Greece

Volunteer work in the dog project on Crete

Directly at the sea
Surrounded by nature
Diverse cuisine

You have a heart for animals and would like to get involved in animal welfare? In particular, do you love dogs and can't get enough contact with the animals? Then you are exactly right for our dog project on Crete! Here you can use all your love for animals and energy as a volunteer for the care of needy street dogs.

Crete

from 16 years

2 - 52 weeks / from €1.150

Wednesday, Sunday

life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-GR462

As a volunteer
Greece

2 - 52 weeks / from €1.150
to the cost overview

What's the matter?

The site is a kind of shelter for street dogs near the city of Heraklion. The facility is run by an aid organization and offers space for up to 80 animals. The dogs are temporarily housed here to be properly cared for and nursed back to health before they are subsequently adopted or released. In addition to providing the dogs with food and medicine, some of the animals are also sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped. In this way, the organization not only alleviates the direct suffering of the animals, but also prevents their uncontrolled reproduction and the spread of diseases.

Crete is home to many street dogs in need of care. In many places, the animals multiply uncontrollably and quite a few suffer from poor health. The local aid organization is doing its best to improve the situation of the dogs on site. However, there is a lack of the necessary personnel for this task. In addition, the team consists entirely of volunteers who can only work in the facility in their free time. For this reason, the organization is always happy about the support of active volunteers in order to provide all dogs with sufficient care and to give them the attention they deserve.

This project is all about improving the situation of street dogs and giving them the chance of a new life. In addition, the organization also maintains an educational program with the aim of initiating changes in the existing animal welfare law and in people's attitudes.

Your tasks as a volunteer

In order to properly care for the dogs, you will help as a volunteer with the following tasks, among others:

feeding the dogs
washing the dogs
care of sick animals
Daily walks
Support for the social media channels

As a volunteer, you usually work 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. For example, a typical work day might start with you helping to organize errands needed for the facility and managing the social media channels. You then spend the rest of the working time directly with the dogs, while you feed them, wash them, walk them and generally make sure that they do not lack attention.

After work and on days off you have time to explore the beautiful island and go on excursions.

Accommodation Catering

Accommodation 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 together. All apartments are fully furnished and equipped with WiFi. Towels and bed linen are at your disposal. However, the volunteers must ensure the cleanliness of the premises.

In order to get from your accommodation to work, you first take the bus close to the assignment site, where you will then be picked up by a team member. A monthly ticket for the bus costs around €60 and €25 per week.

Supermarkets, restaurants, bars and other shops can all be found in the vicinity. The beach is also not far away and invites you to swim. The area is considered safe and it is not a problem to be alone here during the day or at night. The city center of Heraklion itself is less than 7 km away and can be easily visited with the help of the bus.

Occasionally, there will also be social events or joint excursions that you can attend.

Location

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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!

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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

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 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.

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

€ 1.150, -

2 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 265, - / week

up to 50 weeks respectively

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

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.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

Greek language course

175 €

Greek language course
English language course

175 €

English language course
Einzelzimmer

90 €

Per week (subject to availability)
Dinner and breakfast

65 €

per week
Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

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.

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.

What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?

There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.

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

Going for a walk is also part of your job

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