Featured Blog Articles – DEV – The Umbra Institute – Study Abroad in Italy

by Umbra Rep Timothy Ringie, University of Massachusetts Amherst

When I began planning out my study abroad experience over a year ago, the thing that captivated me the most was the idea of immersing myself in a new culture to which I was unaccustomed to. The thought of being surrounded by people speaking a different language, learning their customs and ways of life was something I knew I wanted to be a part of my study abroad experience. In just my first month here at the Umbra Institute I enjoyed such an immersive experience by participating in both the grape and olive harvests at a beautiful property located right in the heart of the Umbrian countryside. Owned and managed by Eileen and Lorenzo De Monaco, their operation, called “Agri Segretum”, produces local, handcrafted, and organic wine and olive oil. Eileen and Lorenzo pride themselves on their sustainability and commitment to creating natural organic products which taste as good as they sound. Their grapes are grown, harvested, crushed, fermented, aged, and bottled on-site, and all by hand as it has been done for centuries. The olives are also grown and hand-picked on site, and then brought to an olive mill where they are ground up and pressed into oil. In addition to their wine & olive oil production operations, Eileen and Lorenzo rent out two farmhouse buildings at their villa, called “La Segreta” which are nestled amongst the olive groves, vineyards, and directly adjacent to the Cantina where they produce the wine. I was lucky enough to have personal contact with them as Eileen is from the United States and a friend of my parents. In a previous visit to Italy I had the wonderful opportunity to stay at one of their quaint farmhouses, and now I’ve been able to begin my study abroad experience by partaking in their grape and olive harvests which have experiences far more enriching than I could have ever imagined.

Grape Harvest and

On just my fifth day after arriving in Perugia, I found myself right in the midst of an incredible and unforgettable immersive experience, the grape harvest. It began bright and early at 7:00 AM with a cappuccino and a bowl of cereal – an American twist in an otherwise completely Italian landscape. After breakfast, Lorenzo drove me a quick five minutes to where the majority of their grape vines are located. It was then that I was introduced to the team, or “la Squadra” in Italian. Even though my Italian is shaky at best, they invited me with open arms. They have a small dedicated staff who are employed at the vineyard full time, all locals of course. But I was in for a surprise when I realized that the majority of the people there were their friends and acquaintances from the surrounding towns. They are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in their little town called Collazzone, who are recruited to help every harvest season. It felt like one big family and was so much fun to be a part of. I was paired with two women who helped me “learn the ropes”. I was proud of how I performed speaking Italian and enjoyed communicating with my new friends. It is amazing what is possible when thrust into a situation where you are forced to speak another language. During the grape harvest, we all walked down the rows of vines with hand pruners, individually cut each bunch of grapes from the vines and placed them in crates every ten to twenty feet. A tractor would drive through, with someone following behind, to pick up all the crates in the row. This tractor was the only mechanized part of the entire process, with everything else being done by hand. We took an espresso/lunch break around noon and just talked at a big picnic table at the edge of the vineyard. After picking for a few more hours, I went back to their cantina and helped put the grapes on a shaking table which lets any small debris fall through, while the larger material like leaves, sticks, and other undesirable material is picked out by hand. The grapes then fall into the crusher and then transferred directly into a steel vat where they will ferment for the next few weeks. The Sangiovese grapes which we picked are the staple grapes of central Italy. They will be used to make 4 different kinds of wine; 3 red and one rosé. Needless to say after this experience I was counting down the days until I could return again.

Olive Harvest

Just a few weeks after the grape harvest I was able to return to La Segreta to help with their olive harvest. All of their roughly 500 olive trees are nestled right on the property with a spectacular view of the surrounding Umbrian hills. Their olive oil production is significantly smaller than the wine production as it takes roughly 5 kilograms, or around 11 pounds, of olives just to produce 1 liter of extra-virgin olive oil. That didn’t make the work any less grueling or exhausting though as again, everything is done by hand.

We started at a similar time in the morning, around 7:30 AM, however it was noticeably colder this time as there was a heavy fog that morning. I was excited to see all the familiar faces of “la Squadra” that I had met a few weeks prior. This time there was no need for introduction and I rushed to practice some more Italian with the locals and I might add they were just as eager to practice their English!

The process for collecting the olives involves laying down large mesh tarps under an area of trees to collect the olives as they fall. A few workers were equipped with a long pole with motorized “fingers”, for lack of a better word, situated at the end which shook the branches of the tree causing the olives to fall down. The majority of us, however, used long rakes which comb over the branches, pulling off only the olives. My day consisted of traveling from area to area laying down the tarps, raking the trees clean of olives and loading them into crates to be picked up. We picked 3 classic types of Italian olives: Leccino, Moraiolo, and Frantoio; the blending of which creates the best extra-virgin olive oil I have tasted and certainly unlike anything I have ever tried. The color of which is a hazy-green and tastes as though it is filled with spices. By the time we finished working, I realized that I had learned a lot of the terminology that was used during the day, the Italian words for tarp, stake, box and rake to name a few. My evening concluded with two kinds of homemade cake that Eileen made and brought into the olive grove for all the workers. There we engaged in chit chat and watched the beautiful sunset below the Umbrian hills. I exchanged contact information with some of the workers with whom I plan to see again.

A new way of life

The experience at “La Segreta” has been really eye opening. Not just because of the specifics related to grape/olive harvests or even the Italian words, phrases and conversation that I have picked up on. But more profoundly, I have learned about and experienced a completely different way of life and culture. I’ve been exposed to a business operation where product quality – rather than profits or volume – is put at the forefront. I have taken part in a way of life where past traditions are blended with the present. And perhaps most importantly, I’ve experienced a way of life where community and family rise above all else. It truly felt like one large family out in the fields, with everyone joking and laughing, telling inside jokes after years of harvesting grapes and olives together. It was a wonderful experience, one which I will never forget.

If I could give any advice to anyone studying abroad, it would be to immerse yourself in the culture. You will learn new things. Of course, you will have the opportunity to learn the language but you will also meet new people, and discover a different way of life. Umbria was a perfect place for me to go, filled with wonderful people, great food, a storied history and more importantly not completely overrun with tourists. Studying abroad was the best decision I have ever made and I implore anyone who gets the opportunity to seize it.

Once the semester ends you will be thinking of getting back to your friends and family, settling back into your old routine, and even how to deal with reverse culture shock. But it is also very important for you to reflect and reap the benefits of your time abroad as it will continue to impact your life for years to come.

Update your resume with volunteer efforts, service-learning, etc.

1) Update your resume.
Once home, it is time to start thinking about internships and job prospects. It is well-known that study abroad impacts personal, professional, and academic development so use that to your advantage and highlight study abroad on your resume. Feature your community engagement activities and any service-learning and/or research projects you may have completed. Reflect on the goals you set and met and prepare to talk about them in an interview.

Use tools learned during our end-of-semester Unpacking Your International Experience Workshop or contact us for resume tips.

2) Ask for letters of recommendation.
If you followed our previous advice, you likely developed a relationship with Umbra faculty or staff that could be the basis for a solid letter of recommendation. If so, don’t be shy and ask away. Many Umbra alumni have used these letters to get into grad school, law school, or their dream job. Some alumni have even continued academic discussions with faculty that have lead to ongoing career advice.

Umbra alumni reunite in the US, Summer 2019

3) Keep in touch.
Umbra’s small size allows us to get to know students who study with us to the point where those students are remembered many years later. Feel free to reach out just to say hello or to update us on your life and career. Our team loves to hear from you!

We also love to receive guest blogs from our alumni. Alumni often use blog posts to provide study abroad tips, but some use them to build their Google CV (online portfolio) by offering career advice to students considering the same field. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to make such a contribution.

4) Get involved in an international community.
Students often report quickly bonding with their peers while studying abroad. This is because you all experience a similar whirlpool of events and emotions and share similar interests and ‘firsts’ (travel, adventure, culture, language, etc.). It might sound silly, but you may miss talking about how odd Italian supermarkets are or how brutal customs can be when you return home and find that some of your friends and family disengage from such discussions because they haven’t had those same experiences.

To help you readjust to life back home while continuing to reflect on your time abroad, we recommend you find an international community near you. This can also encourage you to continue to develop cultural competencies. Getting involved is easiest on a university campus (through your study abroad office, campus clubs, etc.) but many cities across the U.S. host country/culture-specific events and groups, English-language tutoring, and other international activities in which you can become involved.

5) Become an Umbra study abroad ambassador
In your experience has impacted you in such a positive way that you want to share your enthusiasm for study abroad and encourage others to do the same, then you should consider becoming a study abroad ambassador. As an Umbra alumnus you are uniquely qualified to provide valuable advice and share first-hand experiences with other students on campus. Contact our Alumni Relations Coordinator, Ashley Webb at [email protected] if you’d like to become a champion of study abroad.

View other blogs in this series:
Setting yourself up for a Successful Study Abroad Experience
How to Succeed While Studying Abroad in Italy

1) Set goals and make waves.
If you don’t do so during pre-departure, set goals for yourself during the first week or two in Perugia. Umbra recommends that you establish at least one goal related to your career readiness and one related to your personal development, or how you relate to yourself and those around you.

Then, don’t just float, make waves! Seek experiences that might disrupt your “normal” – travel to a country you never thought you’d visit, go hiking, sit in the front of the classroom, try new foods and habits. Find ways to meet and exceed your goals and expectations and don’t hesitate to reach out to Student Services Staff if you need safe and rewarding ideas!

2) Engage with Umbra staff and professors.
Umbra is a relatively small institution, so it is easy to interact daily with Umbra’s staff and professors.

Interested in Opera, local traditions or the Italian feminist movement? Talk to Dr. Valoroso.
Have you ever wondered how sunscreen impacts the environment? Speak with Dr. Porter.
Want to know the origin of the word ciao? Check with Francesco, or Marta.
Want to know some of the best hikes near Assisi? Chat with Laura in Student Services.
Considering a career in the food industry? Speak with Dr. Ascione

The list can go on and on but what you need to know is that: everyone on our team wants to see you reach your goals and come to love Perugia as much as we do!

3) Plan travel around studying, not the reverse.
Study abroad is not a vacation; it is an academic and personal growth experience. While we want you to travel to flex your independence and problem-solving skills, explore history and experience culture; it is important for you to still attend and engage with your classes. Each class is taught within the context of Italy and learning from it will enhance your experience exploring the rest of the country.

4) Don’t fear culture shock or homesickness.
At one point or another, all of us miss home and the familiar comforts of our own culture. While this can make us feel distracted, sad, or even sick, it is a completely normal and in many ways a necessary part of the growth experience. These feelings can last an afternoon, or they can last a week or more at a time; everyone goes through it differently. Umbra hosts an on-site study abroad coach and counselor specifically for this reason. Our advice is to chat with her anytime you feel that way, so those feelings can work to your advantage during your time abroad.

View other blogs in this series:
Setting yourself up for a Successful Study Abroad Experience
Returning Home: Demonstrating your Successes

Planning for study abroad isn’t always easy, but there are things you can do to help make the process a stress-free experience. Below are a few tips we have for ensuring you are properly prepared prior to your departure.

1) Start speaking with your advisors right away.
They are familiar both with the study abroad experience and with the process students from your school need to follow to ensure course transfer, etc. If you don’t know who your advisor is, contact the Umbra Institute and we will be happy to introduce you to them to get the process started.

2) Review your course options early.
Your degree is likely to have specific course requirements which often cannot be completed off-campus. It is important to plan study abroad into your degree plan by reviewing course options with your advisor to ensure that time abroad doesn’t set you behind.

3) Plan Your Course Transfer in Advance.
Make sure to get a number of alternate courses pre-approved because you may want or need to adjust your curriculum once abroad. Know the approval and transfer process before going abroad to avoid stressful, last-minute email exchanges with your advisor or university’s Registrar.

4) Get your study visa early.
If you plan ahead, the visa process can actually be easy. The trick is to schedule your visa appointment as soon as you can (for a date within 90 days of your departure and once you apply to the program). You can always cancel your visa appointment if you ultimately don’t go to Italy but trying to schedule your appointment when your departure is only 2-3 months away can sometimes be stressful. That said, your Umbra advisor and your advisor at your home institution will help you as much as they can so you will be well-supported throughout the visa process.

Our next blogs will highlight succeeding while abroad and what to do once you return home.

By Olivia Venuta, University of Denver and Umbra Rep Fall ’19

Being a full-time student can be time-consuming and most school days, I don’t have time to walk home and make lunch. Lucky for me, Umbra is surrounded by delicious cafes and restaurants for a quick meal in-between classes. Here are five of my favorite lunch spots— tasty and affordable:

1. Caffè del Banco – Caffè del Banco is located on Corso Pietro Vannucci, less than a two-minute walk from Umbra. It is a great place to stop for a coffee, a pastry, or a panini. Most paninis cost less than 3 euros and are pre-made so you can easily grab one and head back to class. The staff is always kind and they take your order very quickly.

2. Shawarma Gerusalemme – Shawarma Gerusalemme is located a bit farther from Umbra, toward the bottom of Via dei Priori. The food is delicious and fresh, so I assure you that it is worth the walk. Some of their lunch options include Kebab Panino, Panino Hamburgher, Falafel e Humus, Patatine, and even Hot Dogs. The first time you eat here, I would recommend that you ask for a “punch card”. If you bring the punch card each time you eat at Shawarma Gerusalemme, your 11th meal will be free—great for students on a budget!

3. Bar Danti – Bar Danti is located in Piazza Danti less than a 3 minute walk from Umbra. They have outdoor seating when the weather is nice and the staff is some of the nicest people I have met while abroad. If you get to know the owners they will treat you like family. Bar Danti has a large array of options including salads, pizza, torta al testo, and smoothies. It is a great place to sit and have a quick lunch with friends.

4. Pinturicchio Cafe+Kitchen – Pinturicchio is one of the only American-style cafes in Perugia, offering scrambled eggs, pancakes, cupcakes, barbecue, and much more. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable with many couches and chairs to lounge on. It is about a 10 minute walk from Umbra, but it is the perfect place to go if you want to sit, do homework, and sip a warm cup of coffee.

Read also Taylor Feehan’s breakfast blog and Kate Donati’s walking tour of Perugia’s best cafés!

by Kathryn Donati, College of William and Mary and Spring ’19 Umbra Rep

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a study abroad program, things like location, program cost, dates, and classes. Fitness usually tends to fall at the bottom of that list even though studies have shown that working out consistently boosts mental health, stress levels, and can actually help you feel less homesick if you do activities you normally do at home. So, now you’re in Perugia — how do you workout? Here are your options!

Workout at home! // This might seem like the most obvious option, but it can be hard to muster up the motivation to workout on your own in a casual location, like your living room. This is where the internet can help. YouTube videos, Pinterest graphics, and thousands of blogs all thrive on at-home, equipment free, step-by-step videos. Now is also the perfect time to try new things you may be too timid to try in the gym. So move that couch back, lace up your sneakers, and try that new workout routine!

Final Thoughts: Free & no equipment needed (or available)

Get outside! // The opposite of working out indoors? Go outside! Perugia’s hills make running in the streets taxing on your knees not to mention your cardiovascular system so you can head to the outdoor running track. Free of charge and open all day, the track is the best place to get your cardio kick in. If running isn’t your thing, the local indoor swimming pool offers a discount for students. Take your yoga mat (if you’re obsessed like me and brought it all the way to Perugia) or your favorite picnic blanket, find a patch of green in one of Perugia’s beautiful parks, and flow! Also, the Saturdays you spend exploring your new home definitely count as exercise.

Final Thoughts: Maximum 5 euros, still no equipment, fresh air

Join a gym! // Perugia has a rather limited selection of gyms, according to an American anyway, but if you crave the structure, the treadmill, the free weights, and the sweat smell you have a few options. They come at a variety of price points, and most are a Minimetrò ride away — 1.50 euros one way/12 euros for a 10-pass. Make sure the money you’ll spend on a membership is within your budget and always re-rack your weights when you’re done.

Final Thoughts: The most ‘official’ way to stay in shape, more expensive than other options, equipment and classes.

Workout with friends! // A great way to bond with others on the program, you can go for a hike, go exploring together, or attempt (and fail, the way Ruby and I did here) a pairs workout! Your shyness will fade as soon as you start laughing and at the very least, you’ll get an ab workout.

Final Thoughts: Best bang for your buck, usually free (maybe the cost of a post-workout Mr. Chips run), and creates the best memories

Rely on nature! // When all else fails, you can always rely on Perugia’s never-ending hills to help you work up to those late-night pastas. It’s easy to turn your morning walk to school into a mini-workout and if you’re feeling fancy, feel free to throw some lunges into your hike. With the weight of your backpack, you’ll be ready for your mid-morning gelato in no time.

Final Thoughts: Free, you’re going to do it anyway, and no, it never gets easier

“I don’t want to go to the gym — I’m in Italy!” One of the hardest things about maintaining fitness abroad is the simple fact that you’re abroad. There’s an expiration date on your time here and it can make you feel as if every moment not spent exploring, traveling, or doing something quintessentially “Italian” is a moment wasted. Fight that feeling! Putting yourself first at least once a day is necessary to staying sane, especially in such a new environment. Fit in your fitness, or however self-care looks to you, in the blank moments of your schedule that don’t detract from your exploring time. That block between your morning and afternoon class? Take your sun salutations outside and enjoy the stunning views of Perugia as you also take time to recharge. They don’t have to exist separately here.

Overall piece of advice: Make time for yourself.

Perugia is abuzz with new students! Umbra’s Fall 2014 group arrived on Friday afternoon to sunny skies and warm temperatures – the perfect weather for exploring their new home.

Umbra’s comprehensive orientation consisted of the following:

Day 1 – Airport Pick up – registration – welcome dinner at hotel

On Friday afternoon after being met by Umbra staff in Rome, students took private buses to Perugia. Students received orientation packets that included helpful handouts covering topics from culture shock to Italian customs. After a filling meal and a good night’s sleep, the students woke up on Saturday morning ready to move into their new apartments in the city’s medieval center.

Day 2 – Open house – phone rental – city walking tour – language placement

On Saturday afternoon, Umbra students’ schedules included Italian placement exams, an open house, and the opportunity to rent cell phones for the semester. Throughout the weekend, students embarked on guided walking tours of the city for practical necessities such as the post office and grocery stores. And what is Italy without pizza? Students experienced their first of several free pizza nights courtesy of Umbra. Outdoor dining, a light breeze, and the setting sun made for a lovely (and delicious) evening.

Day 3 – Main orientation – police officer safety speech – community engagement info session

To end orientation on a high note, students spent Sunday afternoon listening to a spirited talk by an Italian police officer who provided practical tips for a safe and positive experience in Perugia. A community engagement info session followed, and students listened to descriptions of the many service-learning opportunities at Umbra that range from academic internships to volunteering for UNICEF.

Day 4 – Survival Italian week begins

Yesterday marked the start of Intensive Italian week, which features a mixture of classroom instruction and practical lessons including ordering food and a trip to the grocery store. Students will surely use their new skills on a daily basis while in Perugia! What’s up next? A travel workshop next Monday night, and the very first Tandem exchange of the semester. Stay tuned for more!

Benvenuti a Perugia!

Siena's Piazza del Campo, site of Il Palio. — Piazza del Campo, site of *Il Palio*.

While studying abroad, Umbra students have a multitude of opportunities to learn first-hand about the customs and traditions of Italy. To add historical context to some of these experiences, students enrolled in Umbra course SOIT 360: Contemporary Italy, Culture, Society, and Trends gain deeper insight into Italian culture by exploring events, trends and social phenomena.

Siena’s Palio is one such tradition studied in class. Il Palio, medieval in origins, is a bareback horse race that takes place twice yearly in Siena’s central piazza, Piazza del Campo. Participating riders represent 10 of Siena’s 17 contrade, or neighborhoods, each jockey wearing the colors of their contrada. While this event occurs only on July 2^nd and August 16^th, preparations last all year, and include discussion of strategies, commitments by jockeys, and the commissioning of the silk banner that will go to the winning contrada. It must follow specific iconography: a Madonna, the insignia of the city, and the colors or symbols of the participating contrade. During the week leading up to the event a lottery is held to determine the horse that will run for each contrada, preparations are made in the Piazza del Campo – including an addition of a layer of dirt to form the race track – and blessing of the horses and jockeys are held. After months of preparations and pageantry, the Palio begins- three laps around the piazza, typically lasting under 90 seconds.

While Contemporary Italy students won’t have an opportunity to witness the Palio during their semester with Umbra, they did have the chance to visit Siena earlier this month and see where it all takes place, including a rare, private tour of one of Siena’s historic contrade, L’Aquila, or the Eagle. Established in the Middle Ages to supply military troops to the city, the contrade have become the embodiments of local patriotism and civic pride. Each contains their own baptismal font, museum, and fountain, and additionally has allies and adversaries amongst the other contrade.

Visiting the Aquila museum, students were surrounded by yellow, trimmed with blue and black (the contrada colors) and representations of a double-headed black eagle holding a sword, orb and scepter. These displays of local pride included the silk banners that the Aquila contrada won through their 24 official victories, the oldest of which dates to 1719 and is also the oldest surviving banner of Siena. After walking its cobbled streets and speaking to local Sienese, Umbra’s students left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the impact that the contrade and Palio have on the daily lives and traditions of Siena.

Students visit the contrada museum of L'Aquila. — Students visit the *contrada* museum of *L’Aquila*.

Umbra’s BSIM 390: International Marketing provides students with an overview of theoretical and current business practices of international marketers, combined with a service learning component that allows for real world experience through a partnership with a local Umbrian company.

This year’s partner, Pashmere, is a 3^rd generation, Umbrian, traditional Italian family-run, cashmere clothing company located in Ponte San Giovanni. Previously creating private label collections for designers such as Donna Karen, Prada, Fendi, and Versace; Pashmere shifted their focus in 1999 to designing for their own collection. Following the traditions of artisanal knitwear, their pieces are designed in-house, working with emerging designers. Their goal is to continue building their business in various markets abroad, while continuing to deliver a high-quality, luxury product.

To assist Pashmere in obtaining this goal, students researched current and potential exportation markets in targeted countries selected by the company: China, Japan, Germany, Russia, and Brazil. Based on managerial interviews, on-site observations, a SWOT analysis, and review of Pashmere’s business operations and materials, groups presented their findings and recommendations to Pashmere representatives this past Thursday.

“Working with Pashmere gave our class an amazing opportunity to apply what we’ve learned in the classroom regarding key target markets, consumer research, and marketing strategies,” commented Babson College student, Kirti Nahar. “My concentration is Marketing and Global Business Management, so working with Pashmere was the perfect project to practice my skills and give me a glimpse of my future career path.

“This class and involvement in this project has made me realize the importance of conducting research on cultural differences before entering a new market,” added Brandeis University student Sathvika Reddy. “I have gained a new way of thinking and analyzing – using a combination of creativity and analysis to come up with innovative ideas.”

The Umbra Institute is committed to creating innovative international education opportunities for students, allowing for immersion into the local community. Service learning at Umbra links critical thinking and academic coursework with personal reflection and collaboration with the local community. Participation allows students to become active participants in their learning, both in and outside of the classroom.

International Marketing students with Pashmere company representatives during an onsite visit earlier in the semester.

For the lives of many children, a doll can be a childhood friend or companion. The Progetto Pigotta or Rag Doll Project takes the importance of dolls one step further by giving them a role in saving the lives of children. Started in Lombardy, Italy in 1988 by Boston native and UNICEF volunteer Jo Garceau, Progetto Pigotta works to provide vaccinations and other medical basics to children and mothers in need throughout the world.

Viola draws the face on her Pigotta doll during a weekly UNICEF workshop.

Since 2008, the Umbra Institute has been partnering with UNICEF and Maria Luisa Blasi, Coordinator of the Pigotta Project in Perugia. Through weekly workshops, Umbra students have the opportunity to work alongside Università degli Studi di Perugia and UNICEF volunteers creating these important lifesaving dolls, as they share their cultures and lives with one another.

This semester, 20 Umbra students joined these volunteer efforts. After an initial briefing about UNICEF, its mission, and the Pigotta project, students eagerly began creating their own dolls during the first workshop in October. Over the past six weeks, these volunteers have slowly pieced their dolls together; stuffing cotton, stitching seams and hair, sketching facial details, and adding the finishing touches of clothing and accessories. Final results varied from girls with braids and black hair with purple highlights, to boys with green suspenders and fire-red locks.

The completed Pigotta dolls will be on display and up for adoption just in time for the holidays at various Christmas markets throughout Perugia.

Next Wednesday, UNICEF and Umbra volunteers alike will gather to celebrate the end of a successful semester and new Pigotta dolls going to save children and their mothers. Joining them will be journalists from local newspaper, Corriere dell’Umbria, and a TV station. They will be interviewing students about their experience with UNICEF and the Pigotta Project, further assisting UNICEF spread the word about the positive work they are doing within both the local and global community.

UNICEF and Umbra volunteers with Pigotta Proejct coordinator, Maria Luisa Blasi — UNICEF and Umbra volunteers with Pigotta Project coordinator, Maria Luisa Blasi