Making a Difference: Ostuni, Italy

Dates: April 18 - 26, 2008

Description: Join us for our Tufts University travel-learn-serve 2008 program with Global Volunteers. The response from our 2007 participants was so enthusiastic, we had to repeat this program!

Imagine an incredible opportunity to serve alongside gracious and friendly local people. A Tufts team of individuals and families will work in a school setting in Ostuni, Italy. In helping students and school personnel, our team will have daily interaction with locals while being immersed in small-town life. Our team will benefit as much from the hospitality and beauty of the Puglia region as its inhabitants will benefit from our instruction in English and familiarity with American culture. The work we’ll do is especially relevant as the economy in Southern Italy is struggling, and many leave the region or Italy altogether to secure jobs. Tourism is an important revenue source for Puglia, but one obstacle faced is the need for English skills in order to increase tourism. Our Tufts team will provide students an unmatched educational advantage, and will challenge their stereotypes about Americans and other English-speaking volunteers. Likewise, our participants will return with a unique insider’s perspective of this captivating region and people -- a real living experience in Italy. We welcome children 8 years and older to join our team.

In addition, free time may be used to explore the local culture, including trips to museums or visits to archeological ruins and historical sites. Post-trip excursions are also a possibility. This program has very limited space. We urge you to register now to ensure your place!

Cost: Approximately $1820* per person (based on double occupancy). Register by January 15, 2008 for Early Booking Discount.
* add $120 to cost per person for registration after January 15, 2008. Registration closes February 16, 2008.

Please complete and return your registration form (for an adult or minor) by the above dates. (The form is in PDF format and will open in a new window using Adobe Acrobat. Download Acrobat Reader for free if you don't already have it.)

Cost includes:
- Accommodations and all meals
- Airport/Hotel transfer in Ostuni
- Tufts Faculty Host and local site director
- Tufts travel assistance insurance. For more information on specific coverage, visit the International SOS website. Enter membership number 11BCPS000093 on the left hand side of homepage.

Contact: For more information, contact Usha Sellers, Program Director, in the Office of Alumni Relations at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 1-800-THE-ALUM (1-800-843-2586) or 617-627-5323.

About Global Volunteers:
Global Volunteers, a non-governmental and non-religious organization, is a 501C3 tax-exempt organization, and thus most volunteers take advantage of the tax deduction offered by the IRS. All related expenses are tax deductible including airfare. Note: the IRS frowns on a "significant amount of pleasure." This said, those opting for post excursions can likely claim the entire land package fee as a deduction but would need to proportion out the airfare expenses to the number of volunteering days and number of pleasure travel days. Please confer with your tax adviser.

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