Become a Volunteer with Migrants in Italy and Abroad | ASCS - Agenzia Scalabriniana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo

Volunteering with migrants: the style of ASCS

For ASCS, volunteers and female volunteers are the heart of the mission: with their time, skills and passion, they care for people and create spaces for meeting and sharing.

Volunteering in ASCS is first and foremost a choice, a journey, an opportunity for growth. More than “doing,” it means “being.” an experience that transforms our gaze on the world and makes us protagonists in the building a more open and welcoming society, where diversity is an asset. Therefore, ASCS volunteers are not asked to “do for,” but to “be with.” To make themselves migrants with migrants.

If you share our values and want to be part of the change, find out about volunteer opportunities in our projects in Italy and abroad on our dedicated page!

ASCS locations

Italy

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Borders Project

Europe

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International

World

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ASCS locations

Italy

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Borders Project

Europe

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International

World

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Volunteering in Italy: Reception and Intercultural Animation

Discover ASCS locations in Italy: Chieri, Milan and Rome. Join us for cross-cultural outreach activities, support for hosting activities for people on the move and more. Experience meeting new people, sharing stories and becoming a protagonist of change.

Explore the opportunities at each location by clicking below!

Chieri - TO

With ASCS, in Chieri, you can do a variety of activities ranging from service with migrant people to outreach activities for youth. No prerequisites, suitable for all ages, service opportunities in Chieri are always carried out in sharing and collaboration with a large group of volunteers.

Here’s what you can choose from:

Italian language school for foreigners, in collaboration with Trame Cooperative
Design and implementation of workshops for schools on the theme of human mobility and interculturalism
Conception, drafting of projects and implementation of outreach events for citizens (cultural reviews, educational meetings…)

Milan

ASCS in Milan has its office in the cloister of the Carmine Church. It is possible to volunteer by joining the team that organizes the “The World at Home” or by helping with the organization of Italian, English, driving school, curriculum writing and after-school classes.

Requirements:

adults
good knowledge of the Italian language
good attitude to teamwork

Rome

As part of Scalabrini House 634, volunteer opportunities involve finding work and housing with people living in the House, supporting in community outreach activities, and conducting courses in Italian, English, driving school and tailoring.

Requirements:

adults
good knowledge of the Italian language
interest in migration issues
good attitude to teamwork
good adaptability

Borders Project: Volunteering at the European Borders

Le frontiere europee sono sempre più pericolose per le persone migranti in transito. Tra respingimenti, filo spinato e disumanità. Con il progetto Borders, l’impegno è quello di essere presidio, ascolto e accoglienza in alcuni punti caldi ai confini: Ceuta e Calais. È possibile partire durante tutto l’anno: prima della partenza sarà obbligatorio partecipare ad una breve formazione online.

Join us and explore the opportunities at each location by clicking below!

Calais - France

On the French-British border ASCS operates in Maison Effatà, supporting the Parishes of Calais, run by the Scalabrinian Fathers. The main activities at Maison Effatà revolve around the overnight and daytime reception of 10 single men in transit in a vulnerable condition. The activities in the hands of the team of volunteers are varied: follow-up of the personal cases of the people received, referral to services present in Calais, organization of food shopping, management of community life, realization of recreational, sports and educational moments (e.g., English lessons), networking with other city organizations. For departing volunteers who have not participated in the ASCS volunteer course, an online training of 3 preparatory meetings is offered.

Requirements:

Minimum availability of one month
Knowledge of English and/or French
Adaptability
Spirit of initiative and readiness for community life
Teamwork skills

Ceuta - Spain

On the Spanish-Moroccan border ASCS operates in the San Antonio Center, supporting the Diocese of Cadiz and Ceuta’s Migration Secretariat. Here a range of activities are carried out for single migrant men who have recently arrived in Spain. In particular, temporary day and night shelter is provided for 10 young migrant men in a vulnerable situation, with no other housing solution, organizing training, educational and support activities for their insertion in peninsular Spain; in addition, a shower and clothes washing service for migrant people living on the streets is carried out. The activities in the hands of the team of volunteers are varied: follow-up of personal cases of the welcomed people, organization of food shopping, management of community life, realization of recreational, sports and educational moments (e.g. Spanish or computer classes), networking with other city organizations. Departing volunteers who have not participated in the ASCS volunteer course are offered a 3-meeting online preparatory training.

Requirements:

Minimum availability of one month
Knowledge of the Spanish language
Adaptability
Spirit of initiative and readiness for community life
Teamwork skills

Borders Project Europe

Europe’s borders are increasingly dangerous for migrant people in transit. Between rejections, barbed wire and inhumanity. With the Borders project, the commitment is to be a garrison, listening and welcoming in some hot spots at the borders: Ceuta, Calais and Trieste.

Join us and explore the opportunities at each location by clicking below!

Calais - France

Requirements:

Minimum availability of one month
Knowledge of English and/or French
Adaptability
Spirit of initiative and readiness for community life
Teamwork skills

Ceuta - Spain

Requirements:

Minimum availability of one month
Knowledge of the Spanish language
Adaptability
Spirit of initiative and readiness for community life
Teamwork skills

Trieste - Italy

On the Italian-Slovenian border ASCS supports various local associations by sending volunteers, in collaboration with the Jesuit community in Trieste. The activities carried out by the volunteers are aimed at supporting people on the move arriving from the Balkan routes (first aid, Italian school, shifts in the dormitory…). The local entities that are supported are ICS, Linea D’ombra, Caritas.

Requirements:

Minimum availability of 3 weeks
Adaptability and initiative
Teamwork skills

ASCS International Volunteering: Projects in the World

In support of Scalabrinian missions around the world, you can immerse yourself in volunteer experiences in migrant homes in support of people on the move.

Through the course for international volunteering, it will be possible to acquire specific tools and skills on the topic of migration. For departure, the course is mandatory; after the course, it is not mandatory to leave!

Requirements:

adults
Have completed the volunteer training course.
interest in migration issues
good attitude to teamwork
good adaptability

Arica - Chile

Migrant’s home on the Chile-Peru border housing families and women. The migrants are in transit and their goal is to reach Santiago, Chile.

Volunteers live and work in the Migrant House together with various officials, volunteers and the father in charge of the House.

Activities: reception, interviews, meal and clothing distribution, service orientation, legal support, educational support for minors, activities for adults.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 6 months

Cape Town - South Africa

Two volunteer opportunities:

1) SCCT (Scalabrini Centre Cape Town): center that provides welcome and help to migrant people arriving in South Africa. see website: www.scalabrini.org.za

Volunteers live in the guest house inside the center and work in the center where there is a director, officers in charge of the various areas of operation and volunteers from all over the world.

Activities: early care program, English school, legal support, job search help, outreach in schools.

Requirements:

excellent knowledge of the English language
minimum availability 6 months
In order to be placed as a volunteer, one must conduct an interview in English with the manager of the chosen service area

2) Lawrence House: foster home for children in need and support sent by the Juvenile Court.

Volunteers live inside the house where the house director, several officials and volunteers work.

Activities: support for house services, accompanying to school, help with homework, recreational fun activities during the week and on weekends.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the English language
minimum availability 6 months
In order to be placed as a volunteer you must conduct an interview in English with the house manager

Ciudad de Guatemala - Guatemala

Migrant House in the country’s capital that houses people and families arriving from the Central American route and people deported from the U.S. and Mexico.

Volunteers live in the Migrant’s Home and work at the Guatemalan Air Force Military Airport where deportees arrive daily. Various officials, volunteers and the father who is the director of the house operate in the house.

Activities: reception, interviews, meal and clothing distribution, service orientation, legal support, psychological support, educational support for minors.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 3 months

Johannesburg - South Africa

In Johannesburg, the fathers run the local mission and clinic.

Volunteers live within the mission in an apartment dedicated to them.

Activities: support for medical activities at the clinic working mainly with women. Support for conducting sewing, computer, care giver and cooking classes.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the English language
for clinic preferable figure of nurse and/or physician
minimum availability 6 months

La Paz - Bolivia

In the city, the Scalabrinian fathers run two shelters, one in Ciudadela Ferroviaria where they house mostly families and the other in Chasquipampa, south of the city, where they house men. The people who arrive are mostly migrants traveling the migration route to the cone sur of Latin America

Volunteers live in the Ciudadela Ferroviaria parish in the part dedicated to the Migrant House where various officials, volunteers and the Scalabrinian fathers work.

Activities: reception, interviews, distribution of meals and clothing, orientation to services, legal support, psychological support, educational support for minors, activities for adults, accompanying migrants in administrative tasks.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 3 months

Lima - Peru

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Mendoza - Argentina

Casa del Migrante located in west-central Argentina where there is a high density of incoming migrants as an area where many laborers are sought for the wine industry.

Volunteers live and work in the Migrant House together with various officials, volunteers and the father in charge of the House.

Activities: reception, interviews, meal and clothing distribution, service orientation, legal support, educational support for minors, activities for adults, help with job search, housing, school services for minors.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 6 months

Montreal - Canada

Le Pont – Migrant House run by the Diocese of Montreal where migrant families arriving from Africa and South America are welcomed.

Volunteers operate and live within the Migrant House where the house director, various officials and local volunteers operate

Requirements:

good knowledge of French and English languages
possible knowledge of Spanish language
minimum availability 6 months

Nuevo Laredo - Mexico

Migrant House on the U.S.-Mexico border that houses people and families arriving from the Central American route and people deported from the U.S.

Volunteers live in the parish house and operate within the Migrant House. In the house there is an officer who is in charge of the management of the house, several volunteers and the father who is the director of the house.

Activities: preparing and distributing meals, distributing clothes, greeting migrants at the door, interviewing migrants, explaining house rules during evening meetings, organizing periodic events for migrants, managing migrant cleaning shifts.

Requirements:

good knowledge of Spanish and English
minimum availability 3 months

Santiago de Chile - Chile

The Fathers run the Casa del Migrante and Fundaciòn Scalabrini in a central neighborhood of Chile’s capital city. The migrants they welcome are women who arrive in Chile as the final leg of their migration journey.

Volunteers live in the Casa del Migrante and work in the Casa del Migrante and Fundacion Scalabrini together with various workers, volunteers and the father who is the director of the Casa.

Activities: reception, meal distribution, service orientation, legal support, activities for house guests, “Bolsa de Empleo” service (job matching activities).

Requirements:

priority female volunteers
good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 3 months

Tacna - Peru

Migrant House on the Peru-Chile border that houses migrant families and single migrants in transit to Chile and Argentina.

Volunteers live in an apartment above the Migrant House and work in the Migrant House together with various officials, volunteers and the father in charge of the House.

Activities: reception, interviews, meal and clothing distribution, service orientation, legal support, educational support for minors, activities for adults.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 6 months

Tecun Uman - Guatemala

Migrant House on the Guatemala-Mexico border that houses people and families arriving from the Central American route.

Volunteers live and operate in the Migrant House. Various officials, volunteers and the father who is the director of the house operate in the house.

Activities: reception, interviews, meal and clothing distribution, service orientation, legal support, psychological support, educational support for minors.

Requirements:

good knowledge of the Spanish language
minimum availability 3 months

Tijuana - Mexico

Migrant House on the U.S.-Mexico border that houses people and families arriving from the Central American route and people deported from the U.S.

Volunteers operate and live inside the Migrant House where the Scalabrinian Father who coordinates the house, 9 workers and various local volunteers operate.

Activities: helping prepare and distribute meals, distributing clothes, greeting people at the door, helping with interviews with migrants, explaining house rules during evening meetings, organizing periodic events for migrants.

Requirements:

good knowledge of Spanish and English
minimum availability 3 months

Join us!

Join our team of volunteers and volunteers: you will be able to participate in our activities, get in touch with new cultures and devote your free time to our projects in favor of integration, welcome and the richness of diversity.

What are you waiting for? Fill out the orientation interview.

ORIENTATION INTERVIEW