Service Learning/Volunteering

    • Caritas Soup Kitchen: Serve dinner to the less fortunate Italians and immigrants; around 500 people pass through each day.
    • Caritas Homeless Shelter: Volunteer at the homeless shelter where 200 Italians and immigrants spend their nights. Duties include sorting clothes, handing out hot tea, answering questions in the reception, handing out cleaning products, etc. Some knowledge of Italian is helpful.
    • High school English conversation: Visit different high schools in Rome through JCU and help Italian high school students with their English conversation skills.
    • Italy Reads: Read and study a classic American novel before arriving in Rome (check with SAI Rome staff for details) and be part of a community-based reading and cultural exchange program that studies American culture in depth together with Italian students. Activities include theatrical performances, film screening, student exchanges, student video contest, etc.

      Here is a short note regarding volunteering at Caritas Ostello. Volunteering at Caritas Ostello was one of the best decisions I made during my semester studying abroad. Although I only volunteered one day a week for about 3 hours, every single visit proved to be more rewarding than the last. Everyone of the employees and volunteers were extremely helpful. Although communicating due to the language barrier was difficult sometimes, returning weekly made this less and less of a challenge, in fact, my Italian significantly improved by volunteering here. I made great friends with those I worked with and still keep in touch with them. In addition, I created wonderful bonds with many of those living in the ostello. They were all extremely appreciative of my assistance and treated me very respectfully. I learned about a few of the residents’ lives very well and they also learned more about me and my life in America. Volunteering has always been a major part of my life because of the long lasting memories and relationships that I have made. Every single time I walked out of the Cartias gates I felt better about the person I had become knowing that I made a small affect in providing for those less fortunate than I. Cartias will truly always hold a special place in my heart and I can not wait for my return to Roma and to be reacquainted with the Caritas Ostello community.
      - Fall 2010 student