Ireland, Cork
Animal rescue project in Ireland
Care for dogs, cats, horses and other rescued animals at a shelter in Kerry, Cork or Tipperary, Ireland, and help with community projects on the other days.
- Where
- Cork, Ireland
- Length
- From 3 to 12 weeks
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- Language
- English basic
- Departures
- All year round, any date you like
from €1,885 for 3 weeks
Check availabilityTalk to the teamNo commitment. Anaëlle, Amélie or Maëlia will reply.
The project
In this shelter programme for abandoned animals, you will have the opportunity to care for animals and participate in various tasks to assist local teams. The shelters take in sick and orphaned animals that you will help look after. Animal lovers who are hardworking and ready to get their hands dirty are more than welcome!
Volunteers can be assigned to one of the shelters located in different regions of Ireland, such as Kerry, Cork, or Tipperary.
This shelter programme can be combined with the community development programme. The project requires a good level of energy, and the work environment is generally noisy due to the many dogs in the shelter. To ensure a better experience for everyone, this project welcomes volunteers three days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). On the other two days of the week, volunteers assist with less demanding projects, including community development initiatives.
A project we follow
Projects chosen with care and followed through regular visits on site.
Your role
Volunteer work includes the following activities:
- Feeding the animals
- Cleaning animal cages/enclosures
- Helping with general shelter maintenance (tidying, painting, fencing, etc.)
- Participating in additional programme activities (city cleaning, sports centers, charity shops, etc.)
No specific skills are required to take part in these programmes. Each day, 2 to 3 permanent staff members are on site, supported by several volunteers who dedicate their time to helping out throughout the week.
The shelter mainly cares for abandoned dogs but also hosts cats, horses, pigs, sheep and goats.
Accommodation and meals
You will stay with a host family for full immersion in Irish culture. Host family accommodation is limited to 16 weeks. For participants wishing to extend their stay, a combination of two programmes is possible. In this case, you will be accommodated in a residence with other volunteers.
Most host families offer participants their own single room. However, in some cases, participants may have to share their room with another volunteer of the same gender.
Many families live within walking distance of the projects, while others are located a little further away. In this case, volunteers may be driven by the host family, use a bike or take public transport.
Meals
All meals are included with your host family, except when you travel during your free time.
Arrival and transfers
You will spend your first night in Cork at a hostel. Located in the city center, it is just a few minutes’ walk from shops and key landmarks.
After check-in, you will have free time to rest and explore the surroundings.
On the morning of the second day, participants meet the local team at the hostel reception for a 3 to 4 hour orientation session covering various aspects of the programme, followed by a city tour.
At the end of the second day, participants are taken to the bus or train station to travel to their project location.
Community Development Programme
This programme is designed for flexible participants who want to experience more than one type of project. You will be assigned tasks based on your profile and current needs.
Your tasks will vary depending on the project. Here’s an overview:
- Charity shop: assist with customer service, ensure products are well displayed, sort donations, etc.
- Community sports center: help with building and facility maintenance, assist in organizing events.
- Community transport service: assist with general administration, schedule planning, database management, etc.
- Community cleaning: take part in local cleaning initiatives with a community group to improve the environment and make it a better place to live.
Please contact us for more details on how to combine different programmes.
English Classes
You can take English courses before the start of the programme to improve your level and then join the programme with confidence. Contact us to learn more.
Budget
How long are you going for?
This programme is available all year round. Arrival on Monday at Cork. For durations longer than 12 weeks, please contact us.
What is included
- Reception and transfer from the airport to the accommodation (1 night in Cork)
- Mandatory orientation day in Cork with a city tour and welcome dinner
- Training and supervision
- Homestay accommodation
- All meals provided
- 24/7 on-site assistance
- European Youth Card included to receive discounts all across Europe
Not included
- Flight tickets
- Return transfer to the airport
Where your money goes
Donations are reinvested in full and directly into the local associations. How the costs break down
See the budget week by week
| Length | Total programme budget |
|---|
Getting ready to leave
Your application
An up-to-date CV and a cover letter describing your background and what brings you here.
Insurance
For any project abroad, Freepackers requires travel insurance covering accidents, illness, repatriation and third-party liability. With Chapka Cap Student, you get 5% off.
Online language lessons
With Clic Campus: video lessons and an e-learning platform, from home.
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