Volunteer Abroad Greece: Animal Welfare

In order to join our animal welfare project in Greece, you need to be at least 18 years old, have solid communication skills in English and be passionate about cats. Moreover, participants should be moderately fit in order to be able to perform the daily tasks without any difficulty. As part of the application process we will therefore ask you to hand in a medical questionnaire, signed by your doctor, confirming that you are healthy and fit. Furthermore, obtaining travel health insurance is obligatory before your departure to Greece.
Last but not least, you need to be passionate about animals, willing to learn and work, be a team player, open-minded and flexible. To make sure you are provided with accurate and current information on visa and entry regulations for Greece, please contact the foreign department of your country.

The team at Natucate will arrange your placement in the project and will provide you with comprehensive support during your travel preparations. We are happy to answer all your questions, advise you on the choice of travel insurance and help you book your flights. Furthermore, we provide you with pre-departure information material and will be available 24/7 during your time in the project.

On site, the programme fee includes airport transfer to the project base and back, accommodation during the project and groceries to cover breakfast and lunch. On site there is also a laundry room, free wifi and bicycles that can be used during off-time.
The programme fee does not include flights, visa fees, travel insurance costs, dinner, additional drinks and snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. souvenirs, calling card, individual trips/transfers etc.).

Depending on where you come from, you do not need to take care of any special vaccinations in advance. In general, however, it is advisable to get the following vaccinations before travelling to another country: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, chickenpox and polio. Further recommended vaccines include hepatitis A and B as well as rabies. More information and advice can be found, for example, on the pages of the CDC.
Moreover, we recommend taking your own personal first aid kit with you.

Make sure to pack plasters, antihistamines, electrolytes, diarrhea medication and pain killers. In addition, you should not forget to take sufficient amounts of personal medication with you that must take on a regular or even daily basis. Before starting your journey to Greece you should consult your doctor concerning possible risks and recommended vaccinations. Authorities such as the foreign office of your country may also provide you with comprehensive travel and safety information. Last but not least, all volunteers must obtain adequate travel health insurance before travelling to Greece.

Participants are advised to bring clothes that can get dirty and are not their favourite ones as they may get damaged while working with the cats. You should bring light, long and short-sleeved clothes as well as long and short pants. For shoes we recommend trainers/sneakers but also sandals and flip flops. Don’t forget sunscreen, a sun hat, mosquito repellent, a daypack, a refillable water bottle and a personal first-aid kit. Moreover, you should pack an adapter, your smartphone and a camera.

You will receive a detailed packing list before departing to Greece.

You can participate in the project for 2 to 12 weeks.

You should arrive in the Greek capital of Athens, on the day the project starts between 09:00 am and 09:00 pm. A staff member will pick you up from Athens International Airport (ATH) and take you to the animal shelter in the Kouvaras area, about a 15-minute drive from the airport. If you arrive after 9:00 pm, you’ll need to arrange your own taxi to the project site. Please make sure not to arrive later than 10:30 pm, as the site will be closed and check-in won’t be possible after that time.

On the last day of the project, you will be taken back to the airport. The transfer will take you to the airport between 09:00 am and 09:00 pm. Please make sure that your flight departs between 11:00 AM and late evening.

Upon arrival in the volunteer accommodation, located in the Kouvaras region, you can settle into your room and get to know your team and the programme, before the actual project work either starts on the same day or the following morning.

Volunteers are expected to help for at least 7 hours per day (5 days per week). There are two work shifts during the day (with a briefing meeting after the first cleaning). A working day runs as follows:

• Morning shift: deep cleaning of the house, cleaning and refilling food and water bowls
• Afternoon shift: replenish food, check water bowls, clean litter boxes
  These core tasks need to be performed daily. Additional tasks such as arts and crafts, preparation for or participation in community-based events, building or maintenance tasks, etc. will be decided based on current needs, so a certain degree of flexibility will be necessary.

As a volunteer, you will be involved in the following tasks:

• feeding the cats and making sure they have water
• cleaning litter boxes
• daily deep-clean of the house, both indoor and outdoor spaces (i.e., balconies, patio)
• playing with the cats
• arts and crafts activities, e.g., creating animal toys, painting cat houses
• other tasks such as assisting staff in taking a cat to the vet or to the airport (for adoption), assisting with social media, or participating in community animal welfare-related events

Your team consists of around 8 volunteers.

Volunteers are accommodated in a modern and comfortable two-storey family house. You will have a private room either with your own or a shared bathroom. If you are travelling with a partner or friend, you can share a room.

In the house there is also a living room with a TV, an outside sitting area, a laundry room as well as a fully-equipped kitchen. The sanctuary cats live freely in the house so be prepared that some kitties might want to share the bedroom with you. Due to health reasons, some cats also need to be isolated at times and may be staying in the rooms for certain time periods.

Our partner provides groceries so that volunteers can prepare their own meals. It is up to you whether you prepare it for yourself or if you take turns cooking for the entire volunteer team. If you would like specialty food items, you will be responsible for purchasing them yourself.

Yes, vegetarians and vegans can be catered for. We ask you to let us know about any special dietary requirements in advance so the team on site has enough time for arrangements.

You will work on five days per week, for seven hours daily. The rest of the day can be used for your own activities. Two days of the week will be entirely free giving you the chance to explore Greece even further.

For leisure time in the evening, you should pack some books, card/board games or music.
Of course, you also get the chance to explore historical sites, relax at beautiful beaches and explore the vibrant city of Athens. Volunteers can also enjoy close-by beaches such as Porto Rafti or Lagonisi (12-13 km from the shelter) or visit the spectacular Temple of Poseidon (approx. 24,5 km) or the Temple of Artemis (approx. 18 km). The Athens Riviera is another magnificent site to see, stretching on the southern coastal area of the Attica region. Those who would like to enjoy the Greek islands can make their way to the port of Lavrio (approx. 20 km) to take a boat to Kea Island.

Yes, in case of concerns or questions you will always be able to talk to your supervisors on site. Furthermore, you can contact the Natucate team 24/7.

The official currency in Greece is the Euro (EUR). If you do not come from a country that pays with EUR, please make sure to exchange your currency into EUR before departure. The easiest way is to bring along a credit card and to withdraw money from an ATM at the airport. Please keep in mind that this may go with a transaction fee of around 5 US$.

Before departure you should check with your bank if your credit card will be working in Greece. On site, you should calculate costs for leisure time activities (including transfers and accommodation outside programme hours), souvenirs and additional snacks and beverages like soft drinks.

There is free wifi in the house which volunteers can use to stay in touch with friends and family at home. Mobile coverage in the area is good as well. This means another option is to buy a Greek SIM card after your arrival with enough airtime/data volume. If you come from a EU country you can also simply activate international roaming to avoid additional fees for contacting your home country (check with your provider).

The climate in Greece is predominantly Mediterranean, even though the country has a wide range of micro-climates and local variations. In most parts of the country, weather in summer is usually sunny and dry, with occasional rain showers or thunderstorms. The air is usually hot during the day and pleasantly warm at night. Winters are usually wet; occasionally snow might fall.

A moderate consumption of alcohol after work is allowed. You will not be allowed to be under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs during working hours, though – failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate termination of participation in the project, without any refund of costs.

At the beginning of your volunteer stay you will be familiarised with important safety procedures and rules. In case of minor health issues there are several general practitioners and pharmacies. In case of an emergency you will be transferred to the nearest hospital.