HORRIBLE ORGANIZATION- STAY AWAY

My one advice to you if you want to travel and work- get a work visa, pick ANY other company, anything but STAY AWAY from ACLE. This organization lures you in with the idea you will be traveling, but they do not have any intentions to follow through with what they say. I want to share with you my experience as an example of how horrible they were to me.

Before buying my ticket, I consulted with them and asked if I would have at least 8 weeks of work. I was told yes, definitely. So I purchased a flight and sent them my flight information (one of their requirements). ACLE knew that I would be in Italy for 10 weeks. I arrived, paid for one week of orientation, and I was off. First 2-week camp was near Rome and the host family was a dream. I was sad to leave them but I was sent to Sicily for the next two weeks. The train ride was 12 hours- and the train ticket ACLE gave me did not guarantee me a seat. I ended up sitting in the hall of the train and had to get up and move every stop so people could get through. I should have seen this trip as an ominous sign.

My camp in Sicily got off to a great start. First week was fine. That first weekend though I started feeling ill. I went to the doctor and it was confirmed- I had chicken pox. One of the children in my previous camp had had it, and although unlikely, as a 22 year old, I got this strain of chicken pox. Of course, I couldn't go to work that week, because I risked getting everyone sick. I called ACLE and told them that I couldn't work, but that the doctor told me that the following Monday I would be all clear to work with children again.

ACLE: Oh sorry, we can't offer you any more work.
Me: WHAT? I'm here for another 5 weeks. I need a job, how am I going to survive?
ALCE: We're very sorry but there's nothing we can do. We have no more work for you.
Me: You told me you had at least 8 weeks of work for me. I can work next week. I can travel to any camp this weekend.
ACLE: Sorry nothing we can do.

These people effectively left me stranded in Italy for 5 weeks. They knew I was from the United States and couldn't just hop on a flight back home.
I speak Italian fairly well and tried to get a job as a waitress, but of course couldn't because I didn't have a work visa- because they didn't require me to get one.
They never called to see how I was, or to offer me any camps. Friends I made in orientation told me they were told they wouldn't be offered work for several weeks, also leaving them stranded.
They effectively ruined a trip I thought was going to be unforgettable.
Don't let them do the same to you.

STAY AWAY FROM ACLE.