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China officially follows a single time zone, China Standard Time (CST), which is UTC+8:00, across the entire country, despite its vast geographical size spanning five time zones.
The official currency in China is the Renminbi (Yuan) (CNY). 1 euro equates to 7.6119 Yuans.
The volunteer programs are located in different parts of China, depending on the type of project.
The program timetables may vary, as these are subject to local climatic conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Volunteers will receive three traditional Chinese meals daily,
The arrival window is Sunday between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Volunteers will be picked up by local staff and subsequently transported to their accommodation.
The volunteer programs are located in different parts of China, depending on the type of project. These locations are:
The southern Chinese province of Guilin, renowned for its spectacular landscapes of karst limestone.
The capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan, Chengdu, which is one of western China’s three most inhabited cities.
The rural island of Naozhou.
And the city of Zhanjiang, located on the southern coast of continental China in the Guangdong province. with a total surface area of 12,741 square kilometres and a population of more than 7 million people.
The program timetables may vary, as these are subject to local climatic conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Costs
Depending on the volunteer program:
Volunteers will receive three traditional Chinese meals daily, served in the dining room. Typically, for dinner, volunteers are offered noodles and fried rice, which has been well-received by foreign students in our experience. A vegetarian option is also available.
Just like its economy, China’s transport network has rapidly developed in recent years. The country now boasts the world’s largest road network and the most-used train system.
Flights
Despite being the most expensive method of transport, flying is by far the quickest and most convenient way to travel long distances in China.
The main international airports are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. However, other large cities also have airports for domestic flights.
Trains
This is the most popular method of transport in China, with most large cities having their own metro systems. Besides its vast network of standard rail lines, China also has more than 7000 km of high-speed rail lines.
Bus
For short journeys, buses are a very cheap way of getting around, representing a good alternative when it’s not possible to go by metro.
Taxi
Taxis tend to be cheap and easy to find. However, be sure to agree on a price before starting the journey.
Other alternatives
Bike-taxis and motorbikes are another way of getting around in China, representing another cheap way of getting around. Similarly, we recommend setting the price before starting the journey.
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to China, with arrival scheduled on Sundays between 08:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Upon arrival, they will be transferred to their accommodation to rest and commence their volunteer program on the following Monday.
For the panda conservation volunteer program (Chengdu), the start dates are the following:
| 2020 | |
| January 13 | July 06, 13, 20 & 27 |
| February 03 & 17 | August 03, 10, 17 & 24 |
| March 02 & 16 | September 07 & 21 |
| April 06 & 20 | October 05 & 19 |
| May 04 & 18 | November 02 & 16 |
| June 01, 8, 15, 22 & 29 | December 07 & 21 |
There are many wonderful places to visit in China. A travel guide can give you a list of all the different things to see. However, here are some of our own recommendations:
The Li River
This 80km river, which stretches from Guilin to Yangshuo, passes by a series of magnificent hills, unique cliffs and fascinating caves. Why not take in the views from the comfort of a typical bamboo raft? Especially popular amongst Chinese tourists is a place near Yangshuo, which is pictured on the 20 yuan note.
Yangshuo
This picturesque city is renowned for its hills, rivers and bar-lined streets. Visitors can enjoy many activities such as rafting, cycling and rock climbing during the day, before watching the lights glisten on the Li River as the sun goes down. Be sure to spend at least one weekend here!
Seven Star Park
Renowned for its rock formations, this park has many different attractions such as the Flower Bridge, the Seven Stars Cave, Camel Hill and even a zoo.
The objective of the project is to train young people to be social leaders. The volunteers live in a multicultural environment, work as a team to develop tasks or institutional projects, accompany the beneficiaries in their daily lives or through workshops, and collaborate with the needs of the centers and homes.
Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.
Attention to Centers and Homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.
Social Action The volunteers committed to the project will work alongside the community, involving different actors in society and allowing the full fulfillment of the rights of all people.
When volunteers arrive at the airport, the local coordinator will pick them up and transport them to their accommodation. They will spend the next few days here alongside their fellow volunteers.
At the accommodation, volunteers will receive three meals a day from Monday to Friday and two meals a day on Saturday and Sunday.
The volunteer houses consist of 4-6 person bedrooms, each separated by gender. There is also a shared bathroom and communal areas for all residents in the accommodation.
Upon arrival and settling in at the destination, there will be a welcome meeting with the local coordinators. During this meeting, volunteers will receive information about the area, standard schedules, rules, and details about the program they will be participating in.
Volunteers will enjoy typical Chinese cuisine, with most dishes accompanied by rice and noodles. Vegetarian meals are also available upon request.
In addition to noodles and rice, participants in the Zhanjiang Ocean Conservation Volunteer Program can expect to have a substantial amount of seafood, as Nhauzhnu is a fishing island.
The total cost of the volunteering programme is broken down into 2 parts. The inscription fee that is paid to book your place on the programme costs €210, with the programme fee being paid at a later date.
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| VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME PERIOD | PROGRAMME FEE (EUROS, €)* | PROGRAMME FEE (USD, $) |
| 1 weeks | 175€ | 197$ |
| 2 weeks | 350€ | 395$ |
| 3 weeks | 525€ | 593$ |
| 1 month (4 weeks) | 700€ | 790$ |
| 5 weeks | 875€ | 988$ |
| 6 weeks | 1050€ | 1186$ |
| 2 months (8 weeks) | 1400€ | 1581$ |
| 10 weeks | 1750€ | 1977$ |
| 3 months (12 weeks) | 2100€ | 2373$ |
*** The costs that are given in euros are estimates, owing to constant fluctuations in conversion rates.
* The Panda conservation volunteering programme (Chengdu) has a special price of €805/week (only 1-week programmes are available).
* The Zhanjiang Ocean conservation volunteering programme (Nhauzhnu Island) has a special cost of €350 for the first week and €350 for every additional week.
Visa, flights, travel insurance (obligatory), vaccines, return to the airport following the programme and other personal expenses.
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Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?
At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…
The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.
If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.
Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.
And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.
You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.
If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality.
Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.
It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity.
Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.
Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.
We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.
We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.
The advantages of corporate volunteering include:
The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.
If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members.
Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.
Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.
Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.
There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.
Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.
An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.
And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.
There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.
Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.
We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.
It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.
Some of the benefits include:
Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after.
A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.
When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.
Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.
Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.
At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…
And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.
If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.