Bologna Service Sites

Service site placements are first and foremost determined based on the needs of the host organization. Site placements are determined upon arrival to Bologna, and some sites require a knowledge of Italian.

CEFAL: a professional and trade school that provides education to people of all ages and backgrounds. Volunteers may assist English instructors in courses geared primarily towards teenagers between the ages of 14-18 in planning and leading class sessions under the guidance of an instructor.

Famiglia Aperta: an after school program run by a husband and wife in a family situation. The students are between the ages of 12 and 16 and many come from multi-ethnic backgrounds. The children eat together, have two hours of individual tutoring, participate in activities and return home. Volunteers are needed as English tutors and as activity leaders (art, music, computer, etc.).

Il Piccolo Principe: a house where eight children and young adults live in a family setting with the director, Angela Lodi. The children have been taken into custody by social services for family disturbances and placed in the house and live in a family setting in the countryside outside of Bologna. Activities include assistance with homework, playing, dancing, and interacting on a one-on-one basis, or in small groups.

Human Rights Film Festival (fall quarter only): The Human Rights Nights Film Festival takes place in spring each year in Bologna. Films are screened from all over the world with directors and actors coming to Bologna to participate in the Festival giving workshops, panels, and film introductions. Students may assist the director Dr. Giulia Grassilli, who teaches with the Center, with the preparations for the Festival.

Last Minute Market: This organization seeks to “transform waste into resource” by recovering food products which can not be sold for profit, but which are nevertheless safe and consumable, and turning them over to local Bologna organizations (generally non-profit) in need of such food stuffs. Students at this site will work with Last Minute Teams leaders to construct a project based on the needs of the organization in relation to the student’s linguistic capacity.