Application phase

The program targets young leaders and students in the final stage of their studies (both Bachelor and Master). We also try to create a homogenous group in terms of age. However, applicants aged 29-30 might be considered as well.

Because it is the minimum age students might obtain their bachelor (considering the different national educational systems). Apart from their ages, applicants must be graduated.

If you have more specific questions or you couldn’t find an answer either on the website or on the call for participants, you can write to [email protected] and the International Relations staff will answer.

The call opens every year in Autumn and closes around February. Every year the call is open to candidates coming from specific countries and areas, which are detailed on the website: https://callforparticipants.rondine.org/.

Yes, if you complete your Bachelor by the beginning of the program (check the starting date either on the call for participants or on the website, timeline section). You are not eligible if you must complete more than one year of your Bachelor’s.

No. The program includes an academic part that requires at least a Bachelor’s degree. If you are doing your Bachelor, please check “Can I apply if I am doing my Bachelor?”

Yes. Even if you already have a Master, you will enroll in a Master (or equivalent course) while in Rondine, as part of the World House program.

Yes. You must complete it by the beginning of the World House program (check the starting date either on the call for participants or on the website, timeline section) or, if you have such possibility, to pause your studies and complete the Master once you finish the program in Italy.

No. It is not possible to continue studying for a Master’s degree that you were completing in your home country while being part of the Rondine program. Nor it is possible to transfer credits to an Italian University to complete said degree.

Once in Rondine, you will take part in several activities that have an impact on civil society (individuals, schools, organizations…), and that you will work to develop a project that aims to fulfill a need of your community. The civic engagement area of the Program also includes students’ participation in voluntary and community service activities proposed by Associazione Rondine.

English is not a precondition to be accepted to the World House program. However, a good level of English is desirable for a profitable participation.

No. Applicants’ level of English does not impact on the candidate evaluation.

We start from scratch. The program will begin with an online course run from July to September to learn the basics of Italian language (level A2). It goes on with a 3-month residential intensive course in Italian language and culture. After that course, Italian becomes the official language for communication and activities in Rondine for every student. Selected candidates that already know Italian must participate in the course as well.
Italian course is an integral part of the World House program. If you are only interested in the Italian course, please write to [email protected].

You should fill in the application form. Send it on time with all the documents needed and you should be available for an individual interview.

Application form, copy of passport, motivation letter, curriculum, project proposal form, recommendation letter, Notice on Personal Data Protection and copy of driving license (if available).
You should send the required documents to [email protected] or via the application section at https://callforparticipants.rondine.org/.
The selection of participants includes the following phases: application form which the candidate has to complete and send before the indicated deadline, attaching all of the required documents, pre-selection (can include online aptitude tests), individual interview, and Italian test.
The candidate will be interviewed to verify their motivation to carry out the experience of the World House. The interview explores different areas such as personal characteristics, aptitude to living in a community, management of emotions, relationship and involvement with the conflict, the socio-political situation in their area and with the “enemy”, proposed project, and future perspectives. The interview can be in-person, conducted in the candidate’s country, or online.

The Italian test is the last selection step. The selection committee sends applicants a list of topics and suggested materials to self-study Italian (A1 level). Each candidate will have around 2 months to study before the test. After the individual interviews, shortlisted candidates only will be invited for the Italian test. It may include tests on reading, speaking, listening, and grammar skills. Since we expect selected candidates to reach the A1 level individually, the online course (July-September) is A2 level.

The form serves to present the candidate’s idea on her/his personal and professional vocation. We also ask the candidate to submit a draft project having a social impact in her/his region. Those are the starting points for the project design module in the second year of the program. You can find the form attached to the call for participants in the final pages.

Where can I find it? The Notice on Personal Data Protection is a form that makes us compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679. If you do not sign it, we cannot process your personal data and, consequently, we cannot consider you as an applicant. You can find the form attached to the call for participants, in the final pages.

Yes. You can submit the copy in the following selection stage. A copy of your ID card might substitute the passport during the selection phase.

Yes. You can submit a copy of your expired passport and later send a copy of the renewed one.

Yes. You can submit the copy in the following selection stage. A transcript of records or other documents issued by the university can substitute the diploma during the selection phase.

Yes. You can submit a recommendation letter as soon as you receive it. Remind that you need at least one recommendation letter (by a university professor, or a supervisor of a non-profit organization in which you are engaged) in order to complete your application.

Yes. A driving license is not mandatory to participate in the program.

Yes. You can convert your driving license into an International Driving Permit if you are selected, before your arrival to Italy. See also “Can students drive?”, Life in Rondine section.

Once a participant is selected and formally accepts to participate in the program, the International Relations Office provides letters and other papers needed in order to apply for the visa and other required documents.
The International Relations Office may also be the connection between participants and the Italian diplomatic delegations in their country if any concern arises.
Selected students must collect information related to specific procedures required by the Italian consular section in their country. They cover costs related to visa and other documents.

Scholarship

The scholarship covers:

  • Accommodation – Participants live in Rondine, a medieval village in Tuscany. All
    students must live in the program’s facilities normally in a shared room with
    another participant
  • Meals – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered by the Rondine Locanda (Inn)
  • Master degree – tuition fee, transportation, meals, materials
  • Intensive Italian course
  • Expenses related to Rondine activities – transportation, meals, accommodation,
    materials
  • Expenses related to the curricular internship

Personal expenses such as hygiene, cosmetics, medical, travels (to and from Italy), leisure. Special projects may have different conditions regarding economic aspects.

No, the program does not provide participants with personal pocket money.
The program does not allow its participants to work throughout the program.
Yes, we offer lodging, the participants will be hosted in double bedrooms in the houses of the medieval village of Rondine.

World House program

World House is an international experience of civic engagement for conflict transformation.

Yes, the trial period lasts three months (September-December), at the end of which candidates that are deemed eligible will be officially accepted into the World House. During this period, candidates will take part in an intensive course in Italian language and culture, group building activities and in meetings with the staff to acquire the fundamentals of the Rondine Method. These three months are aimed at verifying the motivation and personal attitudes of the participant. The assessment is carried out through the observation of the staff during the activities, the progress shown in the Italian language course and individual interviews.
The first three months in Rondine are dedicated to an intense Italian language course, getting to know each other, group building activities, and acquiring the fundamentals of the Rondine Method. Normally, the program is very dynamic and depends on the group’s Master studies schedule. In general, a typical day starts at 9:00 and finishes around 18:00. Usually, students are in Rondine at the beginning of the week for training and classes. Other days are dedicated to guests or groups visiting Rondine, Master lectures and Internships. Sometimes, there might be events on weekends and evenings.
Yes. The program and most of the activities are in Italian. Italian is also important because participants will be able to have a new common language to discuss their conflicts.
The core is about the conflict transformation that also includes human rights, mediation, project writing, and management. Lessons and workshops aim at deepening personal competences and soft skills such as leadership, communication, storytelling, team building, active learning, etc.
Yes. All participants are required to participate.

Their everyday life is based on contact with other participants coming from different countries. Cohabitation is a process that over time leads to the deconstruction of the idea of the enemy and to the uncovering of a real person behind that. Participants also receive high-level training on topics related to conflict management, communication abilities, and methodologies. The third part of the program is a professional and academic specialization, which includes participation in a master course or other school of high professionalization.

The activities are of various types and include institutional visits and events, meetings with schools and associations, participation in conferences, trips, volunteering.
The idea of Rondine is to take your new knowledge back home. After having completed the program in Rondine, participants of the World House return to their countries of origin ready to act in different socio-cultural contexts. They can join Rondine International Peace Lab (R-IPL), the network of Rondine alumni. R-IPL provides support to former students in realizing development projects, targeting in peacebuilding.
During the entire program, Rondine staff periodically interviews fellows to assess their proactivity and involvement in the program, punctuality and attendance, level of Italian language, motivation, management of relationships within the World House. The students are also asked at the end of each phase (trial period, first year, second year) to produce a written self-assessment document. The objective of the interviews is to evaluate if the student’s path is coherent with the program, the Rondine mission and if general conditions to continue the program in Rondine are still present.

Academics

You can study a First Level Executive Master (Master di I livello) in universities in Tuscany and Umbria (Siena, Pisa, Perugia, and Firenze). You can search for a Master on the Universitaly portal: https://www.universitaly.it/index.php/public/cercaOffPL. Please, sort your research by:
– Tipo di Laurea: Master di Primo Livello
– Region: Toscana, Umbria
Applicants are invited to select 2 options (searching for more details directly on each Master’s website) at the application phase. Later, candidates can review their choice, which will be agreed upon with the educational staff and finalized at the signature of the Learning and Participation Agreement, to confirm acceptance to the World House program.

No. Eligible Masters must meet the following conditions:

    • offered by Universities in Tuscany and Umbria
    • one year, part-time basis (Monday-Friday Masters are not compatible with the Program) 
    • maximum fee: € 4500

Universitaly updates the list as soon as Universities renew their academic offer for the following year. Generally, Masters and their conditions do not change substantially from one year to another, therefore you can base your choice upon the current offer. If any major changes occur after your choice, so that the Master does not meet eligibility conditions anymore, you will discuss your options with the World House staff.

No. In order to obtain a visa, students must pre-enroll on the Universitaly platform (https://www.universitaly.it/index.php/). When the chosen University accepts the pre-enrollment request, Italian consular services are allowed to issue a visa, so there is no possibility to change the Master.

Students who would like to attend medical studies are not advised to apply due to the differences between regulations by the Italian Ministry of Education and other respective Ministries in their home countries.

Life in Rondine

No. Rondine offers a shared life experience for individuals and requires an exclusive commitment from all of its participants to live in the program’s village. There is no option to live outside the village and normally participants live in rooms for two.
Rondine is the name of a medieval Tuscan hamlet, 12 kilometers away from Arezzo, Italy: here, Rondine association develops its main projects for education and professional experience.
Arezzo is the closest city and it is about 20 minutes drive from the village. There is public transportation between 6:00-20:00 and in addition, the program offers two cars for the participants’ use.
We provide tickets for the buses and we have 2 cars that students who have an international license can use.

To drive in Italy, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.
It is any valid, required by law identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country or jurisdiction that recognizes IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving license issued in the holder’s country of citizenship. Selected candidates already having a driving license, shall obtain the IDP before their arrival in Rondine.

Cars are for the shared use of all students, so before using them for personal reasons you must ask both the other participants of the World House and the staff. In this case, participants will pay for fuel expenses. The use of the car for Rondine activities is although a priority.

Around 30, 15 coming each year.

Usually, two people share the same room but we also have a couple of single rooms (not available at students’ choice or request).
Rondine welcomes and tries to satisfy all dietary needs. Locanda (the Rondine Inn) offers a buffet, providing multiple choices, therefore you can choose what suits you. However, if your needs are very specific and you follow strict dietary rules, you might encounter some limits and difficulties. Locanda prepares meals for a numerous, diverse community, and it is hard to accommodate individual, peculiar requests. Rondine does its best effort to provide less common ingredients (at least in the Italian cuisine), but sometimes the organization’s suppliers do not have them available.
Only at breakfast. Rondine Inn (Locanda) provides lunch and dinner for the students and staff in Rondine.

Participants can use the common laundry room to wash their laundry.

Rondine provides an insurance card for each student.
Students come from different areas around the world for example Balkans, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and South America.
Students have around 2 weeks off at Catholic Christmas and New Year time, Catholic Easter time and around one month in summer. Each year the World House staff set holiday dates and communicate them to students in advance.

You can take 10 days off for each year, additionally to holidays.
The use of these days shall be agreed upon with the World House staff.

They can. Your family is welcome, and your relatives (mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband and children), in the maximum number of 3 at the same time, can be accommodated at the guest house in Rondine for a maximum period of one week each for each year of stay of the student. The relatives during their stay are also hosted for meals at the inn. Guests of students other than relatives as indicated above can be accommodated at the guest house in Rondine by agreeing with the Director at least 15 days in advance. Because the WH is managed by a voluntary organization and that the management of the house for guests still entails costs, for guests of students other than relatives, a contribution will be asked for accommodation and meals in the inn.

Yes. The “World House rules” include guidelines and information. The staff will introduce the document to participants in detail during the trial period. 

Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Privacy Policy Cookie Policy
© 2019 Associazione Rondine Cittadella della Pace. All rights reserved. Designed by Appare