Participants in all SIS programs are encouraged to perform service in the community through the IC partner Ulisse Cultural Association. This service can range from 1-5 hours a week and opportunities are in a variety of different service sites. Students might set tables at the city soup kitchen, visit with the elderly at a nursing home, teach English to local elementary school children or volunteer on the city ambulance. Volunteering in the community is an unparalleled way to improve language skills, get involved in the local social fabric and make a genuine contribution to the host community.
Students of the International Center, and members of Ulisse, offer essential hours of mother-tongue English language instruction in several elementary schools in and around the city of Siena. The "English Project" is open to all elementary schools in Siena. The objectives of the project are to provide creative and interactive English lessons by native speakers.
For the 1st and 2nd grades, the project entails the teaching of songs, nursery rhymes, and games that focus on basic English concepts. In the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes the volunteer English teachers concentrate on the story writing and the full production of popular plays such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "The Wizard of Oz" and "Cinderella" in English. For all productions, children and student/teachers work together to memorize and understand scripts written by the IC student with the help of Italian teachers. teachers.
At this service site, students are responsible for organizing and providing English lessons once a week for five-year-olds at a local kindergarten with the goal to familiarize them with the English language through games, songs, and play.
With medieval roots, the Misericordia volunteer organization is unique to Italian and to Sienese culture and offers a number of services to the city of Siena. Among those, and the most popular among IC students, is the ambulance transport and emergency service. In fact, the Misericordia coordinates ambulance services thanks to the Italian and foreign volunteers who work on the ambulances. Students of the IC can obtain certifications of varying levels in order to volunteer on these ambulances thanks to a special agreement between the Misericordia, Ulisse, the IC and Siena Italian Studies. Once certified, students can volunteer at a minimum of 3 hours a week up to a maximum of 10 hours per week.
Coordinated by the Misericordia Organization, the city food bank is one of various programs offering assistance to the less fortunate. At the Bancarella, students serve alongside Italian volunteers to distribute canned goods and other non-perishable items to those in need in the community.
The Pubblica Assistenza of Siena is a local volunteer association, active since 1894, that aims exclusively at objectives regarding social, civil and cultural solidarity and depends on the work of its volunteers, employees, and conscientious objectors to fulfill its duties. Among its main activities are the services of medical transport by ambulance, social transport, hotline assistance, civil and environmental protection, international solidarity and recreational and sport activities. Students of the IC offer their services mainly in the administrative offices.
Il Laboratorio is fully operated by volunteers. This organization runs a center and provides daily activities and transportation for handicapped residents of all ages in Siena. Ulisse members can be involved in the daily workings of Il Laboratorio interacting with the participants and providing logistical assistance.
This organization in Siena is dedicated to helping immigrants assimilate more smoothly into life in Siena. This includes helping immigrants find employment, access healthcare, acquire language skills, as well as legal aid when necessary. Students can volunteer in the office and work directly with immigrants in need. Activities include internet research, translation, accompanying people to offices, interviews, appointments etc.
The soup kitchen is located at the Convent of San Girolamo and it provides a very important service to the city of Siena. The volunteers assist in distributing meals to Italians and immigrants in need. In the same structure there is also a center for the collection and distribution of donated clothing for the less fortunate. Student volunteers help the sisters both in the soup kitchen and at the clothing distribution center.
The Associazione per Diabetici is located at the Siena City Hospital "Le Scotte" and aims at promoting awareness of diabetes to facilitate early diagnosis and to maximize the treatments available. The association lends special attention to young diabetics and their families. It organizes conferences, courses and recreational events. Ulisse members have offered their services alongside doctors in caring for patients as well as in basic administrative duties.
This Sienese volunteer association aims to promote physical, educational-rehabilitational and social activities for the handicapped. The association founded the Centro Polifunzionale "Tosca delle Bollicine", where projects of equestrian rehabilitation, horticulture and gardening, work place training, educational activities and social initiatives and other projects aimed at improving the individual and social autonomy of the disabled. IC students have participated in the hippotherapy project, but helping to prepare children for riding, organizing activities, helping with horses (training/experience required to work directly with horses), and assisting with the maintenance and improvement of the center.
IC students can volunteer at the university hospital virology laboratories. Due to a lack of funding, many laboratories are short staffed so student volunteers help tag experiments, run test machines, sterilize equipment and generally assist the professionals.
Italy's elderly population is actually (2010) the highest in the world. Siena is no exception. The "Poggio al Vento" elderly center is home to more than 30 residents. Ulisse members can work with Italian volunteers to assist the elderly as well as organize activities and events.
Located in the medieval gardens "L'Orto De' Pecci" La Proposta operates in the field of social-therapeutic reintegration. The first steps were made with subjects who were mentally disabled, after which they also began working with people coming from local prisons or who had drug addiction problems. La Proposta manages a community garden as well as a restaurant, where Ulisse members can lend their services in both places alongside those who are working towards their reintegration into society.
There are several internship placements available for interested students. These unpaid internships allow students to observe and participate in the day-to-day activities of several local businesses, organizations and structures. Internship students will participate in weekly on-site activities, as well as complete related coursework during the semester and a final reflective paper about a relevant aspect of the internship experience.
Students will participate in the organization of the English and Spanish Language Programs offered to Italian university students and community members. This internship includes assisting in the preparation of didactic materials, hands-on instruction and evaluation of participants’ progress.
Students may participate in all functions of this working bookstore. Tasks will include anything from organizing books on shelves, conducting inventory, to working with the staff to promote a successful business environment.
The internship at a nearby cooking school fully immerses the student into a rich environment of language and culture surrounded by a concept that people of all languages can understand – great food. The student works first hand with culinary expert chef, Lella Cesari Ciampoli helping in the kitchen with food or English translations for tourists enrolled in cooking class. The internship requires routine journal note taking and a final paper about the experience. www.scuoladicucinadilella.net
Students are welcome to volunteer at the locally organized "Amici Miei" cat rescue center where animal lovers come together to provide affection for the homeless animals. Whether it is a kitten that fits in the palm of your hand, or a fully-grown adult, volunteers interact with the cats and help with the upkeep of the facility. www.micimiao.com/gatti/detail/link-73.html
The internship at this centuries old structure includes observation and hands on tasks. Interns at the Biblioteca Comunale, Siena’s public library, perform tasks such as help the librarians with shelving books and DVDs and general organization of the shelves. Students also answer patrons' basic questions and check materials in and out. Helping patrons in Italian is challenging but also very rewarding. The intern is immersed in an environment where he/she can improve language skills by interacting with library staff as well as members of the community, as well as understand how an Italian library works. www.bibliotecasiena.it
Students will work in the non-profit association office on various initiatives that promote development projects in Africa. In addition to providing basic administrative support, students also help translate promotional materials and grant proposals. The association also hosts periodic fundraising events for which students will assist in the organization. www.ilfuocodelfuturo.it
Students visit the firm 1-2 times per week and assist in office duties. In addition to helping out with short translations and daily tasks, participants also observe and interview the business owner about the specifics of the industry and about local business practices and European standards and norms.
One of two local volunteer emergency healthcare providers, this organization is particular to Italian and Sienese culture. It is this organization that coordinates ambulances and the volunteers who work in the ambulances. Our students can become certified and volunteer in emergency situations. This certification process is part of a special agreement between The Misericordia and Siena Italian Studies. Once certified, students can volunteer at a minimum of 3 hours a week to a maximum of 10. www.misericordiadisiena.it
Student interns will assist the SIS staff in daily administrative tasks as well as conducting specific research regarding initiatives of The Center, data entry, archiving and filing of documents and materials, organization of program activities.