I am a uni student who is super busy with my coursework and I did my volunteer placement during the Eastern Holiday. Honestly before I headed off to Naples , I was still unsure if staying home for my tons of work would be more valuable for my Eastern Holiday rather than leaving for another country for volunteer . Luckily my friends they convinced me to come to Italy instead of staying home and that deffo is one of the best decision I have ever made!!!! I did After school care in Naples , but actually what I did is getting involved in the English class and teaching kids in the kindergarten English. I love my program soooo much!!!!! The kids they r absolutely lovely and cute and the teachers there supported me a lot . Unfortunately I cant speak Italian so sometimes communication is a problem between me and tutors (cuz most of them cant speak English ),but the staff in the program organization they help me communicate with teachers there and manager everything perfectly. I do appreciate everything happening to me in this amazing and unforgettable experience. :D

My first day in the country was nerve-wracking, as with any trip abroad. It was my first time traveling abroad; but after a few hours, my mind was a ease. I was met by one of the program supervisors upon my arrival at the volunteer's housing and was simply in awe. The apartment was beautiful; with views of the Mediterranean, citrus trees in the courtyard, the mountains, and Vesuvius - all from one spot. The personnel who are the INN were helpful and it was evident that they were there to make a difference, and to help us do the same. We were given a lot of independence, making it seem as if we weren't "tourists" - but living within the city. On weekends we are free to travel, I was able to go to Rome and Vesuvius before I returned home. The people are the nicest in the world, the food is delicious, and the work can be life changing. You get out of the program what you put into it; you are given every tool necessary to have an amazing time and make a difference - use them! My work with the after school program was far more rewarding than I expected it to be; the people at the center were amazing as well. I highly regret not staying longer than two weeks as there is just so much to do, see, and so much I didn't want to leave yet. I am looking forward to returning to Naples and this program one day soon, 100% suggest this for anybody looking for a first-travel experience and some independence in a place as wonderful as Naples.

I really can't say enough about how much I loved this program. Despite its gritty reputation, Naples is a beautiful city with incredible food, art, and more history than you can shake a stick at. I went with a list of day-trips outside of Naples I wanted to take, but I ended up only doing a few because there was always something to do in the city. The location of the volunteer accommodation is incredible, with amazing views of the city, sea, and Mt. Vesuvius.

I was in the NGO Support program, and had an amazing experience. The local staff in Italy handpicks who to send where, and they have excellent relationships with the hosting NGOs--often they know the NGO staff personally, so you don't feel like you're being abandoned with strangers. :-)

The in-country staff are truly amazing. They went far above and beyond the call of duty--they're really interested in getting to know you and your goals and helping you achieve them.

When originally looking at international volunteering I looked at a few websites and found IVHQ, whose prices were a lot more affordable than any other program. For my first time out of the US and my first time traveling by myself I was very nervous, but IVHQ was a constant support to calm my nerves from the first time I looked at the website until the end of my journey. I had the best experience not only did I meet a great group of people, I also had a great support system with IVHQ, and the local staff. From the first day I arrived everybody was very welcoming, and I had the chance to meet people to travel with and got to achieve my goal of going to Italy. As long as you approach volunteering with an open mind you will have a great time.

1.friends I made in our voluntary centre are still messaging me and inviting me to visit them.
I am so glad!!! I do think what u said on the orientation day is true.
You said people make life-long friends here.
I was doubting it at that time but the truth is that you are right.:)))
It genuinely impressed me, to have some "soul mates" at the other side of the earth.
2.the experience brought me trememdous gratification.
my voluntary experience was perfect!
Even tho from time to time, I feel what I did were too little.
Maybe it doesn't touched on the essence of the problem existing in Gaiola.
After I left, people still throw rubbish to the sea and do not care about the roman ruins under the sea. I keep thinking about the solution to the problem on my way to and from Gaiola everyday.

Maybe what I did didn't really alter the system in its root, but then I think maybe the system cannot be demolished in just a few days. Just like some systemic flaws in Chinese Political system.
We cannot wish to change it overnight.
What we can do is only try a bit more everyday and things will gradually get better.
I believe so!
I believe with all these ambitious and talented volunteers making endeavor, things are actually getting better, inch by inch,

From the moment I had arrived to Naples, I had a good feeling about the program. I was warmly greeted at the airport, and taken to the accommodations where I met with the other volunteers. We instantly hit it off.

My daily experiences consisted of volunteering at an NGO where we supported the office with help in any way they needed (administrative work, speaking with clients etc..). The other volunteers and I made use of our downtime by exploring and visiting the beautiful sites that Naples has to offer, and of course, eating a lot of Italian food.

Despite not knowing any Italian before the trip, we were all able to communicate with locals and pick up some useful expressions. Overall, the experience was life changing, and I would definitely recommend volunteering in Italy to anyone who is interested in volunteering abroad.

My time in Napoli was by far one of my favourite experiences to date. The city is stunning, the people are incredible, overall it is just perfection and I already miss it so much. A basic day in the lives of a volunteer would consist of going to your placement or 2 (I worked with 2 different NGOs) and then you would have the remainder of the day to do whatever you want. This could include sightseeing (Naples alone has so much to see and also, the accommodation is based right in the heart of the historical centre so your surroundings are full of interesting things to see,) trying new foods, going to the beach (Gaiola which is about 45mins away but worth it.)
The weekends are free for volunteers so we spent them going further afield. My favourite was definitely the island Capri. Absolutely amazing, I would 100% recommend it. Also, trips to Rome, Amalfi Coast and Sorrento were great, so there is a lot to see and you can never get bored.
Prior to departure, the research I did on Naples left me feeling quite nervous about arriving to the city, however I can assure you that whatever you read on line or especially in the :Lonely Planet about Naples is not true. The city is just like any other city where you need to keep an eye on your belongings and always be cautious. Naples is amazing and you will have an amazing time :)

I spent two months with IVHQ Italy this past winter and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! The staff is very caring and attentive and truly wants you to have a great experience; and there are multiple opportunities to truly make a difference in Naples and the surrounding area. All this while living (and eating!) in one of the most interesting cities in Europe (and the birthplace of pizza!). It really doesn't get much better than this!