Support a special needs family project in the countryside near Rome, Italy

Infos

• 

  Description

  We are a lively family of five, plus a grandmother who joins us during the holidays. Our three children include Alex, our 15-year-old son with autism. We spend our summers in our countryside family home in Italy, which we are lovingly restoring.
  
  Our main goal is to make this house a safe and accessible space for Alex, where he can enjoy more freedom and autonomy. Ultimately, we dream of creating a welcoming retreat for other families with children like Alex—somewhere they can relax, recharge, and take a break from the daily challenges of constant caregiving.
  
  Please note that autism significantly shapes our daily life. Alex needs ongoing attention and support, and sometimes his behavior can be unpredictable or intense due to sudden emotional or sensory overload. This is part of our everyday experience, and we are looking for someone who is understanding, adaptable, and comfortable being around neurodiversity.
  
  At the moment, the renovation is still in progress. We've completed the fencing around our 4000 m² property, which now allows us to move about freely and safely. There's still some land to clear and make safe, and we're planning to start a vegetable garden soon.
  
  Summers here are warm and joyful. In the evenings, we gather in the courtyard, enjoy long conversations, bake pizzas in the wood-fired oven, and cook traditional dishes in the outdoor kitchen. Local festivals in the nearby villages, especially around mid-August, offer a taste of Italian folklore and tradition. And for a change of scene, we’re only 40 minutes by train from central Rome—a perfect day trip for unforgettable cultural experiences.
  
  Our life is simple, sincere, and community-oriented. We’re looking for someone who would like to share this journey with us, support our project, and is genuinely interested in Italian culture — and in understanding the everyday life, beauty, and challenges of families living with disability.

• 

  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Baby-sitting et jeux créatifs

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
• 

  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Vie en van

  

  Ferme

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Jardinage

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Langues

  

  Animaux

  

  Nature

  

  Sports d'équipe

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Plage

  

  Danse

  

  Yoga / bien-être
• 

  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We are a bilingual Italian-German family and can also communicate in English. During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to improve your Italian and learn more about Italian culture, daily life, and traditions—including food, language, and family customs. If you're interested, we can also share some basic German language and culture with you.
  
  We’re equally curious to learn about your background, language, and traditions. We see this as a true cultural exchange where both sides grow, connect, and enrich each other’s experience. Whether through daily conversations, shared meals, or exploring local customs together, you’ll be part of a genuine and meaningful exchange.

• 

  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

• 

  Aide

  We are looking for someone adaptable, flexible, proactive, and not afraid to get involved. Ideally, you enjoy hands-on work, are practical with DIY and basic repair tasks, and have some experience or interest in gardening. Most importantly, you’re curious about Italian culture and open to sharing everyday family life with us.
  
  A typical day starts with morning tasks such as light maintenance, small repairs, and helping to clean and organize outdoor areas and spaces around the house. In the afternoons, we might do tasks in the garden or ask you to spend time with Alex—playing, keeping him company, or joining us on a short trip to the sea.
  
  Evenings are relaxed and sociable: we often cook and eat together, or go out to explore nearby villages and local events. You’ll be welcome to join in and enjoy the experience as part of our extended family.
  
  In return, we offer a true cultural exchange. You’ll learn about Italian language, traditions, and family life, and have the chance to cook typical Italian meals with us. We also love sharing local experiences—visits to Rome, archaeological sites, village festivals, and much more.

• 

  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Italien: Courant
  Anglais: Intermédiaire
  Espagnol: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
  
• 

  Hébergement

  We offer a private single room in our family home, providing a clean and secure space where you can rest and relax. The house is surrounded by nature, with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy fresh air and peaceful evenings.
  
  All meals are provided—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—as well as food for day trips or outings. We usually cook and eat together, and you're very welcome to join in and share your own recipes too. We value good food, simple ingredients, and the pleasure of cooking and eating as a family.

• 

  Autres infos...

  We are definitely not a usual, quiet family — we’re lively, open-minded, and sometimes a bit chaotic! With three teenagers (including Alex, who is autistic) and a grandmother in the house, there’s always something going on and it can get quite noisy.
  
  It’s important to know that autism is not just part of our family life — it shapes most of it. Alex requires full-time care, sometimes has emotional outbursts, wears diapers, and occasionally walks around naked, especially near the pool. These are normal parts of our daily routine, and anyone joining us should feel comfortable in this environment. Flexibility, patience, and sensitivity are essential qualities here.
  
  We truly value honesty, a good sense of humor, and a positive, proactive attitude.
  
  During your free time, you can relax in the garden or explore nearby villages. We’re happy to help you get to local festivals or to the train station if you’d like to visit Rome or other nearby towns — there are regular trains and the city is just 40 minutes away.
  
  We don’t have strict house rules, but we appreciate mutual respect, clear communication, and a collaborative spirit.

• 

  Informations complémentaires

  • 

    Accès Internet

  • 

    Accès Internet limité

  • 

    Nous avons des animaux

  • 

    Nous sommes fumeurs

  • 

    Familles bienvenues

• 

  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il aimait accueillir les digital nomads.

• 

  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have plenty of space and can offer a flat area with access to electricity for campers or motorhomes.

• 

  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Please note that we have several cats living with us, so unfortunately we cannot accept dogs that are not comfortable around cats. If your pet is friendly and used to being around other animals, we’re happy to discuss it.

• 

  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

Sécurité du site