ECCo offers students the opportunity to engage with the local community through a volunteer program at three elementary schools: Scuola Primaria Zamboni, Scuola Primaria Don Bosco, and Scuola Primaria Mattiuzzi-Casali. Participants work alongside English teachers to prepare and lead laboratory-style classes for children ages 5 to 10. This is a volunteer opportunity, not a formal internship, and does not carry academic credit.
The program provides a meaningful way to give back to the host city while gaining an insider’s perspective on the Italian school system and strengthening communication and teaching skills in a real-world setting. The minimum commitment is five class sessions, though students may continue through the end of the semester if they wish.
Students who complete the minimum requirement will receive an official letter signed by the school’s director certifying their participation. ECCo will assist with classroom placement and provide ongoing support to ensure a rewarding experience for all involved.
Here are a few testimonials from recent ECCo students who participated in this program:
I really enjoyed my volunteer experience at the Don Bosco Primary School. I helped teach a fourth-grade class, so the students already had some experience with English and were happy to participate in the activities I planned. The teacher was helpful and the kids were super friendly and were very excited to meet someone from America! (M.R., Wellesley College, ECCo Fall 2025)
While studying abroad in Bologna, I volunteered at a local elementary school with second-grade students. I would go once a week for an hour and teach a lesson in English I had prepared. Working with the kids was incredibly rewarding, and it made me feel truly connected to the local community. It was a special experience that I’ll always look back on fondly. (A.G., Wesleyan University, ECCo Fall 2025)
The kids I got to teach were always happy to see and learn from me! It was a very fulfilling experience that mixes seeing a different side of Bologna, interacting with a well organized school, and learning how to be a teacher, all in an environment that tests your bi-lingual abilities. (H.M., Vassar College, ECCo Spring 2025)
The volunteer program at ECCO is a great way to engage not only with the education system in Italy but also with children of varying ages. It was an amazing experience to talk with kids in their first year of elementary school (~5-6) and to share my own experience with them from the United States. I would absolutely recommend it to every person in the ECCo Bologna program, and it’s a great way to speak more Italian in different contexts. (Z. W., Bucknell University, ECCo Spring 2025)
Volunteering as a student-teacher for elementary students was one of the highlights of my time abroad! The experience allowed me to connect more directly with the community in Bologna while also further developing my cultural and Italian language immersion skills. (E.D., Vassar College, ECCo Spring 2024)
