Volunteer programs in Croatia

About Croatia

About Croatia

Croatia is a popular tourist destination located in southern Europe, renowned for its rich historical, cultural, and natural attractions. Its primary allure lies in the stunning beaches and islands kissed by the Adriatic Sea, as well as its artistic heritage and pristine natural landscapes.

Throughout its history, Croatian territory has been occupied and integrated into various communities, including its period as part of the former Yugoslavia. Croatia, alongside countries like Serbia and Slovenia, was part of Yugoslavia until gaining independence in 1991. Consequently, the cultural similarities among these countries are evident.

Presently, Croatia stands as the most developed nation among the former Yugoslav states. However, it’s important to note that approximately 17% of Croatia’s population still faces economic challenges and lives below the poverty line.

Croatia’s climate

Croatia experiences two types of climate: Mediterranean along the coastal areas and islands, and continental in the interior.

In the coastal zone, summers are dry and warm, while winters are mild with frequent precipitation. Inland areas have cold winters with snow and hot summers.

Overall, Croatia has a pleasant climate throughout the year, making it an ideal travel destination at any time. 

ARE YOU InteresTED

Time zone

In Croatia, the standard time is Central European Time (CET; UTC+01:00). Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March (02:00 CET) to the last Sunday in October (03:00 CEST).

Currency

The official currency of the country is the Croatian kuna, with 1 euro equivalent to 7.5 kunas.

Location

All our projects in Croatia are located in the city of Split.

Stay

Volunteers must arrive in Croatia on Sundays between 10:00 and 23:00h to be transferred to the accommodation.

Meals

Three meals a day from Monday to Sunday.

Pick up times

Volunteers arriving during this time frame will be picked up at the airport by a member of our team and taken to the accommodation.

VOLUNTEER programs

Where are the volunteer projects located in Croatia?

All our projects in Croatia are located in the city of Split, a coastal city in the south of Croatia. It is a major tourist destination known for its beaches and rich cultural heritage. The city enjoys a pleasant climate, making it visitable year-round.

Programs

  • Creative Technologies Volunteer Program
  • Animal Care Volunteer Program
  • Marine Conservation Volunteer Program

Requirements and Costs

Volunteers must be 18 years old at the start of the volunteering program.

You can find the costs of the volunteer programs in Split under Program Costs.

What is included?

Airport

Volunteers should arrive in Split, specifically at Split Airport (SPU). Arrival day is every Sunday.

Volunteers arriving during this time frame will be picked up at the airport by a member of our team and taken to the accommodation. Those arriving outside of this schedule will need to cover their own transportation costs.

What to eat in Croatia

Croatian cuisine is heavily influenced by Mediterranean and Central European cooking styles. The main element of their dishes is meat.

Typical Croatian gastronomy varies by region, making it very diverse. Coastal areas are known for their fish, seafood, wines, and sausages.

White truffle, olive oil, and wine are the main gastronomic products that characterize Croatia.

Transport in Croatia

The most affordable and frequent way to travel around the country is by bus. Trains are also used, but their schedules are more limited, making them less common among Croatians.

Taxis are also available for transportation.

To travel to the islands and islets, ferries or boats are used.

Start/Duration

Volunteers must arrive in Croatia on Sundays between 10:00 and 23:00h to be transferred to the accommodation.

Volunteer programs start each week on Mondays, with activities scheduled from Monday to Friday. (Schedules may vary depending on local and weather conditions.)

The minimum duration of the programs is 2 weeks.

Tourist attractions in Croatia

The country’s main attractions are its islands and beaches. Croatia offers thousands of islands and islets, with only 50 of them being inhabited. Notable ones include the Elafiti Islands, Mljet Island, and Lastovo Island.

Croatia also boasts natural resources, such as the Plitvice Lakes, a space with 16 lakes and a hundred waterfalls that form a breathtaking natural landscape. The Krka National Park is another area with seven waterfalls extending through the Krka River basin.

Additionally, the major cities in Croatia have their charm. Dubrovnik is attractive for its beaches and its walls and fortifications. Zagreb, the capital of the country, is culturally rich and full of charm.

In Split, where the projects take place in Croatia, key attractions include Diocletian’s Palace, the historic center, medieval remnants, beautiful beaches, and nearby islands.

Program goals

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.

To achieve this, we work on three approaches

Social inclusion

Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.

Attention to Centers and Homes

Attention to Centers and Homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.

Social action

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.

Our programs

Creative Technologies Volunteer Program – Croatia

The following program aims to assist NGOs in carrying out activities and encouraging local communities to take action within their own environment.

Volunteers’ work is mainly focused on using illustrations and design skills to support NGOs in their promotional campaigns and activities, including the production of infographics, brochures, posters, animations, videos, and advertisements.

Additionally, active participation in their events, beach clean-ups, street activities, and any other tasks that may arise is crucial, as getting involved in the project’s activities is fundamental.

It is important to note that most NGOs lack the necessary resources, so volunteers are required to provide their own laptops, as well as design software (Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent) and/or a camera equipment.

Qualifications or relevant experiences are highly valued in the program application.

Duration: 1 to 12 weeks.

Requirement: +18 years old.

Animal Care Volunteer Program – Croatia

The animal care program offers you the opportunity to integrate into a team that shares the same passion for animals and their well-being.

Volunteers support both the well-being and protection of dogs in the local shelter and their right to have a home.

There is an extensive number of abandoned cats and dogs in Croatia; therefore, pet shelters are essential in the country. Often, these shelters are overcrowded, and it is the task of volunteers to provide love and time to the animals, promoting their health and necessary comfort.

Likewise, volunteers take care of helping to bathe and brush the dogs, walk and socialize with them, provide companionship, among other tasks.

It is recommended to take photos of the animals to create an identification book and promote their adoption.

Duration: 1 to 12 weeks.

Requirement: +18 years old.

Marine Conservation Volunteer Program – Croatia

Participating in marine conservation is a great opportunity to care for and protect ecosystems, as well as marine species found in the seas and oceans.

Volunteers will provide all possible support to underwater cleaning agents to reduce sea pollution and preserve marine life.

The main tasks of volunteers may include collecting garbage from the sea, learning about the collected items, gaining more knowledge about the marine ecosystem, observing and identifying fish, among others.

The project is open to beginners without diving experience. However, it is important to note that volunteers must obtain a diving certification before participating in any underwater activities.

The cost of the program covers both the full diving equipment and the voluntary supervision of an experienced diving instructor, as the project collaborates with a local diving school. During the program, internationally recognized diving certifications (Scuba Schools International) are provided. The specific certifications will depend on the volunteer’s current diving experience and the duration of their stay.

There are different types of courses, ranging from Suba Diver to Open Water Diver, and specialties such as Marine Ecology and Fish Identification.

*On a daily basis, volunteers will travel to Onís to carry out the project.

Duration: 1 to 4 weeks.

Requirement: +18 years old.

accommodation and meals

Accommodation in Gatanga

Upon arrival and settling in at the destination, there will be a welcome meeting with the local staff and coordinators to provide information about the area, the tasks and regular schedules, and to explain the program they will be carrying out.

The accommodation where the volunteers will live is a social and sustainable hostel. Volunteers will have three daily meals included from Monday to Sunday.

The hostel consists of shared rooms, and the bathroom will be shared with other volunteers, as well as the common areas of the accommodation. Private rooms are also available if needed.

The meals are based on traditional Croatian cuisine and from other parts of Southeast Europe.

*Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian meals are also available upon request.

program costs

The total cost of the volunteering is divided into 2 parts. The registration fee, which is paid to book your spot, is 210 € (approximately US$ 225), and the program cost is paid later. The following list shows the breakdown of the program fee for each project:

 

Creative Technologies Volunteer Program

2 weeks: 1350€
Additional week: 375

 

Animal Care Volunteer Program

2 weeks: 1350€

Additional week: 375€

Marine Conservation Volunteer Program

1 week: 1430€
2 weeks: 2205€
3 weeks: 3030€
4 weeks: 3855€

If your currency is not specified in the list, you can convert the costs here.

What is included in the fee that I am paying?

What additional costs will volunteers have?
Flights

Travel insurance (mandatory)
Vaccinations (if required)
Return transfer to the airport from the program
Other personal expenses.

Contact

Leave us your information and we will contact you within the next 24 hours

UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

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

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:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

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.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

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.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

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:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

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.