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Calling All Gen X: Volunteering Abroad for Adults

For 30-Somethings

<h3>What inspired you to go abroad?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772084532/images2/interviews/LMagAFT9a9zleu2Byt3aIE2L3BCrJY4ezE6HhwGG.jpg" alt="A building overlooking green hills and mountain landscape"><div class="caption"><p>Day trip to a local castle</p></div></div>
<p>I've always loved travelling, and after completing my bachelor's degree, I wanted to go on some solo adventures—especially since my original exchange plans were cancelled due to COVID. I wanted to immerse myself in the Italian culture and language, not just as a visitor to the main cities, but also to create meaningful experiences while exploring lesser-known areas!</p>
<h3>Why did you choose <a title="undefined" href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/joinki-the-culture-connector rel="" target="_self" class="clickTracker" rev="domainID=2&amp;refererType=1&amp;refererID=3428&amp;abbreviation=CSCT&amp;clientID=46612" data-ga-client="Joinki" data-contentlink="">Joinki</a>?</h3>
<p>I chose Joinki because it was a great opportunity to explore the amazing Trentino Alto-Adige while making meaningful connections with my host family and their community.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It was my first time travelling so far on my own, but I always felt safe and well looked after, especially because Sabrina from Joinki was informative and communicative throughout the whole process. I had never heard of Trentino before and probably would not have been able to create such amazing memories without Joinki!</p>
<h3>What was your favorite part about Italy?</h3>
<p>It's hard to choose just one, but I loved the community and nature in Trentino! It is truly such a beautiful place, with the mountains and the lakes sprawling all over; it's still an unforgettable image in my mind.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The community was also so welcoming and warm, and I will always treasure the memories I have made going to the gelateria, having fun at the summer town party, and playing card games (among many more memories!)</p>
<h3>What made your experience abroad extraordinary?</h3>
<p>My host family!! I am so grateful to Sabrina from Joinki for matching me with my host family, because they looked after me so well, and they always made me feel welcome. Even though at some times I was a little shy, they helped me get out of my shell and facilitated amazing experiences for me, such as cycling through the valleys, going to the opera, and hiking in the mountains! I always felt at home, and I also felt very welcomed by their extended family and friends!</p>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772084533/images2/interviews/BmtW8mvUh6SWuHnk6kUKbPDP22drMtsqo7jTcjf7.jpg" alt="sunset or sunrise over a lake surrounded by mountains"><div class="caption"><p>Amazing sunsets (no editing or filters!)</p></div></div>
<h3>How did local staff support you throughout your program?</h3>
<p>Sabrina from Joinki was amazing! She always checked in on me and also took me out to explore other areas of the region, introducing me to other members of the program.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I really appreciated how communicative she was throughout the whole process, from our online calls to meet each other, to matching me with my host family (also facilitating calls with them prior to my program), and throughout my stay in Trentino.</p>
<h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?</h3>
<p>I wish I could've stayed longer! As it was my first time travelling alone, I wasn't so confident going on adventures on my own until I started to feel more confident at the end of the experience. I wish I was there longer so I could've also done some more exploring on my own, perhaps to other valleys.</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.</h3>
<p>In the morning, I would have breakfast, then start the day teaching English with one of the members of my host family (they would take turns because everyone was at a different level).</p>
<p>Afterwards, we would have lunch altogether, sitting inside occasionally, but mostly outdoors to enjoy the beautiful views! As a treat, in the afternoon, I would walk to the gelateria for a nice cup of gelato, and relax until dinnertime.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Some days we would go out and do a special activity as well!</p>
<h3>What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?</h3>
<p>I loved learning new recipes with my host family! Prior to my experience, I had never tried piadina, canederli, or spetzl before, and now I love eating them, even making some of those dishes myself at home!&nbsp;</p>
<p>I also enjoyed exploring the mountains and the lake with my host family and their pets- especially since I never grew up with a pet!</p>
<h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772084533/images2/interviews/1hPeU2xPsCmt59BoOuRwJkjVyypSDEDGOIkOvcPl.jpg" alt="mountain lake surrounded by dense forests"><div class="caption"><p>Our local lake</p></div></div>
<p>I stayed in my host family's house, and it was so nice and peaceful. My favourite part was the beautiful view they had outside, as you could see apple orchards amongst the mountains. I had my own roo,m and it was very clean and tidy- and I enjoyed spending time with my host family in the living room and the kitchen!</p>
<h3>What is one thing every future participant should know about <a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/joinki-the-culture-connector/programs/exchange-and-experience-italian-lifestyles-with-joinki-142274 rel="" target="_self" class="link">Exchange and Experience Italian Lifestyles</a> before their program begins?</h3>
<p>Time will fly much faster than you think, so please try to make the most of it!!! There are still so many things I didn't have time to do, but I also have no regrets because I have made so many cherished memories with wonderful people!!&nbsp;</p>
<p>I'd also recommend learning a bit of Italian before the programme, because even if your host family can speak your language, it'll help with communicating with the broader community!</p>
<h3>Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?</h3>
<p>I would highly recommend Joinki because it is a wonderful and rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the Trentino culture! It is well-organised, and Joinki makes you feel supported throughout the whole process, so if you are afraid to take the leap to travel alone or in an unfamiliar place, they will make you feel safe and welcomed!</p>
<h3>What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?</h3>
<p>One of the biggest benefits of travelling abroad is being able to expand not only one's own world knowledge and cultural understanding but also the knowledge and understanding of others, by bridging potential gaps.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Additionally, I feel like travelling abroad makes one feel more fulfilled as you get to create unforgettable memories in incredible places.</p>
<h3>Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772084534/images2/interviews/cQa4rLzuMYbAJY3CV74X7b2UxsDZY5zC1pJTpo2K.jpg" alt="a building overlooking a lake and green, rolling hills"><div class="caption"><p>The valley</p></div></div>
<p>I've continued my journey abroad, even after my program with Joinki, working in other areas of Italy, then to Korea, and now I live in Denmark! It has changed the trajectory of my life completely because I was once too scared to travel abroad alone, yet through these experiences, I have built up my confidence and the competencies that continue to help me in my current adventures!</p>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<p>Meaningful travel means going beyond just 'seeing' and 'visiting'; instead, meaningful travel is 'doing' and 'experiencing'- such as by immersing oneself in the community instead of just passing by.&nbsp;</p>
<p>When someone travels meaningfully, they simultaneously make an impact on the environment around them and are impacted by it too.</p>


Samantha Fei

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Samantha Fei who participated in Joinki program.

Samantha Fei | Joinki Alumni Interview

Joinki Alumni Interview with Samantha Fei

<h3>What inspired you to go abroad?</h3>
<p>A desire to learn Spanish and be able to see a part of the world and experience a culture and life philosophy different from my own. My hope always was to grow as a human being and to be able to broaden my horizon and learn from people I usually wouldn't have crossed paths with. To live close to a family and contribute to a project with passionate locals had been a dream of mine for a long time.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Growing up in Norway, I have always felt very protected from the real world, and I have felt that in order to understand the world, I need to be closer to people from cultures and countries far away from my own.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Why did you choose <a title="undefined" href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/fundacion-bolivar-education rel="" target="_self" class="clickTracker" rev="domainID=2&amp;refererType=1&amp;refererID=3431&amp;abbreviation=CSCT&amp;clientID=26075" data-ga-client="Fundación Bolívar Education" data-contentlink="">Fundación Bolívar Education</a>?</h3>
<p>The one taking me to Ecuador, which was the country I most wanted to get to know. I heard so much about this country and its people, and to me, it seemed like the country and experience that would take me closest to the real life of the people and culture.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The opportunity to work both with children and the elderly was so rewarding and to live with a host family that has become my own family has been the best thing that ever happened to me.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What was your favorite part about Ecuador?</h3>
<p>The people and their welcoming spirit. The possibilities to really get to know a country from the inside through my host family is something I am forever grateful.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Ecuadorian soul is truly unique, and every day feels like being in a telenovela. They really know how to cherish every second and make the best out of what every day brings—even a trip to the grocery store or a traffic jam is fun in Ecuador.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These are experiences I try my best to maintain when going home to Europe, where people often get very stuck in their routine and forget about everyday magic. The small encounters with people that change your life forever. Like when your host mom brings you to her hairdresser, and suddenly you are attending a birthday party in a stranger's home.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What made your experience abroad extraordinary?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772086594/images2/interviews/UGMmTYyk92boTUQ9VIt0uYYz2Z4pk2wUPrlEwLAt.jpg" alt="a birthday celebration for an elderly person within a community or care facility"><div class="caption"><p>Birthday celebration. </p></div></div>
<p>The very close encounter with the locals. You truly feel like you are a part of a real Ecuadorian family and their everyday joy and drama.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Bolivar Foundation makes you feel like family, and they include you in every single part of their life. From learning salsa, preparing lunch for an elderly centre, celebrating birthdays, and going on party buses.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I would never in my life have dreamt of being this involved in the everyday life in a culture so far from my own, and learning the language and culture as I have.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>How did local staff support you throughout your <a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/fundacion-bolivar-education/programs/experience-ecuador-with-volunteer-opportunities-193700 rel="" target="_self" class="link">program</a>?</h3>
<p>In everything!&nbsp;</p>
<p>Choosing the project that best suited me, learning the language, showing me their country, including me in their everyday life, taking me to the hospital when I got sick, listening to me complaining about my boyfriend at home, comforting me when I lost a family member, making me juices to feel better after a hangover, teaching me the traditional way of cleaning my energy with a raw egg, including me in every single activity in my host-famiilys life from taking the dogs to the hairdresser, attending a funeral, birthday parties and grocery shopping.</p>
<h3>What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?</h3>
<p>I wish I had stayed longer, and I wish I had gone sooner. This experience is something that would create world peace if everyone had done it. The knowledge and understanding you get about different cultures and people is something that can't be taught in a university, and it can't be lived without traveling.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.</h3>
<p>Waking up to my host mom running around to get the kids to school, speaking in Spanish - I would lie in bed listening to learn new words and phrases my teacher wouldn't have taught me. Having breakfast with the kids and maybe playing tennis in the garage before my brother left for school.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Going to the foundation for my private Spanish class, where my teacher and I would talk about everything from politics to my boyfriend. Then, I would volunteer at an elderly centre where I would help organize small activities and listen to the elderly`s incredible life stories.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It truly felt rewarding to have the time to both spend quality time with someone, acknowledge their life experience as well as I got to practice this incredible language. It truly gave my Spanish classes a whole new dimension.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the afternoon, the Foundation had loads of activities to bring the volunteers together. Cooking classes, salsa dancing, and birthday celebrations. I didn't want the days to end.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?</h3>
<p>I enjoyed traveling, spending as much time with my host family as possible, and also to learn to dance salsa.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A lot of my free time was spent in the salsa school and salsa bars. I really enjoyed practicing Spanish with the locals, the kids in my family, and being in such a unique country for traveling. Most weekends were spent visiting.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772086595/images2/interviews/VHriArUyiAqfG8SzQQQ4oPAHBZ1u8Ul7wfaNIC7Q.png" alt="one woman and two kids enjoying snacks"><div class="caption"><p>Slumber party with my host family</p></div></div>
<p>I stayed with a family that included me in every single aspect of their life and traditions. I am so grateful for everything they did for me, and these experiences have given me a second family for life.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I would never have been this integrated in the culture or learned this much Spanish if it weren't for them.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?</h3>
<p>Embrace every second. Try to come without too many expectations, because your experience will be different from what you can imagine.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let the people, culture, and project guide you, and don't try to recreate the life you have at home in your new country. Let go and fully live in your new reality - although some things may drive you insane. Like waiting for people in Ecuador, most memorable moments I had were small, unexpected moments when you talk to someone in line at the bank or waiting for your host mom at the hairdresser's.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Would you recommend your program to others? Why?</h3>
<p>It has changed my life forever, and I think everyone should have this experience. We have so much to learn from people in "less developed" (or more developed - depends on how you look at it).&nbsp;</p>
<p>I feel my own country has gone to a point of economic development where human interaction is no longer needed. Everything is done on your phone, and "the state" takes care of everything.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is something very necessary and beautiful in being needed by your neighbors or coworkers. To belong to something.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?</h3>
<p>Broadening your horizons. Understanding the world and the people you share the planet with. Bursting your bubble and making you a more diverse human being seing things from a different side.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Maybe you're able to understand people in your own country a little bit better, and bring the good from the host country into your life at home.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?</h3>
<p>I try my best to bring Ecuador into everything I do. I try to smile at people, invite people into my life, and don't get stuck in a routine where I put myself first. If someone needs it, we will always find room around the table, and we will always have enough to share.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is something that came so naturally in Ecuador, but is hard to maintain in Europe since it is so far away from our culture. I love how people are dear to approach and help each other, and I try my best to talk to strangers and share moments with as many people as I can.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772086596/images2/interviews/5tcvOW7bnpbx7dCscyAt27p2Zy3bCVDhz4RhJwRD.jpg" alt="a woman and two elderlies smiling and posing together for a picture"><div class="caption"><p>With the amazing "grandparents of the street". </p></div></div>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<p>Meaningful travel to me means sharing experiences with other people. It means giving as well as receiving and trying to bring joy into other people's lives when you visit them. not only being a tourist, but also leaving money in another country.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Travels should bridge the gaps between cultures in a world that is increasingly polarized. We need each other.&nbsp;</p>


Maren Kateraas

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Maren Kateraas who participated in Fundación Bolívar Education program.

Maren Kateraas | Fundación Bolívar Education Alumni Interview

Fundación Bolívar Education Alumni Interview with Maren Kateraas

<h3>What inspired you to work for <a title="undefined" href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/istituto-di-moda-burgo rel="" target="_self" class="clickTracker" rev="domainID=undefined&amp;refererType=1&amp;refererID=3436&amp;abbreviation=CSCT&amp;clientID=53623" data-ga-client="Istituto di Moda Burgo" data-contentlink="">Istituto di Moda Burgo</a>?</h3>
<p>Growing up in a family deeply connected to fashion education, I was naturally exposed to the world of pattern making, tailoring, and design from an early age. My father founded Istituto di Moda Burgo in 1961 with the vision of creating a highly structured and professional fashion school in Milan. Over time, I realized that continuing this legacy was not simply a family responsibility, but a mission.</p>
<p>What truly inspired me was seeing how technical education can transform a student’s confidence and professional path. Fashion is often associated only with creativity, but behind every successful garment, there is structure, precision, and method. Preserving and developing the Burgo Method, while opening the school to an increasingly international audience, became my personal commitment.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772093736/images2/interviews/k0WWNeX6AJI4114JNI5P9V1KUe0ZApdYtFIWvAqn.jpg" alt="a person standing in a classroom, with others engaged in activities"><div class="caption"><p>Guiding the next generation of fashion professionals at our Milan headquarters.</p></div></div>
<h3>Describe a typical day at work.</h3>
<p>No two days are exactly the same. As Co-Director of Istituto di Moda Burgo, I divide my time between academic supervision, strategic development, and international partnerships.</p>
<p>I often begin the day reviewing current programs, speaking with instructors, and ensuring that our courses maintain the technical standards that define our Milan Fashion School. Later, I may meet with international students, discuss new Fashion Summer Courses in Italy, or work on expanding collaborations abroad.</p>
<p>A significant part of my work also involves listening to students, teachers, and partners, because maintaining excellence requires constant adaptation without compromising quality.</p>
<h3>Why do you do what you do?</h3>
<p>I believe strongly in technical education. In today’s fashion world, creativity alone is not enough. Students need solid foundations in pattern making, garment construction, and proportion.</p>
<p>What motivates me is seeing students arrive uncertain and leave with concrete skills and professional confidence. Fashion education, when structured correctly, provides both artistic freedom and technical discipline.</p>
<p>Continuing and evolving a method developed over decades is not about tradition alone — it is about responsibility toward future generations of designers and pattern makers.</p>
<h3>What is your favorite part of your job?</h3>
<p>My favorite part is witnessing transformation. When a student completes their first accurate pattern or constructs a garment that fits perfectly, you can see the shift in their attitude.</p>
<p>I also appreciate the international dimension of our school. Welcoming students from different countries who come to study fashion in Milan brings energy and cultural exchange into our classrooms. It reminds us that fashion is a global language, but technical mastery is universal.</p>
<h3>How do you use your education and international background in your current role?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772094304/images2/interviews/VDT0o9ps0OWENen3bbqZcVHgvdcbtJ2TX5VAtpWR.jpg" alt="three adults smile for a photo outdoor"><div class="caption"><p>Together with Cavaliere Fernando Burgo, founder of Istituto di Moda Burgo, and my sister Monica Burgo, representing three generations of dedication to fashion education.</p></div></div>
<p>My education provided me with a strong understanding of both the technical and managerial aspects of fashion education. Growing up within a structured system like the Burgo Method, I developed an appreciation for precision, discipline, and the importance of solid foundations in pattern making and garment construction.</p>
<p>Together with my sister, Monica Burgo, who serves as Co-Director, we combine complementary perspectives in leading the institute. While we both share the responsibility of continuing our family’s educational legacy, our collaboration allows us to balance academic rigor with strategic development and international growth.</p>
<p>Over the years, working with international students and global partners has broadened our vision significantly. Fashion is a global industry, yet educational standards and expectations vary across countries. My international experience helps us adapt our programs to diverse cultural and professional contexts, while maintaining the technical excellence that defines our Milan Fashion School.</p>
<p>In our roles as Co-Directors, Monica and I oversee academic development, international partnerships, and the expansion of our Fashion Summer Courses in Italy. We work to preserve the structure and precision of the Burgo Method while ensuring it remains relevant in an increasingly global and competitive environment.</p>
<p>Ultimately, our leadership is built on a shared commitment: combining tradition with international vision, and making high-level technical fashion education accessible to students from around the world.</p>
<h3>What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?</h3>
<p>One of the main challenges is balancing tradition and innovation. The Burgo Method is highly structured and precise, but the fashion industry evolves rapidly. Our responsibility is to maintain technical rigor while adapting to contemporary needs.</p>
<p>Another challenge is maintaining quality while growing internationally. We overcome this by standardizing our methodology, training instructors carefully, and keeping class sizes limited. Growth must never compromise educational standards.</p>
<h3>What are some current projects you are working on?</h3>
<p>Currently, we are expanding our international programs and strengthening our Fashion Summer Courses in Italy, particularly in specialized areas such as Theatre Costume Pattern Making and advanced tailoring.</p>
<p>We are also working on reinforcing partnerships abroad and continuing to modernize our communication strategy while preserving our identity as a serious and career-focused Fashion School in Milan.</p>
<h3>What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?</h3>
<p>I would say: be open, be patient, and focus on building strong foundations. In fashion, long-term success is built on discipline and technical knowledge.</p>
<p>Whether studying in Milan or anywhere else, students should embrace challenges and understand that mastery takes time. Precision and consistency always outperform shortcuts.</p>
<h3>What makes Istituto di Moda Burgo special?</h3>
<p>What makes Istituto di Moda Burgo special is the combination of technical precision, heritage, and international vision. Founded in 1961, the school has developed a structured and codified educational system known as the Burgo Method, which emphasizes accuracy in pattern making, proportion, and garment construction.</p>
<p>Unlike many fashion institutions that focus primarily on creativity, our approach balances creativity with solid technical foundations. Approximately 80% of training takes place in the laboratory, ensuring students gain practical and professional-level skills.</p>
<p>At the same time, we maintain small class sizes and individualized instruction, allowing each student to progress according to their level. Being located in Milan, the global capital of fashion, also provides an inspiring and professional environment that reinforces our identity as a serious and career-oriented fashion school.</p>
<h3>Why should someone choose Istituto di Moda Burgo over competitors?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772095063/images2/interviews/A9dDrFSBft9HWKvwgDrTvCsm1LSwc5gGjMqWQz8Z.jpg" alt="Students sketch clothing designs supervised by fashion educators, with an Istituto di Moda Burgo banner in the background"><div class="caption"><p>At Istituto di Moda Burgo with our instructors and students during a fashion illustration class in Milan.</p></div></div>
<p>Students should choose Istituto di Moda Burgo because we prioritize technical mastery and structured education. Many fashion schools emphasize conceptual design, but without strong technical foundations, creativity cannot translate into professional results.</p>
<p>Our Pattern Making courses in Milan are built on decades of refinement and practical experience.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Burgo Method provides a clear, step-by-step system that allows students to understand garment construction at a professional level.</p>
<p>Additionally, we offer an international environment, English-language programs, and intensive Fashion Summer Courses in Italy for students seeking focused training.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We do not promise shortcuts — we provide discipline, method, and real skills that prepare students for the global fashion industry.</p>
<h3>What is Istituto di Moda Burgo's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?</h3>
<p>Our mission is to preserve and evolve a high standard of technical fashion education while making it accessible to students from around the world. We believe that fashion is both art and engineering, and our responsibility is to ensure that students master both dimensions.</p>
<p>We continue to work toward this mission by maintaining strict academic standards, updating our programs to reflect industry developments, and expanding our international presence without compromising quality. Together with my sister Monica, we oversee the academic direction and international growth of the institute, ensuring that the Burgo Method remains consistent, structured, and relevant in a rapidly changing fashion landscape.</p>
<p>Our long-term vision is to strengthen our role as a reference point for serious fashion education in Milan and internationally.</p>
<h3>What do you hope participants take away from your programs?</h3>
<p>I hope participants leave our programs with two essential outcomes: technical competence and professional confidence. Fashion can be inspiring and creative, but without structure and discipline it remains incomplete.<br><br>At Istituto di Moda Burgo, we want students to truly understand garment construction, proportion, and pattern making at a professional level. Whether they attend a full-time program or a Fashion Summer Course in Italy, they should leave with concrete skills they can immediately apply.</p>
<p>Beyond technical ability, I hope they develop a stronger sense of responsibility toward their work. Precision, patience, and consistency are values that extend far beyond fashion — they shape a professional mindset.</p>
<h3>How do you help support participants?</h3>
<p>Support begins with structure. We maintain small class sizes so instructors can follow students individually and monitor their progress closely. Our programs are designed to be progressive, allowing participants to build skills step by step rather than feeling overwhelmed.</p>
<p>We also provide a welcoming international environment. Many of our students travel to Milan from abroad, so we guide them not only academically but also in adapting to a new cultural and educational setting.</p>
<p>As Co-Directors, my sister Monica and I oversee academic standards directly to ensure quality and consistency. Our goal is not only to teach techniques, but to create a supportive and serious learning environment where students can grow confidently.</p>
<h3>Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?</h3>
<p>Traveling abroad expands perspective. In fashion especially, exposure to different cultures, aesthetics, and traditions enriches creativity and professional awareness. Studying in Milan, for example, means experiencing a city where craftsmanship, industry, and design coexist daily.</p>
<p>When students leave their comfort zone, they develop adaptability, independence, and a deeper understanding of global standards. These qualities are essential in today’s fashion industry, which operates internationally.</p>
<p>Experiencing new cultures also fosters humility and curiosity — two qualities that are fundamental for any designer or pattern maker who wants to grow continuously.</p>
<h3>What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?</h3>
<p>My advice is to choose with intention. Going abroad should not be a trend or a spontaneous decision — it should align with your long-term goals. Research the institution carefully, understand the methodology, and evaluate whether the program offers real skills rather than superficial experiences.</p>
<p>Be prepared to work hard. Studying abroad is exciting, but it also requires discipline and adaptability. You will face new systems, languages, and expectations. Embrace that challenge.</p>
<p>Finally, be open. The greatest growth often happens outside the classroom, through cultural exchange and personal resilience. When approached seriously, studying abroad can become a defining moment in both professional and personal development.</p>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1772095064/images2/interviews/J5BU6su5nFb7SgQHQfqzbrtu2DvmyI96B80AwfAN.jpg" alt="two adults posing together in front of a large display screen"><div class="caption"><p>With my sister Monica Burgo at Fashion Graduate Italia in Milan, representing our Milan Fashion School.</p></div></div>
<p>Meaningful travel is not simply moving from one country to another; it is about transformation. It means stepping outside your comfort zone and allowing yourself to be challenged intellectually and culturally.</p>
<p>For students, especially in fields like fashion, meaningful travel means experiencing a different creative environment, understanding new aesthetics, and observing how craftsmanship and industry operate in another context. Studying in Milan, for example, allows participants to see firsthand how heritage and innovation coexist in the fashion capital of the world.</p>
<p>To me, meaningful travel is successful when a person returns home not only with new technical skills, but with a broader perspective, greater independence, and a deeper sense of responsibility toward their profession.</p>
<h3></h3>
<h3>What does ethical global engagement mean to you?</h3>
<p>Ethical global engagement means respecting both students and host communities. International education should never be transactional; it should create mutual value. Institutions must provide structured, high-quality education while being transparent about expectations and outcomes.</p>
<p>For us, ethical engagement also means maintaining consistent academic standards across all programs, whether local or international. Growth should never compromise quality.</p>
<p>At Istituto di Moda Burgo, we believe international education should foster professionalism, cultural respect, and long-term collaboration. When institutions operate with integrity and responsibility, global education becomes not only beneficial but sustainable.</p>


Stefano Burgo

Get to know the people behind Istituto di Moda Burgo! Check out this GoAbroad Staff Interview with Stefano Burgo.

Stefano Burgo | Istituto di Moda Burgo Staff Interview

Istituto di Moda Burgo Staff Interview with Stefano Burgo

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