Voluntary work experience (Environmental - Archaeological - Humanitarian and social)

The work camp are experiences of voluntary service, communitarian life and cultural growth that include the realization of plans of social usefullness in various fields (peace, environment, solidarity, international cooperation) in Italy or abroad. They have a variable duration from some weeks to two/three months and they are carried out, generally, in the summer period, although some associations organize this type of activity also during other months of the year.
Generally they include, together with manual activities, moments of study, debate and deepening of topics closely connected to the plan, naturalistic research, animation for children, sensibilization on the countries of the South of the world. No specific competences are required except for the knowledge, also minimal, of the English language in the case of international experiences.
The conditions and the enrolling formalities vary according to the destination and the kind of experience but generally board and lodging are supplied by the association while the travel is at the participant's expenses.
The payment of a small registration quota to the work experience is moreover required and serves to cover the organization's expenses, the management and the assurance.

Environmental work experiences
Environmental work experiences, organized by various associations in Italy and abroad, are carried out in natural reserves, oases and parks on mainland. The previewed activities are oriented to the protection and the study of animals and of the vegetables species in their natural environment, to the protection and the restoration of the natural patrimony, to the cleaning of beaches and parks. Different forms of environmental collaboration are possible addressing yourself directly to the Agencies Park (go to the Italy is... section - Nature).

Associations that organize work experiences:

• WWF: http://www.wwf.it/
  via Po 25/c - +390198 Roma - tel. +3906/844971 fax: +3906/8554410
  E-mail: posta@wwf.it
  It proposes summer work experiences in Italy and abroad of the variable duration from a minimum of three to a maximum of twenty days aimed to the conservation of species and habitat in danger, to the restoration of paths and rural buildings, to the valorization of marginal areas, activity in sea reserves, and so on.
  
• Legambiente: http://www.legambiente.com/
  via Salaria, 403 - 00199 Roma - tel. +390686268324-325-326 fax: +3906/86268319
  E-mail: legambiente@legambiente.com
  It organizes in Italy two week naturalistic summer work experiences that vary from the restoration and environment recovery to the naturalistic research, to the safeguard of sea environments and the artistic patrimony, to the surveillance for woody fire and underwater work experiences.
  
• L.I.P.U. (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli): http://www.lipu.it/
  via Trento, 49 - 43100 Parma - tel. +390521/273043 fax: +390521/273419
  E-mail: info@lipu.it
  Association for the conservation of the nature, that takes care in a particular way of the protection of birds. In order to spread the knowledge of the natural world, LIPU have been organizing numerous work experiences for years.
  
• Amici della Terra (Friends of the Earth): http://www.amicidellaterra.it/
  via di Torre Argentina 18 - 00186 Roma - tel. +3906/6868289-6875308 fax: +3906/68308610
  E-mail: amiterra@amicidellaterra.it
  Enviromentalist Association which promotes numerous experimental project of safeguard and of environmental restoration.
  
• CTS (Centro Turistico Studentesco): http://www.cts.it/
  via Andrea Vedalio, 6 - 00161 Roma - tel. +3906/441111 fax: +3906/44111400
  E-mail: ambiente@cts.it
  It organizes national and international work experiences with activities turned to the environment protection aimed to carry out censuses, to collect and to analyze data, to awaken the local tourists and inhabitants on the necessity of protecting the species and their habitat.
  In many cases these work experiences are promoted in collaboration with ecologist associations.
  The departures period is in July, August and September, in turns from 7 to 12 days.
  
• Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.it/
  viale Manlio Gelsomini 28 - 00153 Roma - tel. +3906/5729991 fax: +3906/5783531
  E-mail: staff@greenpeace.it
  International enviromentalist Association who fights in order to defend the planet. Its objective is to safeguard the earth and the natural life in all its diversity through informative campaigns, work experiences, and so on.
  
• Green Volunteers: http://www.greenvol.com/
  via Canonica Luigi, 72 - 20154 Milano - tel. +3902/33105195
  E-mail: greenvol@iol.it
  It publishes a guide where are collected projects of voluntary work experiences within ecological and naturalistic fields promoted by associations from all over the world.
  
• Europe Conservation: http://www.europeconservation.org
  via del Castro Pretorio, 300 - 00185 Roma - tel. +3906/490825 fax: +3906/490824
  E-mail: e.conservation@tiscalinet.it
  The no profit association promotes voluntary service activity in order to finance ecological researches and the spread of an European environmental culture.
  It has the objective to improve the knowledge and the management of the natural resources at an
  international level, to collect funds to assign to plans of nature conservation, to put into effect programs of environmental education, to support adoption campaigns. The volunteers are not requested any specific preparation but only good state of health and spirit of adaptation.
  
• G.E.S.C.: http://www.gesc.org/
  via Cascina Arcissa - 22070 Montano Lucino (Co) tel. +39031/470503
  E-mail: gesc2000@yahoo.com
  It organizes summer ecological work experiences with various initiatives among which fire sight and extinction, study of the flora and the fauna, realization of naturalistic paths, valorization of naturalistic and archaeological areas, water springs restoration, scientific-naturalistic notation.
  

Archaeological work experiences
In the archaeological work experiences people work for the restoration of monuments, churches and other architectonic structures and sometimes they carry out diggings. Chosen by many young people and spread all over Italy, these work experiences include, besides the practical activities (digging yards, analysis, classification and cleaning works of the recovered material), moments of study and deepening of the historical and artistic knowledges. A previous experience is not demanded and in some cases boys of 14 and 15 years also are admitted.

• Gruppi archeologici d'Italia (Archeological Italian Groups): http://www.gruppoarcheologico.it
  via degli Scipioni, 30/a - 00192 Roma - tel. +3906/39734449 fax: +3906/39734087
  E-mail: info@gruppoarcheologico.it
  They organize research work experiences opened "to anyone interested in the man's past and who intends to give its active contribution to the scientific progress and to the valorization of the Italian historical, artistic assets".
  
• Archeoclub Italia: http://www.archeoclubitalia.it
  via Sicilia 235 - 00187 Roma - tel. +3906/42881821 fax: +3906/42881810
  E-mail: sede-nazionale@archeoclubitalia.it
  It organizes work experiences for research and rediscovery of sites, installations and buildings of historical, archaeological, architectonic and artistic value, abandoned for years and almost unknown in Italy for a long time. In order to participate it is necessary to be at least 16 years.
  

Humanitarian and social work experiences
The humanitarian and social work experiences are experiences of voluntary service in behalf of people who need help, in situations of social emergency and are carried out mostly in the Countries of the South of the world, but also in Europe. In the humanitarian work experiences you participate to support, recreational, educational and manual activities in the agricultural or building fields. In order to participate to a humanitarian work experience it is advisable to contact with advance the association in charge of the organization:

• Focsiv - Volontari nel Mondo: http://www.focsiv.it
  via S. Francesco di Sales 18 - 00165 Roma - tel. +3906/6877796-6877867 fax: +3906/6872373
  E-mail: focsiv@focsiv.it
  It is a federation that re-unites the Christian organisms of international voluntary service available in Italy and is engaged in the promotion of the cooperation among People and of a world culture. Besides selecting and forming volunteers who are committed for at least 2 years in cooperation projects, it coordinates the summer work and responsible tourism work experiences of the confederate associations.
  
• Emmaus: http://www.cuneo.net/emmaus
  via Mellana 55 - 12012 Boves (CN) - tel./fax: +390171/387834
  E-mail: emmaus@cuneo.net
  International movement of solidarity for the justice founded thanks to Abbé Pierre's engagement. It organizes work experiences in Italy, France and in other countries of the world on the model of the Emmaus communities (welcome, communitarian life, job, service, fight) during summer holidays. The minimal age in order to participate to the work experiences is of 18 years.
• I.B.O. (International Bouw Order): http://www.iboitalia.org/
  via Montebello, 46/a - 44100 Ferrara - tel. +390532/243279 fax: +390532/245689
  E-mail: info@iboitalia.org
  Italian Association Manifacturing Members. It is a No Governmental Organism of voluntary service that has been operating for forty years in the cooperation field in Italy, Europe and in the underdeveloped nations. It organizes numerous international work experiences all the year long in Italy which on average last 3 weeks. The volunteers work in small social and economically underdeveloped communities, generally they have to rearrange buildings or to work in agriculture. The minimal age in order to participate to the camps is of 17 years for Italy and 18 for going abroad.
  
• Lunaria: http://www.lunaria.org
  via Buonarroti 39 - 00185 Roma - tel. +3906/8841880 fax: +3906/8841859
  E-mail: workcamps@lunaria.org
  No profit Association born with a view to asserting the principles of the peace and of the international cooperation. Promoting the intercultural education, the peace and the communication among people, the association, that it is one of the most important in Italy, organizes more than 300 national and international work experiences both in Europe and in the rest of the world. The work experience is a short time voluntary service experience between 10 and 20 days in which are carried out activities aimed to support social and communitarian services, cultural, environmental and solidarity projects. The number of the participants varies between 10 and 20, no particular requirement isrequired except for the knowledge of the English language and a good motivation. The minimal age to participate to the camps is of 18 years.
  
• Mani Tese: http://www.manitese.it
  Segreteria Nazionale: Piazzale Gambara, 7/9 - 20146 Milano - tel. +3902/4075165 fax: +3902/4046890
  E-mail: manitese@manitese.it
  No Cooperative Organism of cooperation to the development that organizes study and work experiences in Italy and abroad, turned to young people between 18 and 30 years, in order to favour the foundation of new relationships between the people, based
  on justice, solidarity and mutual respect. The work experiences aim at the recovery of ricyclable materials and their sale with a view to financing initiatives where used material, but still in good conditions, is collected, and then resold in a small market. The proceeds are used in order to finance development projects in Africa, Asia or Latin America.
  
• Community of Capodarco: http://www.comunitadicapodarco.com/
  via Vallescura 47 - 63010 Fermo (AP) - tel. +390734/683927 fax: +390734/683941
  E-mail: comunita.capodarco@tin.it
  It is an organization active for 30 years on the problems of the assistance to minors, handicapped people and drug addicts. It promotes work and sharing camps with the hosts of the same community. The activities go from maintenance (gardening, cleaning) to helping in the silver and metals laboratories. Moreover meetings and seminaries on the topics of the marginalization,of the youth uneasiness, the conscientious objection, and so on are organized.
  
• Anffas (National Association of Families with Handicapped People): http://www.anffas.net/
  via E.Gianturco, 1 - 00196 Roma - tel. +3906/3611524-3212391 fax: +3906/3212383
  E-mail: nazionale@anffas.net/
  It organizes summer stays for handicapped people. The association introduces in the several sections scattered in Italy voluntaries that wish to help the disabled's families in the summer time.
  
• Community of Sant'Egidio: http://www.santegidio.org
  piazza S.Egidio 3/a - Roma - tel. +3906/57300510 fax: +3906/5800197
  E-mail: info@santegidio.org
  Movement of laymen with more than 40.000 people, is engaged in the communication of the Gospel and in the charity in Rome, in Italy and in more than 60 countries of the various continents. It deals with adoptions at distance, solidarity (young people, old people, friends on the street, people in jail, mentally disabled people), Echo-solidarity, humanitarian aids.
  
• Agape - Ecumenical Centre: http://www.agapecentroecumenico.org
  Borgata Agape 1 - 10060 Prali (TO) - tel. +390121/807514 fax: +390121/807690
  E-mail: ufficio@agapecentroecumenico.org
  International ecumenical centre, connected with the Waldensian Church, one of the Italian protestant churches. It organizes during the summer period, on Christmas and Easter holidays work experiences in Italy with people of international origin.
  The camps are addressed to children, adolescents, young people and adults. It's required a participation quota that varies according to the personal income. In exchange for
  board and lodging, people are asked to work with the native residents carrying out various tasks (cooking, service, cleaning, maintenance, bar and baby-sitting). The minimal age in order to participate is of 18 years.
  
• Afsai (Association for the Intercultural Education, Exchanges, Activities): http://www.afsai.it
  viale dei Colli Portuensi, 345, B2 - 00151 Roma - tel. +3906/5370332 fax: +3906/58201442
  E-mail: campidilavoro@afsai.it
  Association born in years ' 60 with a view to developing projects within transnational youth mobility, it takes care of education, exchanges, intercultural activities in Italy and abroad. It organizes stays of social voluntary service in Italy and abroad for Italian young people between 16 and 26 years, but there are also opportunities for those who are over this age.
  
• Lega Missionaria Studenti (Missionary Students Legacy):
  via Massimo 7 - 00142 Roma - tel. +3906/54396228 fax: +3906/5910803
  E-mail: gentes.lms@gesuiti.it
  It is a youth movement of Christian engagement for the respect of the cultures, the evangelization and the development. It organizes summer missionary work experiences in Italy, Europe (Rumania and Bosnia) and South America.
  
• Caritas: http://www.caritas.it
  via San Bernardino, 4 - 20122 Milano - tel. +3902/760371 fax: +3902/76021676
  E-mail: caritas.ambrosiana@caritas.it
  It is a pastoral organism aimed to promote charity inside the Christian community.
  It organizes work and evangelization experiences in Italy and abroad.
  
• MIR-MN (International Movement of the Reconciliation - no violent Movement):http://www.cssr-pas.org/
  c/o Centro Studi Sereno Regis - via Garibaldi, 13 - 10122 Torino - tel. +39011/532824 fax: +39011/5158000
  E-mail: regis@arpnet.it
  It organizes summer experiences in Italy with a view to spreading the nonviolence through a specific educative activity. The participants are asked the availability to serve and to learn from community, families and single individuals. The demanded minimal age is of 18 years.
  
• AGIMI - Albanian Centre of Terra d'Otranto: http://www.agimi.org
  via Concetta Annesi 122 - 73024 Maglie (LE) - tel. +390836/427618 (segreteria) - +390836/586079 fax: +390836/427618
  E-mail: info@agimi.org
  It is a no profit association that takes care of the intercultural exchanges and human promotion between Italy and Albania through projects and initiatives in both Countries. It organizes in the summer period work experiences in Italy.
• IPSIA - Istituto Pace Sviluppo Innovazione ACLI: http://www.ipsia.acli.it - http://www.terreliberta.org/
  Via G. Marcora, 18/20 - 00153 Roma tel. +3906/5840400 fax: +3906/5840403
  E-mail: terre.liberta@acli.it
  ONG of the ACLI, organizes summer international voluntary camps for the young animation in the Balkans (Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania) and Brasil in the localities which the plans of cooperation of the association are carried out.