Family volunteering in Europe

Get involved as a family in our volunteer programmes in Europe.

These projects provide a schedule, missions, and specific supervision to ensure you have a meaningful and safe trip.

The programmes are available for children from 8 years old. For marine conservation projects, they are open from 14 years old.

You can travel to different countries such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Greece.

Take part in marine conservation

Destinations: Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Greece

Do you want to support marine conservation efforts? In this programme, whichever country you choose, you will gain valuable experience in scuba diving and environmental conservation. You will better understand the challenges facing marine ecosystems.

As a family, you will be involved in the following missions:

• Cleaning the seabed: dive together to collect waste from the ocean floor.
• Learning about marine ecosystems: discover ways to protect these vital habitats.
• Observing marine wildlife: watch and identify marine species.
• Data collection: work together to gather data on fish populations.
• Recording collected waste: keep detailed records of the items and waste gathered, contributing to crucial conservation data.
• Marine wildlife rescue: carefully remove marine organisms from collected debris and return them safely to the sea.

To participate in conservation activities, all family members must complete dive training or already be experienced divers.

The first week of the programme is dedicated to obtaining your diving certificates. You will learn useful skills to safely remove waste from the ocean and help protect marine life.

You must provide a medical certificate authorizing you to practice scuba diving to join the programme.

Work with animals

Destinations: Portugal and Croatia

In this type of animal programme, you will contribute to the protection and well-being of animals: horses in Croatia and dogs and cats in Portugal.

The horse project is ideal for families wishing to immerse themselves in the rich equestrian culture and traditions of Sinj, a charming Croatian town.

You will also be in contact with children affected by severe autism and cerebral palsy. This is an opportunity to connect, support local communities, and help children.

As part of this project in Croatia, your tasks will include:

• Participating in equine therapy sessions.
• Cleaning stables and maintaining boxes to ensure a clean and healthy environment for the horses.
• Feeding, grooming, and cleaning the horses daily.
• Exercising the horses: ensuring they get daily exercise by walking or riding them.
• Helping to equip and saddle the horses for equestrian activities.

You can also choose to join the animal programme in Portugal.

You will work in a shelter for abandoned dogs and cats in Lisbon. These shelters provide a safe and caring environment and aim to find loving families for the animals.

All shelter animals are fully vaccinated, ensuring family safety.

Within the shelter, your role will be to:

• Feed the dogs and cats.
• Play and interact with them.
• Clean cages and kennels.
• Ensure general maintenance of the spaces.
• Support adoption events.
• Contribute to communication campaigns for the shelters and raise awareness about pet abandonment.

Support local communities

Destinations: Portugal and Italy

Finally, in these programmes, your family will support local initiatives and connect with local stakeholders.

The programme in Portugal fights hunger and food waste. You will work alongside local volunteers to collect surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, and other establishments, and redistribute it to people in need across Lisbon.

Your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

• Collecting food from restaurants, cafés, hospitals, and supermarkets.
• Preparing and packaging meals.
• Helping with storage and organization of food donations.
• Cleaning and organizing containers and workspaces.
• Distributing meals to beneficiaries.

In Rome, in this sustainable agriculture project, you will work alongside local NGOs to maintain gardens, nurseries, and craft workshops.

Your family will meet a wide variety of people, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and people with mental or physical disabilities. You will also have the opportunity to interact with children and elderly people, creating a rich and exciting multicultural experience.

Your family will be entrusted with the following tasks:

• Gardening: planting, weeding, watering, and maintaining a garden with typical Mediterranean plants.
• Cultivation and harvesting: learning about the growing and harvesting process.
• Craft workshops: creating various objects from recycled or reusable materials.
• Urban beekeeping: discovering beekeeping and honey production.
• Feeding and caring for farm animals.
• Event support: helping the organization during its events and assisting with the sale of handicrafts or food products.
• Children’s workshops: running creative activities for children, contributing to their learning.