learn a thing or two about creating your own Greek feast, and hit the best boutiques for shopping! So join us this summer for a spectacular island service project and Italian adventure in Greece and Italy!

Uncover the magic of Italy with two unforgettable adventures that showcase the country’s diverse beauty, history, and culture. Tuscan Trails and Roman Wonders - Experience the best of Italy as you journey from the iconic canals of Venice to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, immersing yourself in Italian culture, history, and cuisine. This program takes you on a diverse adventure through charming towns, vibrant cities, and picturesque landscapes, offering a taste of Italy’s unique regional diversity. Northern Italy Adventure - Get a taste of life in Northern Italy while strolling through Milan, Verona, and Venice. Our Northern Italy Adventure program immerses you in the country's architecture, art, and landscapes. Enjoy a gondola ride on a canal and swim in Italy’s largest lake. Dive into service projects centered on environmental conservation and get off the beaten path in this unforgettable adventure. You will savor the food, love the landscapes, and make new friends during this one-of-a-kind travel experience.

The Doctors in Italy Pre-Vet Fellowship Program is a unique experience to appreciate the breadth of opportunities that a degree in Veterinary Medicine can offer while immersed in Italian culture and stunning natural landscapes. By shadowing veterinary professionals specializing in different disciplines, you will learn about animal welfare and behavior, basic clinical examination skills, animal nutrition, zoonotic diseases, the importance of human-animal interactions, and many other topics. You’ll spend time with cats, dogs, cows, sheep, horses, boars, rabbits, a spunky llama, and several other animals. From daily care and feeding to special needs, hand rearing, and veterinary checks ─ be in the midst of the action. You will assist veterinarians in clinical settings and during fieldwork in animal sanctuaries and wildlife rescue centers. You will be exposed to various species such as equids, large and small ruminants, wild and domestic pigs, rabbits, llamas, wildlife, birds, dogs, cats, and exotic animals—learning how to approach and care for them.

Spend a semester or academic year in the classic city of Florence with AIFS Abroad. Earn up to 13 credits each semester, with an international internship for three credits, studying at the AIFS Abroad Global Education Center with credit awarded by Fairfield University. No previous Italian language study is required. Select the Internship Program to begin or advance your Italian language, gain international work experience, and study relevant coursework to your internship placement. You’ll live in a fully furnished shared student apartment and receive ten vouchers per week (five breakfasts or lunches and five dinners, excluding excursions and school breaks, with a total value of $1,700). You’ll enjoy cultural and social activities, including: • Guided city walks • Visits to the many museums, churches, and cultural sites of Florence • Italian cooking classes • Opera and ballet performances • Italian cheese tastings • A gelato tour • Day trips to Pisa, Lucca, the Vespa Factory, and more The program also includes excursions outside Florence: 1 day in Siena, two days in Venice, and three days in Rome.

Italy is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, dating back to the second century BC! This is truly a unique program that will allow you to expand your knowledge and appreciation of wine. Interns can work in wine marketing and winemaking with brand ambassadors and organize wine-tasting events. Eligibility for this internship includes a background in Marketing, Wine Business Strategies or Biochemistry, or other related experience. Experience everything Italy has to offer, from friendly locals to world-class attractions.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Volunteers For Peace (a Vermont-based nonprofit) can place you on a team of international volunteers who contribute to a meaningful community service project designed, planned, and hosted by local partners. We offer the most affordable projects and the best way to meet people from all over the world. Work project types vary by country but may include environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, educational and language learning, archaeology, organic farming, and arts and festivals. We also have social services projects, which could involve working with children, the elderly, or refugees. Projects are designed to combine service with recreational activities and cultural exchange – whether by visiting local beaches, learning local dances, meeting local officials, or volunteering with residents at the place you’re visiting. Each project is unique, but all bring people together for the most meaningful travel experience imaginable. Please note that VFP can only place US Citizens. This is due to our agreements with our international partners.

Become part of the Joinki Language Tutor Program in Italy. This opportunity offers you a whole new way of experiencing cultural exchange since you will be given the chance to be an active member of a true Italian community. You will serve as an English or German language tutor to an Italian family in the Trentino Region. In return for providing exposure to the language for around 15 hours per week, focused on conversation and some language tutoring, you will receive a range of program perks. These include lodging and full board with an Italian family (with three meals per day), an Italian language course, one excursion every two weeks, and more. Positions are available throughout the year, with a duration of one to three months. Eligibility includes: - Capability to teach and tutor, motivation, and openness to foreign cultures - More than 18 years old - English or German mother tongue or equivalent C2 level of English or German - High school students, teaching school students, and teachers who have a love for foreign languages

This is an amazing opportunity to dive into the Italian language, culture, and cuisine for 1, 2, or 3 months. Experience life as a local with a carefully selected host family and truly become a part of the community. In exchange for up to 15 hours of conversational English tutoring per week, you'll have plenty of free time to explore your vibrant new surroundings and make lasting connections with the locals. Duties may include: * Teach English up to 15 hours a week * Come up with creative, fun, and informative lesson plans using our own A Tutor's Guide book. * Keep your room tidy and clean * Respect the host family's rules and habits * Manage your own personal expenses * Help children with their English homework * Play games in English

This program spans two weeks and offers a full immersion experience wherein you'll engage in lively conversations throughout the day with young Italian participants. The atmosphere is relaxed and filled with playful interactions. To kick things off, there's a two-day orientation course that provides a great start. The camp sessions commence on Sunday mornings and wrap up on Saturday mornings, providing a well-structured schedule. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with Italian participants, learn about their culture, and have a delightful language experience. Our camp counselors possess the following qualities: - Great personality - Gove to laugh and smile - Enjoy spending time with kids and teens - English native speakers from 20 to 35 years old, with a college degree or attending college/university; a TEFL certificate or previous camp experience is accepted as well - Good physical health and lots of enthusiasm and energy to share with the kids

Join the E.C.C. as we organize summer English Camps for Italian and Austrian children aged 6 to 14 years old. This English Teaching volunteer program is based in small towns in Italy and Austria. Our summer camps enable young participants to learn the language in a fun, interactive way through games, songs, and activities. It is the perfect summer experience for university students or recent graduates studying languages, education, or teaching. You don't just get to experience teaching abroad, but you also immerse into the local culture by living with a local host family. Each program includes training days and four weeks of camp, each two weeks long and taking place from Monday to Friday. Step out of your comfort zone and volunteer with us this summer! It is a wonderful adventure for anyone who loves experiencing different cultures and meeting new people.

Join our Italy Summer program, wherein you volunteer as an English teacher, experience authentic Italian culture, and see various regions and cities. All the while, you can practice your Italian, get to know an incredible group of people, make lasting friendships, and learn more about yourself than you thought possible! This program runs once annually in summer, between mid-June and early August. The dates vary slightly year to year. It includes: ● One month as a volunteer English teacher at an Experience Summer Camp in various locations including: Canazei in Trentino Lignano Sabbiadoro in Udine Grosseto in Tuscany ● Two weeks with an Italian host family ● Multiple day trips: Sacro Monte in Varese Milan and the Milan Cathedral Lake Maggiore and a tour of the Borromean Islands And more destinations! ● Multi-day group trip, with previous destinations like:​ Florence and the Santa Maria dei Fiori Cathedral​ Cinque Terre and the Cinque Terre Trail La Spezia Verona Sirmione, Lago di Garda Bologna Our comprehensive trip includes emergency health insurance, housing, transportation, and meal costs for the duration of the program.

Do you want to be part of an international crew aboard and help with data collection underwater? We will teach you the necessary skillset for habitat mapping, species Identification and mapping of their distribution, and spotting Marine Megafauna, such as dolphins, whales, and turtles. As a volunteer aboard, you will be a part of the research team, which means snorkeling, measuring seagrass meadows, looking for species, taking pictures and videos of all the different organisms you see, and learning to identify them! While sailing, you will also be standing watches—spotting whales and dolphins and trying to take the best possible pictures of them for Photo Identification with our partner organizations. You will be living aboard a 21m sailing boat with up to 9 more people, giving everyone enough space to find a quiet corner when needed but also enough social areas to live and work together. During your stay, we generally move every other day for a 4-5 hour sail to the next location, which gives us enough time to map and check the underwater world in each location properly and have a look onshore as well if wanted.

Join this project as a marine conservation volunteer and help with the research of many species of whale and dolphin, including the large fin whale, sperm whale, Risso’s dolphin, pilot whale, striped dolphin, and bottle-nose dolphin. Based in Sanremo (Italy) near the French border, this project is conducted within the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, in an area including Cote d'Azur (France), Tuscany, and northern Sardinia (Italy). In this region, cetaceans are found in numbers that are higher than in other Mediterranean areas. Volunteers will be directly involved with the existing research team and will be able to help collect data from out in the field and analyze it back at the research base. Research is typically based out at sea assuming conditions are fair, and volunteers will have the chance to learn basic sailing skills while at sea.

As a volunteer, you’ll work with local non-profits to promote environmental conservation in disadvantaged suburbs of Rome. Your efforts will help mitigate the effects of climate change, raise public awareness, and foster community connections to combat social isolation, poverty, and exclusion. Your contributions will address environmental issues and promote active citizenship. What to expect: • Engage in tree planting activities to enhance green spaces. • Involve community members in sustainability workshops and activities. • Assist with general maintenance and operations of local NGOs. Daily tasks: • Plant and care for trees in urban and suburban areas. • Work with local NGOs to engage the community in environmental sustainability. • Support NGOs with weeding, mulching, trash collection, and other maintenance tasks.

This program aims to provide volunteers with knowledge on various aspects of cetacean and marine macrofauna research and vital coastal monitoring techniques. It includes a course that presents a strong theoretical component, with different lectures covering diverse topics: biology, anatomy, ecology of the main species of cetaceans and sea turtles present in the Mediterranean and Ligurian Sea, ID techniques to recognize these species, and the various oceanographic and geomorphological aspects of these basins. Furthermore, additional information is given on the main research techniques used in this field of science, as well as during the monitoring of the coastal environment and data collection. Participants take part in various practical activities to improve their familiarity with the monitoring protocols of coastal environments, data collection protocols used in the field by researchers, ID skills, and photo identification. They also conduct land-based surveys when good weather conditions allow and contribute to species monitoring within the study area.

Our Volunteer Abroad Quests in Italy encourage you to grow as a global citizen while discovering this European country of coastlines and mountains, robust art and deep history, charming cities and storybook villages. You have the choice among the northern, southern and central regions of Italy, in addition to working with local volunteers to help young children, the elderly, and to support the disabled and disadvantaged people. Project Areas Include: - Working with Children - Working with the Elderly - Family Support - Support for the Disabled The age requirement for most of the projects in Italy is over 18.