(Editor’s Note: I thought with the weather and state of things in our world right now, that we all might like a feel-good story like this. Read on!)
If you’ve never stayed in an Airbnb, you are missing out; there are homes and apartments and yurts all over the world waiting to be stayed in, allowing you a home base so you can travel. Or even have a staycation in. (My editor swears by them and uses them now for her family’s summer holidays.)
And if you’ve been wanting to travel or just get away, Airbnb might be able to make it possible.
“The online home rental company recently announced they would be paying four people to take a three-month sabbatical to the Italian village of Grottole in the southern region of Basilicata.
The winners will work with Airbnb, welcoming guests into their new homes as Homes and Experiences host. They’ll receive one month of training from other local experience hosts before they venture out on their own.”1
In a recent study conducted by Airbnb, 1 in 3 U.S. participants said they felt like they really needed to take a sabbatical in order to “avoid burnout” but that it wasn’t fiscally possible. Enter Airbnb.
Working with Wonder Grottole, a local group promoting urban regeneration in the village, all expenses for the four lucky travelers will be covered. Silvio Donadio, founder of Wonder Grottole, said, “Our dream is to repopulate the historical centre. In ten years we’d like to see the village full of people from different cultures perfectly integrated with the local community.”2
“’Italy is an extraordinary country with a strong and vibrant rural community, countless hilltop villages and a passionate and welcoming culture,’ Joe Gebbia, Airbnb Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, says. ‘We want to help preserve these communities so they continue for generations to come. By inspiring and supporting others to get involved and make real contributions to village life, we hope it shines a light on the beauty of rural Italy.’”
In case this sounds familiar, we shared a story with you last year around this time about the town of Sambuca, in Sicily, selling homes for less than $2 to anyone willing to fix them up.
If you are interested in the job, you have until February 17th to apply: italiansabbatical.com
Good luck!
XO~ Erin
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