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Animal Sanctuary Volunteer near Taghazout, Morocco

  • Favourited 895 times
  • Last activity: 29 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are an animal rescue & rehabilitation shelter located in Assersif. A rural, no frills, berber village located a 5 minute drive from bustling Aourir (Otherwise known as Banana Village).

    Everyday we are facing new challenges. We are still learning, growing & changing to meet the demand that comes through our doors each day.
    We have over 200 animals in care. Some animals are sick. Some are injured. Some have been abandoned or neglected. Some have behavioural problems. Some came to us as a victim of circumstance. Some will never leave us.
    The one thing they all have in common, is they rely on us. The animals are our patients. We have a duty of care to ensure that they are safe, healthy & happy. Their wellbeing is our number 1 priority.

    By working with us you will learn 1st hand the pleasures & hardships of the animals in our care.
    You will be contributing to help create a shift towards a safer, healthier, happier future for the animals of Morocco. We are a family here. But we work hard. Really hard. The work is smelly, noisy, dirty & physical. But the reward will always outweigh the sacrifice. We are here for them. You are making a difference.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    Hospitality/Tourism
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    By being part of our team you will learn first hand both the pleasures & hardships of the animals within our care. With us you will learn how to live the simple life, in what is a tough & often unforgiving environment.

    You will wake up everyday to over 200 animals, that are looking to you for love, patience & understanding.
    The environment is tough. You may be exposed to situations, behaviours or cultural nuances that you may not agree with or understand. This can be the most difficult part of your journey with us.

  • Help

    Help

    Our shelter is run entirely by volunteers. Our volunteers come from all over the globe & are from all walks of life. Without our volunteers, our shelter does not run.
    Our volunteer schedule is never the same. Some weeks we are overflowing with volunteers. Other weeks we really struggle. Whichever the scenario, we need to ensure that we are adequately covered to be able to meet the needs of the animals at the shelter.

    Daily tasks at the shelter include:
    * Cleaning: Poop scoop, rubbish collection, general sanitation of the shelter.
    * Walking/Hiking: The dogs are walked for minimum 90 mins at a time on a rotating roster.
    * Animal Training: Training walks, to aid socialisation or to assist rehabilitation.
    * Staff Training: New volunteer inductions & patient care training.
    * Medical Treatment: Administering specialised treatments to animals when required.
    * Projects: Other initiatives, such as building, administration etc.

    We need help to walk, train, feed and clean up after the animals.
    Some animals have just come in off the street and need one to one training.
    Some need physio, some need medicating, some just need attention and love.

    Shifts are 5 hours in duration & are split into morning & afternoon shifts on a rotating roster.
    Shifts are scheduled weekly & are rotated to ensure that all volunteers get to experience all facets of the shelter.

    You MUST be confident with dogs. The dogs specifically need strong leaders. The dogs in our care may be different to the dogs you are used to back home. You may experience behaviours or characteristics in our dogs that you may not have experienced before.

    If you havent had animals as pets before or are slightly afraid of any type of animal then this position isn't for you.

    POO*️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️ We clean up poo, dog poo, cat poo. Poo all day, every day. There is always poo. Just one job, for 40mins max will be to pick up poo. If youre sensitive about poo, dont apply. This is by far the worst part of the just. But now you know. POO. Poo. Poo.

    *️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️* Morocco is NOT a rabies controlled country. Please check with your GP/Doctor about any vaccinations/boosters needed to travel here.

    *️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️ We have a number of dogs with leishmaniasis which is a contagious disease for both animals and humans. The dogs are under treatment to kill parasite and wear protective collars to deter the sand fly that transfers the disease. Please take some time to read up on leishmaniasis so you are aware of the risks.

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️TRAVEL COMPANIONS/FLIGHT VOLUNTEERS*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
    We routinely send animals all over the world for adoptions. We are on the look out for people flying from Casablanca to Montreal, who already have a ticket and would happily escort animals to their new home. There is no cost to you. We cover everything for the animal. A volunteer meets you at the airport with the animal and then the same when you land to collect them. We struggle to find flight volunteers travelling this route so if you know of anyone please put us in touch.

    As our project unfolds we will have a lot of work for builders.

    We have dog kennels, a decking, isolation rooms, tiling planned over the first few months of next year.

    We also will be opening a cafe where we would like to make all the furniture ourselves from salvaged wood.

    If youve had experience in these trades please apply.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Arabic: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Assersif
    The accomodation in Assersif, is located down the road from the shelter. Approximately a 25 minute walk away right in the heart of the berber village of Assersif. A rural, no frills, berber village located a 5 minute drive from bustling Aourir (Otherwise known as Banana Village).

    Included in the accomodation is Food, Wifi, water & electricity, washing machine.

    The accomodation itself is a small 3 story terrace house, complete with a bathroom, kitchen & lounge room or common area. All areas are considered to be communal & will be shared by all volunteers.
    It is expected that all volunteers will show respect & consideration to other volunteers in the house, by respecting each others space & cleaning up after themselves to ensure a tidy & habitable environment.

    The bedroom is shared & can fit approximately 6-8 people at any given time. Volunteers are supplied with bed linen. Beds are bunk beds.

    The kitchen is medium sized with an fridge, small freezer, oven & gas stove for volunteers to prepare meals if you wish.
    The bathroom is large complete with a shower, basin & toilet. There is a washing machine available at the staff house and washing powder provided as well.

    Upstairs on the 3rd floor is a large rooftop terrace for volunteers to use. It is open & is a lovely place to relax, unwind & catch some sunshine in your daytime.

    Food
    Food is provided for the duration of your stay in the house.
    Food is replenished every Wednesday afternoon from the local souk with fresh fruit & vegetables along with staples such as: Pasta, rice, flour, eggs, spices & condiments. We are a mainly a non dairy or meat eating household.
    Dairy products & meat are not provided & can be purchased from local markets in the area.

    Our water is drinkable but at your own risk. We do not use a filter at the staff house. Water can be purchased from local markets in the area.

    IMPORTANT
    Our animals are adopted by people all over the world. To give the animals experience in a domestic environment once they leave the shelter, animals that are near to going to their forever homes, live in the staff house for a short time prior to their departure.
    Whilst the animals are living in the staff house, volunteers are responsible for ensuring the animals are walked, fed, socialised & domesticated. These duties are outside your normal hours at the shelter & will be scheduled into your time at the house.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The shelter is located in Assersif. A rural, no frills, berber village located a 5 minute drive from bustling Aourir (Otherwise known as Banana Village).
    Assersif itself is very quiet & we are surrounded by young families. It is also common to see the occasional donkey or wild pig running past the house or shelter. It doesn't get more authentic Morocco than that.

    We are also on the same road which leads to the famous watering hole: Paradise Valley which is approximately a 30 min drive from the shelter which is popular amongst tourists.

    Aourir (Banana Village) is the the closest village & boasts a local bustling market on Wednesdays where you can purchase fresh fruit/veg & local wares.
    Aourir is also the closest beach (Banana Point) which is popular with tourists & surfers.

    Tamraght & Tagahzout are a 10/15 minutes drive from Aourir & are famous for their laidback relaxed vibes & . Surfers & yogis flock to Tamraght & Taghazout all year round for its laid back, relaxed vibes & surf & yoga culture.
    There are many surf/yoga camps in the area, if you wish to take advantage & hire a board or take in a relaxing yoga class.

    Transport is available from the staff house via collective (shared) taxi. It is recommended that you have change on hand to be able to pay as the drivers often do not have change. Taxi rates are approximately:
    * To Aouir: 3 Dirham
    * From Aourir to Tamraght or Tagahzout: 5 Dirham (To go from Aourir to either Tamraght or Taghazout you will need to change taxis & catch another one.)
    * From Aourir to Agadir: Negotiable with the taxi driver

    There is no alcohol available to buy from the shops in Assersif, Aourir, Tamraght or Tagahzout. There are some restaurants in Tagahzout which serve alcohol in house when you dine.
    If you wish to purchase alcohol to drink at your own leisure, you will need to purchase it in Agadir.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day 5 days a week

Host ref number: 251675229456

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