Class VIII (2010-2011)

Sponsor Club: Palermo-Monreale, Italy, District 2110

Giorgio Algeri is from Palermo, Sicily where he grew up before completing his undergraduate studies in Political Sciences in 2003. Shortly after his graduation Giorgio lived, studied and worked in several countries including Canada, France, and Portugal. Nevertheless, his one-year experience as social worker with the Missionaries of Charities or Sisters of Mother Teresa in his hometown was undoubtedly one of the most enriching experiences of his life. This “gap” year, indeed, marked his entire subsequent career in development and his deep commitment to child rights and education.

After his postgraduate studies in Asian Studies at Lund University, Sweden, Giorgio engaged with Caritas as project officer in Italy where he helped coordinate overseas volunteer projects, migrant and asylum seekers assistance activities and training courses on human rights. During that time he also spent three months in South India for a monitoring mission on microcredit and education programmes. Prior to commencing his studies at UQ, Giorgio collaborated with the EU liaison office of the international NGO Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) in Brussels, Belgium and worked as project coordinator for Terre des Hommes Italy (TDH-I) in Bangladesh focusing on child protection programmes.

During his Applied Fieldwork Experience Giorgio decided to spend his time with migrant communities in Asia. As a volunteer researcher he served with one organization called Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) along the Thai/Myanmar border where he successfully conducted a Needs Assessment Study to investigate the circumstances where migrant Burmese children were forced to work. In his study he suggested some key recommendations for the implementation of vocational training opportunities for the Burmese children he interviewed and interacted with during his three-month experience in Thailand. Upon graduation from the University of Queensland, Giorgio is committed to continue working for International Non-Governmental Organizations in developing countries, and to become a specialist in Child Protection policies.

Giorgio is extremely grateful to the Rotary Peace Fellowship Programme and the precious support received by his Rotary Counsellors and Rotary friends during his time in Australia.