VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN GREECE

About Greece


Greece is a popular tourist destination located in southeastern Europe. It is a country rich in both cultural and natural attractions. Greece played a significant role in antiquity and is often referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization.”

It has a multitude of islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, including Alonissos, an island with a vast marine ecosystem and a variety of activities to do. It is an island in the Aegean Sea.

Climate

In general, the climate of Greece is temperate Mediterranean. Winters are mild and rainy, while summers are hot and dry. The coldest months are January and February. August is the most suitable month for swimming due to the weather and meteorological conditions.

Overall, the climate of Alonissos is pleasant for traveling from April to November, including the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.

 

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time Difference

Greece is in the Eastern European Time (EET) zone, which is UTC+2 during standard time and UTC+3 during daylight saving time in the summer months.

Currency

The currency used in Greece is the euro.

Location

The volunteer projects in Greece are located on Alonissos, an island accessible by ferry

Monuments and history

Greece has numerous islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, including Alonissos. An island with a rich marine ecosystem and a variety of activities to do.

Meals

Some typical dishes are Mousakas, Yemistá, Pastitsio, Souvlaki, Gyros…

Pickup

You must arrive on Sunday, and the team will be waiting for you at the ferry exit to take you to the volunteer accommodation.

Volunteer programs

Where are the volunteer projects located?

The volunteer projects in Greece are located in Alonissos, an island accessible by ferry. We will explain later how to get to Alonissos so you can start your volunteer project.

Programs

  • Marine Conservation Volunteer Program

Beginning and duration

The program duration ranges from one to two weeks
You must be at least 18 years old to participate

What is included?

Airport

To get to Alonissos, you need to take a flight to Skiathos Airport, as it is the closest. From there, you will take a 2.5-hour ferry to Alonissos.

You must arrive on Sunday, and the team will be waiting for you at the ferry exit to take you to the volunteer accommodation.

Note: If you arrive on a day other than Sunday, there is an extra pickup fee of 20 euros.

Requirements

  • The program duration ranges from one to two weeks
  • You must be at least 18 years old to participate

Start/Duration

Volunteers must arrive in Greece on Sundays throughout the day to be transferred to accommodation.

Volunteer programs run from Monday to Friday. The schedules may vary depending on local weather conditions, as well as the development of your volunteer program.

Typically, the volunteer program runs from around 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

What to eat in Greece?


Due to Greece’s history and geography, the lifestyle is typically Mediterranean, with techniques and ingredients shared with Italy, Middle Eastern cuisine, and cuisines from the Balkans.

Some typical dishes are Mousakas, Yemistá, Pastitsio, Souvlaki, Gyros…

However, Greek cuisine varies by region, making it very diverse.

Our programs

Marine Conservation Program

The Alonissos Islands are a magical and paradisiacal place, full of lush vegetation. In this marine conservation volunteer program, you can work to protect marine life, where turtles, hawks, and dolphins thrive freely, and the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal seeks refuge.

In this Marine Conservation program, you can make a positive environmental impact by voluntarily participating in conservation projects, coastal and underwater clean-ups, seminars on plastic waste recycling… and all this while exploring a Greek island and having the opportunity to obtain the most recognized PADI diving certification in the world.

You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in captivating underwater landscapes around Alonissos, all within the largest Marine National Park in Europe, led by experienced diving instructors. You do not need previous diving experience, as a professional diving instructor will teach you what you need. As part of your experience, you will obtain a PADI diving certification tailored to your diving skills.

You do not need to bring any professional diving equipment, as everything you need will be provided on-site.

Note: This program is open from May 15th to October 12th.

Accommodation and meals

Marine Conservation Program

You will stay in a volunteer house, which has all the amenities: equipped kitchen, separate entrance – each volunteer has a key -, adapted bathrooms, double rooms, air conditioning, and wifi. The accommodation is 100m from the beach.

What’s included? Toilet paper, clean sheets, and blankets.

Breakfast and dinner are included for all 7 days of the week. Lunch is at the volunteer’s expense.

*Not included: towels and personal items.

program Cost

The total cost of the volunteer program is divided into two parts. The registration fee, which is paid to book your spot for 210€, and the program cost, which is paid afterwards no later than one month before traveling to the destination.

Marine Conservation Program

The following list indicates the program cost:

– Price for one week: €1395
– Price for two weeks: €2695

Note: the maximum participation in the program is two weeks. 

What is included?

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.