Migrants and Refugees Integration Support

International Napoli Network (INN) is a cooperative that partners with local public schools and NGOs to provides resources that support health and welfare, environmental conservation, education. Volunteers and interns are placed with partner NGOs and we support you and our partners during your placement.

INN supports NGOs who work in the fields of migrants integration.

The Volunteer's Role
Organisations that work specifically with migrants and refugees in Naples, generally have limited resources and rely heavily on local and international volunteer support to run their various initiatives. These organisations require volunteer support in a wide variety of activities such as administration, management skills and community workshops, supporting migrants with their daily activities and needs, cleaning, food distribution, event organisation, research, communication and outreach. Daily volunteer tasks vary as required by the organisation in which volunteers are placed and according to their current initiatives. Volunteers with relevant experience can be given the opportunity to participate in counselling and legal support for migrants seeking humanitarian asylum.

Refugees and Migrants in Italy 
In the past few years an increasing number of refugees have arrived on the Italian shores escaping war and persecution. Many others have lost their lives in their attempt to reach Europe with the hope of finding safety and protection. Few can fully understand the reasons that drive these people to leave their home countries, or the difficulties they face and violence they suffer along their journey. The lack of knowledge and understanding leads to distorted views of this phenomenon which over time risks fuelling discriminatory attitudes toward asylum seekers and refugees. The organisations that are responsible for the integration of refugees and migrants in the territory also commit to raising awareness among local populations, in order to manage and prevent conflict and to create the best possible conditions to facilitate the integration process. 

Possible Tasks
The region of Campania, which includes the area of Naples, has a large number of immigration reception centres and is the third city in Italy for the number of asylum seekers and immigrants that it accommodates. 

• Food, accommodation, medical and psychological assistance
  
• Italian language lessons
  
• Legal and bureaucratic assistance, specifically in regards to applying for asylum
  
• Support in job seeking
  
• Support in obtaining a compulsory school diploma (as required by the Italian law)
  
• Training courses and workshops
  
• Sports and recreational activities (academic support, socialising games)
  
• English language lessons
  
• Management of common spaces: cleaning, serving food
  
• Workshops for different kind of competences (computer programmes, musical instruments, arts, languages, sports, crafts, health, CV writing) and to promote self-employment and micro-enterprise
  
• Intercultural exchange, gathering information and support in verbalising stories and information in regards to their migration, that can be used for their asylum application and for finding work. 
  

After the initial orientation, you will have a morning, afternoon or evening shift at your placement and will work for approximately 4 to 6 hours per day. Please note that the start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating in - some placements run in the afternoon and volunteers on these placements will have free the morning. You may therefore plan daily activities which could include sightseeing, shopping or taking Italian language courses. 

Example of a typical day (Monday to Friday; weekends are usually free)

10:00 AM  Starting office hours at selected placement 

1:00 PM  Lunch break (Lunch may be offered at selected locations)

1:30 - 4:00 PM  Regular office hours

After 4:00 PM  Leisure time

Volunteers have the weekends free. 

Italy is universally recognised for its history, art, culture, cuisine and natural beauty, so there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do while in Naples or further afield in Italy! Naples has many UNESCO World Heritage sites and volunteers can fill their free time visiting the many historical sites and attractions, tasting the amazing cuisine, sipping espresso in the many café bars or simply exploring parts of Naples by wandering through the beautiful alleys. 

Rome, home to the Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel, is just an hour from Naples by train, and the ancient ruins of Pompeii or the gorgeous island of Capri are also just 45 minutes away. 

Nature lovers can hike the nearby Mt. Vesuvius and visit the beautiful Almalfi 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! Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Naples, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.