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17 Jan 2025
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Description
We are full in 2024. Welcome to join us on 14.2.2025. Min stay: 2months.
This is a charity project in a beautiful Istria peninsula. Our primary objective is to help the local communities in the Istria region. We support them in any way we can. We help people in need, work on local sustainable projects and preservation of local natural and cultural heritage.
In the last ten years we have hosted more than 1300 volunteers from 56 countries and created an inspiring space of cooperation, creativity and harmony among volunteers and the locals. In 2021 we were nominated for Salto award as one of the top five volunteering projects in Europe.
We host around 15 volunteers all year round. We are located in the village of Kastelec, 10 min drive by car from the coastal town of Koper.
Next groups - dates of arrival and departure:
14.2.-15.4.2025
14.2.-to 7.7. or 18.7.2025
15.4.-to 7.7. or 18.7.2025
We are looking for volunteers with renovation skills. Beside that we are also accepting other volunteers 18-30 years old through ESC program. All the costs are covered (transport, meals, accommodation).
There is a great variety of things to do, so if you want to bring out the hero in you, come and join us!Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity WorkArt ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsElderly CompanionshipTeachingGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpBabysitting and creative playCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We help local communities and NGOs in different Istrian villages, so we have warm and pristine relationship with local population. This enables volunteers to experience real Istria - its people, nature and traditions.
Our work is diverse, so you will learn many useful skills, from easy construction work to cooking. After work, everyone is encouraged to share their skills and talents, so there are frequent workshops, debates, movie nights...Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Our work is really diverse. We help people in need, help local eco farmers, organise workshops for kids, help in an animal shelter, help local charities, participate at local cultural events, clean overgrown terraces and paths, organise clean-up actions and much more...To do all that we need many helping hands.
Since our work is really diverse, we are not looking for specific profiles, but we are searching for volunteers who have enthusiasm, motivation and will to learn new skills.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Slovenian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We are offering short Slovenian language course.Accommodation
Volunteers will stay in volunteer center in Kastelec village. We have simple shared rooms that can accommodate 16 volunteers (2 rooms for 2 volunteers and 2 for 6 volunteers), 2 shared toilets and showers, big kitchen, living room, relaxation room and beautiful surroundings. Just behind the house we have a basketball court.
There are three vegetarian meals per day. We only cook vegetarian food, as we want to promote sustainability, not only in our volunteering but also in our daily life.What else ...
In the free time after lunch and in the evenings we share with one another our knowledge, play social games, walk on slackline, go swimming, rock climbing (there are great climbing sites nearby), play volleyball, basketball, read, watch movies and talk.
Our surroundings, Istria, is a fine region to practise hiking, biking and climbing, as much in the mountainous inland as at the coast.
Adriatic coast is near. There are unfrequent buses to coastal town of Koper that take 30 minutes.
About half an hour car drive from us are:
- A beautiful old town of Piran;
- Škocjan and Postojna caves.
Towns of Venezia, Ljubljana, Pula, Rovinj, Croatian islands and Julian Alps with Triglav national park are 1 to 2 hours away.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes, wifi available.
Space for parking camper vans
We have space for your camper/van.
Can possibly accept pets
We have a male dog that doesn't like other male dogs, but loves females. We have a cat and 10 chickens. All the pets that can harmoniously coexist with ours are welcome.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (71)
My experience was a little different than other volunteers because i focused on one project the whole time, I was able to build a treehouse/cabin! It's small, only big enough for a bed, with a little tree platform… read more
Working as a team in different jobs everyday (with the satisfaction… read more
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Feedback
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(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
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Communication:
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My experience was a little different than other volunteers because i focused on one project the whole time, I was able to build a treehouse/cabin! It's small, only big enough for a bed, with a little tree platform… read more
Working as a team in different jobs everyday (with the satisfaction… read more
it was amazing to host such a positive, beautiful person. Your music is still echoing in our ears and your Yesterday will stay with us forever ❤️ Thanks for being with us and all the best on your life journey. Big hug, Petra and Janez
we are very grateful to have you with us. It is just amazing how much of a great energy, enthusiasem and hardwork you contributed to the project. Thanks also for all the effort you put in the video. Big hug and lots of love from all of us!
I've joined from september until november 2021. It was the first project in a year of projects and I have to say, it was such a great experience. The combination of meeting locals, meeting other volunteers from all around Europe and the very nice hosts that were open to teach us everything. I would recommend this project to everyone looking… read more
it was a great pleasure to have you with us for 2 months. You are a great, hardworking, friendly person. Thank you for all your contribution to harmonious place, you were co-reating. What a group you were! Still missing you guys. Lots of love anf big hug,
Petra, Janez, Jan, Maja, Miki and Ron
I stayed here for two months through the ESC, and it's been two of the best months of my life.
If you join through ESC, you will live together with a diverse group of beautiful people from all across Europa at Petra and Janez's incredible volunteer center in Kastelec. Everyone in the group arrives and leaves at… read more
I would recommend this place to everyone! Thank you again for the wounderful experience and the countless memories made in Slowenia!
Petra and Janes have worked really hard to make a great impact on not only the local environment in Koper, but also the whole Slovenian society. They are people by passion and knows what really is important.
This place gave me the opportunity to learn about new cultures, how to live a more sustainable… read more
My stay was during winter month (November - December, 5 weeks) and it was definately a pleassure to meet Patra, Janez, Jan an Maya.
Even though it was cold outside we could go for walks, play games outside and had a swing in the hammock so don't be affraid to come during winter, you will still have an… read more
It was great to have you with us. You are such a positive person and it was a joy to be around you. We really appreciated your willingness to help and your hardworking, responsible attitude. Kids loved you. Everyone can only wish to have this kind of a volunteer. Thanks again for all your help and all the best on your life path!
I'm still adjusting to the deafening silence everywhere, after leaving this amazing group project. Two months full of music and laughter went by in an instant. The work was so divers it never managed to bore me, each day we'd meet new interesting people or see new places. In our free time we could do anything we want, from… read more
thank you. You are responsible, positive, adventurous and always willing to help. It was a pleasure to host you and we hope to meet you soon again!
it was a true pleasure to share our "everything" with you for two months. You are positive, calm, hardworking...and overall beautiful person. Thank you for eveything you did for the project and co-creating this harmonious experience for all of us.
Come back some day! All the best on our life path.
Petra, Janez, Maja, Jan, Damjan,… read more
Petra and Janez were excellent hosts and were very good at organising so many of us into our various daily jobs. They both have great energy and enthusiasm for helping the local community. Janez is very patient with the… read more
This experience was really fulfilling and interesting. I felt really good doing different things that helped others. This month was all about charity and great vibes. It's a great way to meet different people as well from different countries.
Say "hi" to Ronnie from me (best dog in town)
Petra and Janes, the creators of this… read more
We worked in the morning for 5 days, and rested in the afternoon that we can exprlore Katatelec… read more
I learned everyday, I could play guitar for the first time and I’m very gratefull to have been there. If you want to learn and help, this is the good place. At the moment, it means in 2019, they are renovating one house, so we did plastering, floor tiles, painting, and prepare rooms for other volunteers… read more
Petra and Janez are really tolerent and not specific with what they want from you. However sometimes I felt it was a bit unorganized and that bottered me and a few other volonteers.
Also they have one daughter of 2 and one son of 5 years old… read more
My head is… read more
In my free time I could… read more
Utterly incredible. I spent four weeks with the group and I was able to met over 100 new volunteers that came through the camp.
We worked for exactly four hours per day, not a minute more. Janez was very good about this!
The work was very fulfilling. We helped out farmers pick their crop,… read more
We really appreciated to meet and work with people from the area and the different projects we were working with, for example picking tomatoes, clean up around olive trees,… read more
We really appreciated to meet and work with people from the area and the different projects we were working with, for example picking tomatoes, clean up around olive trees, painting and build the… read more
thanks so much for staying with us. We apreciated your responsible, hardworking attitude and positive energy. I hope to meet you again some day. All the best on your life path,
Petra, Janez, Jan and Maja
Sorry for the long delay here! For anyone considering this workaway you should absolutely go for it. Janez and Petra are fantastic hosts. The workaway is well organized, the work is varied, the food is good and the volunteers are generally positive, fun people.
We stayed for 3 weeks and the work consisted of farming,… read more
I highly recommand to discover daily-life here ; yes, it will be noisy and sometimes very exhausting, but after your stay there, you'll realize how inspiring, enriching and enlightening it was.
You make the world a little bit better in the morning by helping local… read more
It was great to have you with us! You are hardworking, responsible, self-initiative persons. I hope to meet you again some day and dance some more tango with Jose :)
Big hug and all the best to you two!
Petra, Janez, Maja, Jan
Petra and janez are very lovely people with two very lovely kids and a very lovely dog. (Lovely! :))
They manage to create such a welcoming atmosphere where everybody can just be as they are. I never had this before. They are interested in who you are and what you do and this equally for every person who's… read more
thanks for being with us and for all the hard work you contributed to our project. All the best on your life journey and hopefully we will meet again some day.
Big hug,
Petra, Janez, Jan, Maja
Petra
it was pleasure to host you. You are such a friendly, positive and warm person. Thanks for all the hard work. We really hope to meet you again someday. Till than...all the best on your life path.
Hugs,
Petra, Janez, Jan, Maja
it was great to have you with us. Best wishes,
Petra
I stayed here for 3 weeks back in September. What na incredible place. Janez and Petra are incredibly kind, smart and welcoming hosts. The gang that was there with me at the same time was increible - such a good sense of humour and fun times in nature. The structure of morning circle,… read more
thanks for being with us. Thanks for all the hard work, good food, positive energy.
We wish you all the best and hopefully we will meet again some day.
Petra, Janez, Jan, Maja, Ron
it was great to have you with us. Such a great energy and humor you have!
Thank you for all the hard work!
And all the best on your life path,
hugs,
Petra. Janez, Jan, Maja, Ron
It was sooooogoooooooood to meet you !
Really chill place with a lot of joke, food and love. Easy life with lovely songs to make you up the morning. Cool calm ambiance on the house, and really beautiful view outside : forest, mountain, cave...
Thanks ! Love ! Prout !
Cyril
thank you for being with us! We appreciate your hard work and positive energy. Hope to meet you again someday.
Best wishes!
Petra, Janez, Jan, Maja, Ron
it was great to have you with us. We miss your great meals, your positive energy and warm personality. I hope to meet you again one day. Best wishes and big hug,
Petra and Janez
Janes also took us for climbing… read more
everyone staying there was lovely and the hosts were great.
we picked potatoes and grapes, tomatoes help with fire wood and getting a church ready to be renovated. but we still had loads of time for socialising, going for walks and exploring the… read more
The work there was varied (Helping in the animal shelter, helping people with disabilities, remove the broken branches and leaves in the fields near the house, clean-up actions...) and many times fun, and it wasn't hard.
The house during the winter is 5… read more
Hugs from all of us,
Petra, Janez, Jan, Bea, Anna, Rodruige, Katja, Zak, Maja, Filip :)
I enjoy to live communal life where we shered everything together.
I had fun, i learned a lot of new things about myself and my communication with others, i enjoied the helthy vegeterian meals we all cooked and it was defenitly positive expirience to live… read more
you are truly amazing people. Responsible, intelligent, hard working, adventurous, kind...It was a privilege to host you. We will miss you, but I know we will see each other soon and have many more opportunities to learn from each other.
Hugs,
Janez, Petra, Jan and Maja
we made an album with photos of the project from our beginnings till now. There is a picture of you and when Jan sees it he always screams dinosaaaur! It was really nice to have you here, you were massively hard working and responsible but always smiling, even when things were soo sad :)
We miss you, too! Come back soon.
Janez,… read more
our project is all about bringing a positive change into people's lives. So thank you for your feedback! It shows us we are on the right path :)
Many thanks also for all the work you gifted to the project!
We were happy to have you with us!
Janez, Petra and Jan
thank you for your hard work and your kindness. You are a wonderful person. I wish you could stay longer with us. Come back any time!
Petra, Janez and Jan
it was pleasure to live, work and have fun together with you :) I hope you enjoyed the rest of your journey and that we will meet you again. Mosquito nets are serving us well :) Thanks again for all your calmness and responsibility you were willing to take over with volunteers' coordination....it is great when you feel, you can… read more
if possible, we would never let you leave :) It was really good to have you around - so calm, positive, self-initiative....Thanks for the hot water - it was good to take a shower after we came back from the festival. You are welcome to come back anytime and good luck on your journey! Love, Petra, Janez, Jan
I spent one month here but i wish a stayed a way longer.
You can feel this place is special as soon as you walk uphill to the belltower and the big house that is just near to it.
And as you look around, to the newly tyded basketball court, the slackline, the Secret (and… read more
Hope to see you again soon :)
we miss you already. Thanks for all your help and positive energy. Hopefully you are coming back some day. All the best and big hug from Petra, Jane, Jan and Ron :)
Thank you for all your help. It was great to have you here.
I wish you all the best,
Petra and the team
Janez, Petra, Nara and Vida are welcoming and interesting people through and through, and they insist on a wonderful way of life.
The work was more like play on some days, and the food and sunset was to die for every single day.
Thank you so… read more
it was great to have you here...Hope you are coming back some day.
All the best and big hugs,
Petra and the team
The work was really varied. I tried everything from potato picking to drystone walling to making wooden shutters. The opportunity to go and work for locals… read more
we miss you already...I hope you are coming back someday,
hugs and all the best on your life journey,
Petra, Janez, Jan, Ron, the team :)
It was truly a life changing experience which opens your eyes to a completely different way of living. I wish that everyone could come and stay here, if so the world would be a different place.
Where do I start with our time there. Firstly, the people that you… read more
Hopefully you are really coming back some day. Thank you for all the hard work and your great companionship,
I wish you all the best!
Petra
Petra and Janez,
Thank you so much for your hospitality, kindness and patience towards me and an even bigger thanks for your courage of starting a project like this and to wholeheartedly make an effort to make it work. I admire all those… read more
it was great to have you here. We will definitelly continue working for local community...we plan to dedicate even more od our time for that in the future. Welcome back any time and safe journey on,
Petra and team
What we liked about the work: Each type of work was never forced. There was always something to do for everyone of all ages and you had the option to choose. Loved the… read more
thank you so much for all your help. We hope to meet you again. All the best!
Hugs and kisses
We loved our stay there.. with all challenges, discussions and funny moments..This is an ambitious project with a great and unique vision how to help this region and local community.… read more
I enjoyed every single day of my stay, you are really really amazing people, with the most awesome project that I could ever imagine! I loved working together with… read more
It is really an experience you can not get elsewhere. In the morning we woke up by the sound of the guitar, sometimes playing it ourselves. We met such great people and had the possibility to try things, we never did before! Renovating an abandoned house, we could… read more
We stay a bit more than two weeks and did a lot of work in this time ;-)
We also had a nice hiking tour to some Italian Waterfalls and a chillout-day on the Croatian "beach".
In our opinion, it was a bit less structure in working there but in the end a very nice experience.
If we find the time,… read more
Thanks to this place to be there and teach the art of community all around the world.
LOVE
Lilly
Go there because of the project, hard work or not (depending of daily priorities), the waterfalls,… read more