4 - 52 weeks
from € 1.490
Greece

Volunteer work in the environmental protection project Renewable Energies on Crete

  • Directly at the sea
  • Surrounded by nature
  • Diverse cuisine

Are you interested in the subject of "renewable energies" or an apprenticeship in this field? Class! Here you can either expand your specialist knowledge and gain practical experience or - if you don't have any practical experience yet - learn a lot about solar energy and its advantages for the environment. You will also get to know life and the beautiful landscape on Crete and experience the wonderful Mediterranean flair.

Location icon Crete
Minimum age icon from 18 years
Icon Duration 4 - 52 weeks / from €1.490
Departure days icon Wednesday, Sunday
Volunteering in Crete: Solar Panel Project
SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy
Affordable and clean energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Project ID : FA-GR381

As a volunteer
Greece

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.490
to the cost overview

Volunteering in Crete in the renewable energies project

What's the matter?

The company was founded in 2011 with the aim of planning and building energy production plants from renewable sources. It should be possible to offer integrated energy solutions to both the private and the public sector – from planning to implementation. The company offers "green" products and solutions, with tailor-made proposals to reduce energy costs and optimize energy efficiency. Since there is a lack of staff and volunteers in Greece, support is needed here and you are very welcome to volunteer for the various projects!

Your tasks as a volunteer

Depending on what previous knowledge you bring with you, you will be deployed accordingly. In order to be able to take part in the project, you do not need any specific specialist knowledge or previous practical experience. You will be shown everything you need to know. Your tasks may include:

  • Assist in measuring areas
  • Assistance with the adaptation of building surfaces
  • Assistance with the installation and maintenance of solar cells
  • Grounding electrical devices

If you have completed an apprenticeship, for example as an electrician, mechanic or technician, you can specialize in an area. In this project you can expand your specialist knowledge and gain practical experience!

You work five days a week for six hours a day.

In the first few days, a training course is held that enables the new volunteers to familiarize themselves with the work quickly and efficiently and to get to know the people on site.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer Apartment in Crete

During your assignment you will live in one of the volunteer apartments on site. Depending on how many volunteers take part in the project and how long you stay on site, it is decided which apartment you will stay in.

Each apartment can accommodate up to four volunteers. All apartments are fully furnished, have a modern bathroom and are equipped with all kitchen utensils, air conditioning and WiFi. Towels and bed linen are also available. However, you must ensure the cleanliness of the premises yourself. Accommodations will also be divided by gender unless there is a request for couples.

Depending on your accommodation, you can get to your project location either by bus or on foot. Depending on your project in Crete, you will need approx. 5-30 minutes. If you are dependent on the bus to get to your place of work, you can request a bus ticket from the local team (approx. €60 per month or €25 per week).

Supermarkets, restaurants, bars and other shops can be found in the vicinity. The beach is also not far away and invites you to swim and relax. There are also occasional social events or joint outings that you can take part in.

The nearest town, Hersonissos, is about 3 km away and can be easily reached by bus and Heraklion is only 12 km away and can be easily visited by bus.

Location

Crete

Crete is located in the south of the Aegean Sea and is the largest Greek island. It offers breathtakingly beautiful nature with high mountains and wild gorges. The island is like a small version of the mainland. You will find beautiful original villages, big cities and mountains here. Blending the old with the new, the mountains with the sea, the island brings together so many comparative advantages that it is now one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations.

The scent of thyme, sage and oregano fills the air due to the cultivation of aromatic herbs. Crete's agriculture is mainly used for wine, olive and fruit growing and you can admire grapevines and olive trees everywhere. The island is one of the largest olive oil exporters in the EU and one of the oldest olive trees in the world can be found near Kavousi in north-east Crete. 

Administratively, Crete is divided into four prefectures: Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon and Lassithi. Heraklion is the island's largest city and its capital - a vibrant city full of students and youth, where the organization is also based. 

Here you can combine work with vacation and fun. Your internship or volunteer work will definitely be etched in your memory forever!

Your free time on Crete

On Crete, the island of the gods, you will certainly not get bored. Be sure to take some time after your work on the project to thoroughly explore the largest island in Greece.

Heraklion, Crete's capital, is about twelve kilometers away from your project location. Highlights of the city are definitely its beautiful Venetian harbor, the historic old town and the attraction par excellence on Crete: the palace of Knossos. There you will learn about the most well-known myths surrounding the Minotaur, discover the labyrinth and learn more about the history of the Ionian civilization. By the way: Entry to the palace is free for volunteers under the age of 25. Talk to our project team about this.

Would you like to absorb even more historical knowledge? Then off you go to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. The museum is full of finds from the Minoan period. The time is considered the hour of birth of European culture.

You can take another city trip to Chania. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the island with its Venetian harbor, a lighthouse, the ancient old town and the Hasan Pasha Mosque.

Crete is also an ideal place for nature lovers with its breathtaking nature, high mountains and deep gorges. The Samaria Gorge is one of the largest gorges in Europe and definitely an ideal place to go hiking in Crete. Equally exciting for hiking is Crete's second largest mountain Pachnes. It lies in the white mountains and impresses with its bizarre lunar landscape.

If you are more drawn to the beach, Crete will not disappoint you either. For example, visit Preveli Beach. The beach is a popular photo opportunity, as a heart-shaped rock juts out of the water. You will find another special feature on the beach of Elafonisi. Here, turquoise water meets pink sand. Definitely a must see!

On-site procedure

Arrival in Crete

Arrival in Crete

You land in Heraklion and a team member will pick you up from the airport. On the way to your accommodation, you will take a small tour of the city by car. The course of the next few days will be explained to you and you will already be shown some important places, buildings, shops and restaurants. You will then be taken to your accommodation and have the rest of the day free. This gives you time to rest, explore your surroundings or get to know the other volunteers.

Orientation in Crete

Orientation program on Crete

The orientation program starts the day after your arrival and you will learn a lot about Greek culture, customs and the house rules. If necessary, you can get a monthly ticket for public transport together in the city or you can drive directly to work. There you will be shown your workplace and the further processes will be explained to you. If you have any questions, you can contact the on-site team at any time. After the orientation program you have the rest of the day free.

Volunteer project on Crete

Your first day in the project

Each project has different working hours (approx. five days a week), which will be discussed with you right at the beginning of your assignment. On the first day you will get to know the employees and the work processes and you will be briefed on your tasks.

Our team is your number 1 contact for the entire duration of your stay on Crete. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact our team at any time!

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.490, -
    4 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 240, - / week
    up to 48 weeks

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in Volunteer Apartment
  • Meals: breakfast

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Daily drive to the project
  • Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Crete Team
site

The main person responsible for the projects on Crete Nikos. Your volunteer coordinators are Rebecca and Cecilia.

Rebecca is English and has lived in Greece for over 20 years. Therefore, she speaks fluent Greek and also has basic knowledge of German. She has also worked in the travel industry for many years, is a professional singer, dancer and loves sports.

Cecilia is Romanian, speaks English and Greek and studied tourism and management. She loves travelling, reading and sports.

Portrait team in Crete, Greece

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

Do I need a visa?

As an EU citizen and from Switzerland, you do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you have to apply for a residence permit in the first month at the location.

What language skills do I need for the project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

Are there age restrictions for the project?

Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 45 can take part in the project.

What are the requirements for the project?

You don't need any special knowledge - everything will be shown to you.
Appropriate training is of course an advantage, so you may be able to choose your area of ​​work.

What do I have to bring?

Sturdy clothing and work shoes

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Greece? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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