Students Give Back: Service Learning in Florence
Accent values community engagement for all education abroad programs and is always looking into new opportunities for students to get involved in the life of the host city.
With these goals in mind, Accent started a collaboration with the city of Florence and the Pietro Thouar public library. The library is in the Oltrarno neighborhood and plays a pivotal role in the life of the local community. The main collaboration project is called “Impariano l’Inglese” (Let’s Learn English) and aims at helping Florentine kids from ages six to ten to get better acquainted with the English language.
Participants involved in the project can contribute in various ways, from planning and teaching classes to developing learning activities, supporting local staff, and helping with the organization of events. For students, this is a great way to develop intercultural competences, experience Italian culture first-hand, and be more involved with local communities.
This project is only one of several volunteering opportunities for international students in Florence. In previous years, Accent has partnered with local NGOs and associations working in various fields. One such collaboration is with Oxfam Italia, which combats socioeconomic inequalities and social exclusion across Italy. Students provided support to their resident staff regarding communication, social media, and other activities, including organizing a fundraising event.
Students also aided the study and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Florence. In collaboration with the Medici Archive Project, volunteers helped catalogue and digitize historical documents pertaining to the history of the Medici family.
Through these and other initiatives, Accent helps students give back to the host community, while also developing new and deeper connections with the local culture and people.
All programs with Accent can be fully customized to include service learning or internship opportunities. To start a conversation about a program, contact us at development@accentglobal.com