Rome Students Volunteer to Preserve Their Home Away from Home

Seeking to preserve the history and beauty of the Eternal City, students enrolled at St. John’s University’s Rome, Italy, campus volunteer with Retake Roma, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping fight urban decay.

“Rome is such a beautiful city, but, between apathetic natives and masses of tourists that pour in and out, it is in need of some TLC,” said Cristina Cavalieri, Coordinator of Student Life, Rome Campus. “This is a nice way for students at St. John’s Rome campus to collaborate and join the effort to clean up and keep Rome beautiful.”

Using simple supplies like scrapers, paintbrushes, and brooms, St. John’s students, along with Retake Roma volunteers, repainted the grounds around the University’s campus, cleaned piazzas near the Via Cola di Rienzo, and washed away posters and graffiti near the Lepanto metro station. St. John’s work with Retake Roma has also been recognized and featured in Wanted in Rome, an English-language magazine for expatriates in Rome.

“Our students have been volunteering with Retake Roma since 2016,” Ms. Cavalieri said. “It is a unique opportunity for members of the St. John’s community to give back to the community that is home to both our campus and our students.”