Diaconal Year

The Diaconal Year is a voluntary service project linked with Protestant diaconal institutions mainly engaged in social work. The programme has been growing since its start in 1998 and currently hosts about 20 volunteers every year.

The Diaconal Year co-operates with the Ecumenical Diaconal Year Network (EDYN) and the Association of Voluntary Service Organisations (AVSO). Some projects are co-financed by the European Voluntary Service (EVS), a European Commission programme supporting international mobility and non-formal education for youth between 18 and 25 years.

A number of projects are currently running in the partner centres of the Diaconal Year, working with disadvantaged children and youth, elderly people, disabled people and migrants.

The volunteers are involved in the host institutions' staff groups, and are monitored by a local tutor and by the national office of the Diaconal Year, which organises three training seminars a year on such topics as intercultural dialogue, personal and spiritual development, Italian history and society, volunteer work, conflict management, communication etc.

The Diaconal Year is an opportunity to acquire professional skills and self-confidence, spend time in a sensible way, improve one's language skills, get to know people from different countries and much more...

What we offer and what we require

Hosting institutions

How to apply

Download a sample project description