Sustainable Farming Volunteering in Rome - Italy

Apply now. The next available start date for this project is Jul 5, 2021

The Sustainable Farming project gives volunteers an opportunity to experience a piece of the Rome countryside while supporting a social integration model and assisting with a range of seasonal tasks. The goal of this project is to maximize production and help with the care of vegetables and aromatic plants in the garden while also empowering the acquisition of professional skills for asylum seekers working with you.

As a volunteer you’ll be working in one of Rome’s historic parks, helping cultivate the vegetable garden, the nursery built inside it, the botanical collection of Mediterranean plants, the urban garden and the laboratory of manufacturing and craft activities, and so much more. This is a hands-on project based on multiculturalism, sustainability and ecology, where you’ll be working in the field often side by side with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, as well as with people with mental and motor disabilities, the elderly and even with children.

Sustainable Farming Volunteering in Rome, Italy with IVHQ.

This project is suited to hands-on volunteers who care about functional, sustainable and ecological solutions applied to models of social inclusion. Volunteer activities range according to the season and current tasks but you can expect a range of the following:

Planting, weeding, watering and general care for the garden which hosts a collection of plants typical to the Mediterranean area
Cultivating and harvesting vegetables and legumes in the large garden
Craft workshop activities creating objects of various designs using waste or recyclable materials
Urban beekeeping and honey production
Taking care of farm animals
Multi-ethnic cooking sessions
Supporting the association during events and with the sale of their handicraft and food products, etc.
Running playful design workshops for children
Urban redevelopment interventions, entirely with recycled material

The profits resulting from these activities (when present) go the projects in which the refugees are involved, as well as to other local non-profits associations involved in supporting social issues.

As your tasks will vary based on the season, you should be open to helping out in whatever kind of activity is prioritized while you’re there. This project has a minimum duration requirement of two weeks.

Apply now

Project Highlights

What you need to know

Affordable fees from $895 for 2 weeks
Support a social integration model by assisting with a range of seasonal tasks
Volunteer to help maximize production of the gardens while also caring for the garden, vegetables and other plants
Empower the acquisition of professional skills for the asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and those with special needs
Suited to hands-on volunteers who care about functional, sustainable, and ecological solutions applied to models of social inclusion
Minimum duration of 2 weeks
Volunteer for up to 5 hours per day

Destination Highlights

Italy at a glance

Based in the iconic Italian capital, Rome
Program fees include airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, breakfast and dinner, and 24/7 in-country support
Accommodation in a dormitory-style camp with a swimming pool, social and game facilities
Between 5 and 10 volunteers start in Rome each month

Entry and visa requirements for Italy

Fill out the quick form below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Italy, based on your country of residence.

Location and duration

The volunteer program is located in Rome, the capital city of Italy in the central portion of the Italian Peninsula. Volunteer placements are located throughout the wider city of Rome and the program begins on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 12 weeks.

IVHQ also offers a separate volunteer program based in Naples, Southern Italy. In Naples, you can join 3 different volunteer projects, including Teaching, After School Care and Environmental. You can learn more about the Naples volunteer program here.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation in Rome begins on the second and fourth Monday of each month and lasts for a full day. Volunteers need to arrive in Rome on the Sunday before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Rome. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Italy prior to your volunteer program and arriving overland, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a central meeting point in Rome on the Sunday before orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Italy team in Rome. It begins the morning of your chosen start date and lasts for a full day. The orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Rome – Introduction to Italy, Culture and Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities, Introduction to Project and Placement as well as a tour of the local area. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers with whom you can swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Your specific placement orientation will be held the following day and you will be shown how to travel to and from your placement, receive an introduction to your placement, and then complete a few hours of volunteering.

Volunteer schedule

Weekdays: After your program orientation, you will have a morning, afternoon or evening volunteer shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. A typical morning schedule is as follows:

6.30 AM Breakfast begins at the volunteer accommodation and is available until 10:30am.

8.00 AM Travel to volunteer placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. Please note that start times and daily workload depend on the project that you are participating on. Some placements run in the afternoon and volunteers on these placements will have the morning free to use as they wish or to attend Italian language lessons.

12.00-1.00 PM Lunch break. After lunch, you will continue your volunteer work (where applicable).

1.00 PM Volunteers with afternoon or evening shifts travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on their project. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating on.

6.30-10.30 PM Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. After dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish.

Please note that this schedule will vary depending on the needs of your particular project.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated in a dormitory-style camping lodge located in Rome. The camping lodge has a large pool as well as other social and game facilities for volunteers to enjoy in their free time. It accommodates many guests at a time and you can expect to share a room with one or two other volunteers of the same gender. Bedding and towels are provided, and there are shared western bathrooms. Staff will clean the accommodation throughout the week, however volunteers are required to keep their rooms tidy.

WiFi is available at the volunteer accommodation, as well as many cafes and restaurants in the area. To keep connected, the local team will provide you with a free local SIM card that you can activate to purchase mobile data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Private single, twin or double rooms in the camping lodge, with the use of the communal bathrooms, can be arranged at an additional cost.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with breakfast and dinner each day as part of the program, with lunch needed to be purchased at your own cost.

Breakfast is self-serve at the accommodation and available from 7am to 9am. Breakfast generally includes tea, coffee, bread, croissants, sweets, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt, and fruit.

Dinner is served between 6:30pm and 10:30pm and includes local staples such as pasta, vegetables, and salad. We recommend you budget about US$10 per day for lunch and you’ll be able to source this in local shops and eateries in town. These are easily accessible both close to placement and the accommodation.

Tap water is fine to drink in Rome and the accommodation has a fountain of drinkable water where you can refill your reusable bottle. However, bottled water is also readily available if you prefer and you should budget approximately $10 per week for this.

Program fees

Duration	Program Fee Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
2 weeks	$895 Equivalent to $64/day
3 weeks	$1,215 Equivalent to $58/day
4 weeks	$1,535 Equivalent to $55/day
5 weeks	$1,855 Equivalent to $53/day
6 weeks	$2,175 Equivalent to $52/day
8 weeks	$2,815 Equivalent to $51/day
10 weeks	$3,455 Equivalent to $50/day
12 weeks	$4,095 Equivalent to $49/day

Apply now

Accommodation
Breakfast and dinner
24/7 in-country support
In-country program orientation
Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
Airport pick-up
Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
Certificate of International Volunteering

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

All programs attract a Registration Fee of $299 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Rome generally find US$200 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including lunch, transport and miscellaneous spending.
Please note: You will need to budget an extra US$3 per night for the Rome Tourist Tax, paid directly to the accommodation upon arrival.

Weekends and travel

Volunteers have the weekends free to explore and Italy is universally recognized for its history, art, culture, cuisine and natural beauty - there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do while in Italy!

Rome has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and you can spend your free-time visiting the historical centers and attractions, tasting the world-renowned cuisine, sipping espresso in the many café bars, or simply wandering around and discovering how truly beautiful Rome is. Must-dos on your list should include standing in awe of the Colosseum, visiting the Vatican City, seeing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, exploring the Pantheon and throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain.

Or take a quick train trip over a weekend to see the ancient ruins of Pompeii, or Naples - the home of pizza. Nature lovers should also factor in a visit to the beautiful Amalfi Coast to complete the “Walk of the Gods”.

Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Italy, including Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Milan, Pisa and so much more! You can make travel arrangements once you arrive in Rome with the advice and guidance of our expert local team.

See our Italy Travel and Tours page for more volunteer travel options in Italy!

Photo gallery

IVHQ volunteer looking after kittens on the Animal Care project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer caring for a cat at the Animal Care volunteer project in Rome, Italy

Kitten at Animal Care volunteer project in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteers on the Youth Support project in Rome, Italy

Volunteers and children dancing on the Youth Support project in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

Volunteers gardeniing with children on the Youth Support project in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteers planting a garden on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Plants prepared by volunteers on the IVHQ inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Fresh fruit and vegetable grown by volunteers on the IVHQ inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Fresh vegetables grown by IVHQ volunteers on inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteers on the teaching project in Rome, Italy

Children drawing at the IVHQ teaching volunteer project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer doing graphic design on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

Volunteers working at an NGO support event collecting graphic design marketing material on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

Event banners created by graphic design IVHQ volunteers on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

Planted garden by volunteers on the IVHQ inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteers learning how to cook local food on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Creative woodwork art by IVHQ volunteers on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Marketing poster by graphic design IVHQ volunteers working on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

Graphic design marketing poster by IVHQ volunteers working on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

Marketing poster created by graphic design volunteers on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

Adults at the IVHQ teaching volunteer project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer building wood art on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteers creating woodwork on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Creative wooden furniture made by IVHQ volunteers on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Creative wooden planters made by IVHQ volunteers on the inclusive agriculture project in Rome, Italy

Local metalwork art documented by graphic design IVHQ volunteers on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteers working at a local NGO event collecting graphic design marketing material on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

Local NGO who volunteers create graphic design marketing material for on the IVHQ creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer collecting marketing material from a local NGO initiative on the creative technologies project in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer accommodation in Rome, Italy

Volunteer accommodation in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteer accommodation bedroom in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer accommodation bedroom upgrade in Rome, Italy

Volunteer accommodation bedroom upgrade in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteer accommodation swimming pool in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer dining food meals in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer accommodation dining area in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer accommodation dining room in Rome, Italy

Volunteer accommodation dining area in Rome, Italy with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteer accommodation outdoor social area in Rome, Italy

IVHQ volunteer accommodation outdoor entertainment swimming pool in Rome, Italy

Essential country information

Capital	Rome
Population	61.7 Million
Languages	Italian
Currency	Euro (EUR)
Time zone	UTC+01:00

Weather and climate: Italy’s climate is quite diverse due to the great longitudinal extension of the peninsula and its mountainous terrain. The coastal areas of Liguria, Tuscany and most of the South are predominantly Mediterranean with dry summers and moderately wet winters. In the northern parts of Italy and areas of higher altitudes, the climate is cooler and the winter months can be cold, wet, and often snowy. Weather in Rome, where the IVHQ volunteer program is based, is pleasant throughout the year. Winter temperatures in Rome (December to February) vary from 4°C/39°F to 14°C/57°F while spring (March to May) is slightly warmer at around 15°C/59°F. Summer (June to September) in Rome can become very hot and humid with average temperatures ranging between 18°C/64°F and 31°C/89°F. Rainfall is heaviest in November and driest in July.

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate on this program, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.

All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ’s local team on arrival in Italy. Additional requirements apply for Creative Technologies volunteers as outlined in the project description.

Fluency in Italian is not a prerequisite for the volunteer program in Rome. However, we recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our local team in Italy. Volunteers find that taking these lessons helps immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking Italian language lessons can arrange these directly with the local team once in Italy.

Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered IVHQ volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an IVHQ program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer. Try a sample of the training here.