Join our Barcelona Volunteer Initiative and make an impact in one of Europe’s most dynamic cities. Volunteer with a dedicated NGO focused on uplifting an underserved migrant neighborhood, which is also culturally diverse. As a volunteer, you’ll help combat food waste, address hunger, and engage in activities that pave the way for a sustainable community.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum five-week commitment):
Arrival Day – Sunday: Arrive at Barcelona International Airport “El Prat” and transfer to our accommodations.
Monday: Orientation and introduction to the program. Get to know your fellow volunteers and start preparing for our community-building projects. This day is dedicated to introducing and training on all the theory behind our sustainability objectives, food hygiene protocols, food distribution practices, and community development projects. Every new volunteer has a personal session with one of the team’s professional coaches to assess their goals and intentions for their time on the program, ensuring the best setup for a successful volunteer training placement. In the afternoon, the team-building activity available is rock climbing.
Tuesday: Each morning during the week starts with a group good morning stretch and gratitude journaling session. This first full workday is dedicated to applying the theory learned on Monday in the food bank distribution network. This NGO supplies food for about 40 deserving families in the neighborhood, making your work vital to the community each week. In the afternoon, the team-building activity available is a yoga workshop.
Wednesday: This day typically involves work dedicated to one of the several community improvement initiatives in the neighborhood. This volunteer work directly engages with the local community and provides an opportunity to get to know the residents more personally while practicing some Spanish. The afternoon is dedicated to a Personal Coaching workshop where you’ll learn techniques in personal development and growth.
Thursday: On this day, volunteer work takes place in the community organic farm. You’ll assist with tasks to support the farm and also take part in a relevant workshop topic which could include sustainable farming practices, food cultivation, responsible agriculture in the context of climate change, and more. This farm plays a crucial role in supplying the local food bank with food, providing you with a firsthand experience of the community food program from start to finish.
Friday: Friday mornings are free from volunteer work. In the afternoon, you’ll have Spanish lessons and participate in a collective intelligence or community-building workshop. The afternoon team-building activity is an hour dedicated to hand-delivering individual meals to the known homeless population in the neighborhood.
Saturday-Sunday: Weekends are free to enjoy exploring Barcelona’s vibrant neighborhoods or relaxing at the Mediterranean beaches. Departure day is usually on a Saturday.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, is the vibrant heart of Catalonia, celebrated for its Renaissance art and Gaudi architecture. Neighborhoods like Gràcia, Gótico, and Born showcase the city’s rich history through their narrow, history-laden streets. Famous for Mediterranean tapas and a high quality of life, Barcelona enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, making its beaches like Bogatell, Mar Bella, and Barceloneta popular spots.
The volunteer program operates in El Turó de la Peira, in Barcelona’s Nou Barris district. It is a culturally diverse neighborhood with residents from 97 nationalities, primarily from South America and the Caribbean. Despite its rich diversity, it’s one of Barcelona’s poorest areas, with 25% of its 18,000 residents facing vulnerability or exclusion.
At our volunteer program, the aim is to build a sustainable community by fighting food waste and hunger. By working with local supermarkets and distributing surplus food, we not only provide meals to those in need, but we also raise awareness about the environmental and social impact of food waste.
As a volunteer, you will be involved in these tasks:
These activities aim to foster community spirit, combat loneliness among older adults, and provide meals and food baskets to those in need.
Training: Across the week, volunteers receive 2 hours of training on topics like cross-cultural volunteerism, NGO management, and food regulations.
Important note: From June 26th to September 1st, activities center in the summer school, Casal de Verano. Most tasks involve engaging with kids, which might affect some workshops and training sessions.
Planning to come for 3 weeks or more? If so, you can combine this project with our Marine Conservation program in Barcelona for a diverse experience. Once you apply, we can help you organize both programs.
Volunteers have weekends off to visit all the attractions that Barcelona offers, such as the stunning Sagrada Familia, the colorful Park Guell, the historic Gothic Quarter, and the vibrant La Rambla. Explore neighborhoods like Gràcia, Gótico, and Born, known for their historic streets and vibrant atmosphere. Weekly city excursions are also self-organized by the volunteers themselves. In addition, during long weekends, they organize group outings to the towns and beaches closest to the city, such as Costa Brava. Barcelona also has many national and local festivals during which the city organizes concerts and celebrations in the streets and plazas.
Access to the program activities and events, including Open Mic, Cacao Ceremony, eco-climbing or hiking excursions, snorkeling (in summer) are free.
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