Description

You will spend a summer or semester in Siena, studying Italian language and society at Siena Italian Studies and engaging in substantive volunteer service for 10-15 hours per week. Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of the Italian society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs. It also contributes to your knowledge and use of the Italian language.

After an in country orientation to Siena and the Siena Italian Studies Institute you will visit various service agencies; service assignments will begin shortly thereafter. As you work with local people and care for those in need, you will find your experience and understanding of the culture enriched and deepened, your leadership skills developed, and your language skills enhanced.

Service opportunities include:

- Teaching English
- Community development
- Alternative medicine
- Ambulance assistance
- Immigrant and refugee assistance
- Organic farm and restaurant

Highlights

Located about one hour from Florence and three hours from Rome, this small but vivacious city provides a perfect home base for exploring the rest of Italy. Its two large universities keep things lively during the academic year with many cultural events, theaters, and concerts. During the summer, things heat up with the world renowned Palio, a horse race dating back to 1656, that takes place in the central square. The town itself is your classroom, as you navigate and gain familiarity with the local fruit and vegetable market, bakery, and gelateria, and absorb the Italian voices drifting in your window from the street. The countryside surrounding the city is home to producers of the famous Chianti and Brunello wines as well as some of the most sought after olive oil in the world. The province, with its rolling hills and cypress trees, is rich with hill towns, hot springs and Etruscan ruins waiting to be explored.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Qualifications

IPSL welcomes applicants from all nations and backgrounds. Minimum age is 18. Gap year students, college students and graduates are encouraged to apply.

Languages

• Italian

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

please see the IPSL website

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Medical insurance
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Fees include instruction; administrative fees; orientation; service placement and supervision; health insurance; accommodation, and some meals. Personal expenses not covered by fees include: airfare; books; local transportation and spending money.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

IPSL participants are typically undergraduate students who want to study and volunteer abroad. They generally take 3-4 academic courses (12-15 credits) per semester and do community service (12-15 hours per week). Participants want and integrated experience where learning and service work together.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Scholarships are Available

There are numerous study abroad scholarships not sponsored by IPSL that are available for students to apply to.

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership's Mission Statement

IPSL has two related missions: 1) offering programs uniting academic study and volunteer service to the community in international/intercultural settings that are models for the practice of service-learning, and 2) promoting the theory and practice of service-learning through research, publications, conferences, and training. IPSL endeavors to engage students, educators, and community members in the union of service and learning so that all may become more civically engaged, interculturally literate, internationally aware, and responsive to the needs of others.

Year Founded

1982