Volunteer in Spain, Valencia - Working with Children and Community Development

Please note: This volunteer program is on hold. In the following links you can check out our open Volunteer Programs in Spain:

Barcelona Volunteer Program: Work with an NGO in a multicultural migrant neighborhood in Barcelona to combat food waste, tackle hunger, and help build a sustainable community.
Marine Conservation in the Spanish Mediterranean: Dive into the Mediterranean waters to help clean up pollutants and protect local marine life, while experiencing the unique culture of Barcelona.

Experience Spanish culture first-hand by volunteering in Valencia at local community centers for various causes!

Program Highlights:

Work with underprivileged children and communities each day
Offer children better opportunities in life by giving them support
Enjoy Valencia’s historic sights as well as rich nightlife
Stay with a local host family for a culturally immersive experience
Explore the surrounding area on your weekends

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum three-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Valencia Airport (VLC). You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your new home in Valencia. Take the time to settle in and get to know your fellow volunteers or your host family if you have chosen to upgrade.

Day 1, Monday: Your first day will begin with an orientation of the project, where you will meet your placement coordinators as well as learn more about the tasks that you will be doing during your stay. In the afternoon you will get a tour of Valencia where you will see its famous landmarks as well as learn more about living in Spain.

Days 2-5, Tuesday-Friday: You will volunteer four-five hours in the morning or afternoon and can spend your free time enjoying Valencia, its beaches or improving your Spanish with some classes (option to add on Spanish lessons is available for an extra fee). Depending on your chosen project, your tasks may include tutoring children, participating in afterschool programs, helping with social activities and volunteering at a soup kitchen.

Please note that the schools will be closed over summer break so all volunteers joining in the summertime will work in the soup kitchen.

Days 6-7, Saturday-Sunday: The weekend is free for you to rest, sunbathe or explore all that Valencia and Spain have to offer. * Volunteers who choose to work in the soup kitchen Monday-Saturday, however, have shorter working hours.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having Saturday-Sunday off. Valencia is perfectly located in Spain for you to use the weekend to explore the country. Departures are on a Saturday.

Location of the Project: Valencia, Spain

Project length: Minimum 3 weeks – Maximum 12 weeks

Arrival Airport: Valencia Airport (VLC)

Volunteer Work: Community development work with children and adults

Age: 18-80 (This project may accept volunteers who are 16 years old with a letter of consent from a parent or guardian. They must live with a host family for an additional fee.)

Number of Volunteers: Up to 8 international volunteers

Important Note: During the month of August the community center is closed. During this time, Community Development volunteers will participate only in the Soup Kitchen volunteering. 16-year olds must upgrade to the homestay for an additional fee.

What’s Included

Accommodations: Private room in a shared apartment or homestay

Food: Dependent on accommodations option

Airport Transfers: Airport pick up is provided on arrival day

Orientation: Orientation welcome pack and first day introduction tour included

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, meals (optional half-board at homestay, upon request), return airport transfer, public transportation during project (10-15 EUR per week), personal expenses

Location

Valencia, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, is Spain’s third largest city behind Madrid and Barcelona. It is a city with deep historic roots and no shortage of sites to see and places to visit. Valencia is known internationally for the Falles (Las Fallas), a local festival held in March, the birthplace of paella, traditional Valencian ceramics, intricate traditional dress and the architecture of the ultra-modern City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. Participants on this program will live in an apartment in downtown Valencia and will have plenty of opportunities to explore the city and its beautiful surrounding areas.

Volunteer Work

There are two social projects that participants may choose to volunteer with in the city of Valencia, Spain. One program is focused on working closely with children while the other is assisting in a local soup kitchen. You may select to work at one of the following projects:

Working with Children
This social project is designed to assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds by tutoring them and assisting in after-school programs at a community center. These children have many difficulties in school and may not receive as much individual attention as they need from their teachers, parents, or relatives. Main tasks include helping children with homework, planning fun and educational activities and playing with the children.

Volunteers work 3:00-6:00 PM, five days per week; after school during the school year and in the mornings during the summer. This project runs from October to July. *This project has a three-week minimum.

Important: Because the project is held at a school, specific volunteer tasks vary throughout the year based on the school and holiday schedules. During June and July, normal classes will not be in session but volunteers may participate in summer school activities.

On certain public holidays, school will be fully closed. On these short holidays, Working with Children is not available and volunteers who sign up can only participate in the Soup Kitchen project.

Soup Kitchen
Volunteers will be working to help those facing food insecurities. Volunteer tasks include serving meals, cleaning the center, collecting food from providers, sorting and storing food, organizing local activities and assisting with anything else that is needed. Volunteer work is from 12:00-3:00 PM, five days per week.

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Internet is available for use.

Laundry icon Laundry: Volunteers have access to a laundry machine.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Accommodations for volunteers are in single rooms within a shared apartment. The apartments accommodate up to six volunteers at any given time. For an additional fee, there is an option to live with a host family with half-board (breakfast and dinner). 16-year olds must upgrade to the homestay for an additional fee.

Food icon Food: Not included with the apartment accommodations, but you will have access to a fully equipped kitchen. Volunteers who upgrade to a home stay (for an additional fee) will receive breakfasts and dinners.

Travel Highlights

Learning Spanish in Valencia (Not Included):
Participants who don’t know Spanish or wish to brush up on their language skills have the opportunity to sign up for a Spanish course, before or after your volunteer project. You also have the option to take private lessons.
Volunteers working in the children’s program can join Spanish lessons during their placement (except in July, when volunteer hours overlap with the class schedule).

It is possible to request these options following registration. Please note there is an additional cost for this.