Volunteer in Europe and discover a continent full of history, diverse landscapes and culture. From the icy north of Iceland to the Mediterranean gems that are Italy, Greece or Spain, there are many volunteer projects that are perfect for a short-term commitment or a summer abroad. If you love animals, look no further! Volunteer in Europe with animals like dolphins, horses or street dogs. You prefer working with people? Due to the European refugee crisis, there are many volunteer programs in Europe that work with refugees and provide teaching and general support. Get active now and help these volunteer projects in Europe!
Are you drawn to culture and diverse landscapes? If you’re also passionate about volunteering, you’ll be happy to know that there is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available in Europe. Volunteer in countries like Spain, Greece, Italy, and Ireland in the European Union or explore hidden treasures like Albania and Moldova in Eastern Europe. While Europe might not be the first continent that comes to mind when you think of volunteering, your volunteering efforts in Europe are just as meaningful as anywhere else in the world. Whether you’re protecting its unique wildlife, teaching English in Europe, or joining one of the community service projects, your commitment is highly appreciated!
If this is the first time that you are considering becoming a volunteer abroad, we are here to help you. We will introduce you to our top volunteer opportunities in Europe. Find out what Europe has to offer and choose where you want to volunteer abroad in Europe!
Whether you are interested in teaching English in Europe, devoting your time to marine conservation, contributing to local communities, or working at a horse sanctuary, the possibilities are almost endless. We will give you more insight into volunteer opportunities in Europe. Find out which volunteer projects are taking center stage in Europe.
Once you are confident that you have found your desired European country for volunteering, we encourage you to check out the respective country page where we provide you with more detailed information. Let’s start by learning a little more about volunteer opportunities in Europe.
According to Business Insider, Europe is facing some serious challenges. By engaging yourself in one of the European volunteer opportunities, you will be able to provide relief in the following areas:
There are many ways for volunteers to help with these challenges abroad. The most hands-on and active way is to volunteer abroad in Europe for one of the many volunteer projects on site. Whether you are passionate about women empowerment in Ireland, care about injured horses at a horse sanctuary in Spain, or are eager to contribute to marine conservation in Greece or Italy, one of the volunteer programs in Europe will give you the chance to do meaningful work.
Continue reading to find out where to volunteer in Europe Find the answer to what kind of volunteer abroad programs are available and what you will be doing when you decide to volunteer in Europe.
Although you may not think of Europe as the most diverse destination in terms of wildlife, there are quite a few opportunities to work with animals and contribute to wildlife conservation.
From horses in Spain to the conservation of wolves in Portugal and saving bears in Finland, he life on land in Europe portrays a variety of amazing animals. However, Europe doesn’t only convince animal lovers with its diversity on land – its oceans are filled with spectacular marine life such as dolphins, whales, and sea turtles that can be admired on the islands of the Mediterranean.
One of the main problems Europe is facing when it comes to its animals and wildlife is its exploitation for economic purposes. This includes, for example, whaling, poaching of bears, and mistreatment of horses. Additional threats are:
The combination of all these threats has led to declining numbers of many animals, in some cases to the point of near extinction. As a wildlife conservation volunteer in Europe, join other EU aid volunteers to prevent this decline and rehabilitate native European species.
If you want to immerse yourself in European culture and get in touch with the locals during your volunteer work abroad, a community program is a perfect opportunity. Community work calls for open, outgoing, and empathetic volunteers that aren’t afraid of getting involved and can face realities.
Depending on your skills and qualifications, there are many different ways to help in a community development program in Europe, Despite being one of the most developed places in the world, Europe still has marginalized communities that need support. This can take on many forms. Engage the youth in constructive afterschool activities, help care for those with special needs, or redistribute food waste to homeless communities.
Whether you see yourself joining European voluntary service and supporting in Italy, Portugal, or Albania, here are some community service volunteer opportunities:
The European Commission is developing a common migration and asylum policy to manage the refugee crisis. It will help Europe both to take advantage of the opportunities and to tackle the challenges of increased cross-border mobility. Support this challenging transition by helping refugees and migrants adapt and gain a foothold in the European Union.
Before you decide to volunteer abroad with children or people with special needs, make sure you are prepared for your task and understand what you can expect from the project.
It’s possible that some of the children you will be working with on the programs may have experienced a difficult past and are traumatized to an extent. For this reason, it is important that volunteers have the appropriate skills. If not, you could be putting yourself and the people you work with at risk. It is beneficial that volunteers have the following qualifications when they decide to volunteer with children:
It’s not always necessary to have these qualifications but volunteers should get in touch with the program coordinator to be informed about the requirements for European or EU aid volunteers.
The shortage of staff and geographical difficulties make it difficult for many students, especially in rural areas, to get the education they deserve. As a teaching volunteer in Europe, you can support the staff in local school programs and encourage the progress of the children in the classroom by giving them extra attention. You can also contribute by volunteering for afterschool programs where you help teach kids certain skills. Depending on the volunteer program you choose, there is a great variety of tasks you can do:
France, Ireland, Croatia, Italy, and Albania are waiting for enthusiastic volunteer teachers to support their community.
As a volunteer in Europe, you can join environmental programs to make a real difference in protecting the environment. Environmental programs abroad are focused on agriculture, conservation work, and marine conservation.
All conservation programs are spread across the continent, so you will have several options to choose from. Typical voluntary work in Europe for conservation may include:
Volunteers who are concerned about the environment and are eager to help maintain Europe’s unique biodiversity have several projects which they can contribute to Ireland, the Russian Federation, Greece, and the UK.
Environmental enthusiasts will likely head to the south of Europe for their volunteer adventure while community service programs are spread over the continent. Here are our top Europe volunteer destinations:
The suggested daily budget for a volunteer in Europe is between US$ 70 and US$ 230. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the goods and services you may need.
It gives you a general overview of how much things cost in this country, so you can be prepared and save the money you need for your voluntary work in Europe. The cost of living can vary greatly within Europe. Eastern Europe is much cheaper compared to Western Europe for example and volunteering in the European Union is also more convenient. This is important to keep in mind when selecting projects. Look into the cost of living for the respective country.
Additional costs you should consider as a volunteer in Europe:
There are some very affordable volunteer programs in Europe. You can search for volunteer programs within your budget by using our filter option. Please know that most free volunteer opportunities don’t offer accommodation. This can turn out to be more expensive than some paid volunteer projects.
Almost all paid volunteer projects will offer accommodation. Check the program description for all details about what’s included so you can make an informed decision.
Before starting your volunteer work abroad, it’s important to think about the cultural norms you’ll need to adjust to. In addition, learn about the precautions you might need to take when volunteering abroad. The following list can help you with that:
Before you leave on your volunteer trip, make sure to read up on the safety advice your government gives tourists for the country you are planning on visiting. Most European countries, especially the ones in the European Union are pretty safe, however, it is important to use common sense at all times and be aware of the current political situation.
Here are some universal tips you might want to follow during your volunteer work in Europe:
It is annoying to get sick when traveling abroad and although it’s not so common for travelers in Europe to fall ill, there are some basic precautions you can take to avoid it at all costs:
It’s nice to have an idea of what to expect from a foreign country. It’s even nicer to know what to pack! This makes life a lot easier when it comes to preparing for your time as a volunteer for one of the programs in Europe. It is always a good idea to ask your project coordinator what volunteers should bring for the program.
All projects expect different skills and abilities from their volunteers. While you can find the specific requirements for each project on the program page, here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Europe.
Europe is a wonderful place to volunteer and relatively safe so it’s a great place for volunteers under 18. You can use the filter option on our website to select volunteer programs in Europe that accept volunteers under 18.
There are quite a few volunteer opportunities in Europe for under 18s. You can also get in touch with the volunteer organization to see if they will accept you. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on work experience abroad while being a European aid volunteer!
So you want to volunteer in Europe but you’re not quite sure how to get started? Take a look at the following 3 steps that will prepare you for your volunteer programs in Europe and an unforgettable time abroad:
We recommend all our volunteers to get both health and travel insurance. This is a requirement for most programs abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.
Look into the visa requirements for the country you will volunteer in. Make sure you have a valid passport considering the requirements of the host country and prepare the correct documents to fulfill the visa application.
And that’s it! You’re ready to volunteer in Europe and fall in love with nature and the rich culture You have a choice of over 60 different volunteer programs in Europe that are waiting for volunteers. Are you ready to do your part?