Slovenia
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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 such as sustainable tourism, eco farming and preservation of local natural and cultural heritage. There is a huge potential for sustainable development in the region, but new knowledge and young energy is needed to move forward. This is exactly what we would like to bring here.
In the last six years we have hosted more than 1000 volunteers from 56 countries and created an inspiring space of cooperation, creativity and harmony among volunteers and the locals. In 2017 our project received the Energy Globe Award, one of the most important international environmental awards, as the best environmental project in Slovenia.
In 2019 we moved to our new volunteer center that hosts 10-20 volunteers all year around. We are located in the village Kastelec located 20 min by bus from the coastal town of Koper.
In 2021, we are going to host groups of volunteers through the EU solidarity corps program (ESC). We are going to welcome 15 volunteers (age 18-30) from all around the EU who will join us for 59 days. Volunteers' transportation costs, accommodation, food, insurance and 4 eur of pocket money per day will be covered through the program. All the volunteers need to arrive and leave on the same day.
Dates of arrival and departure of next two ESC groups will be:
1. group: 5.4.2021- 01.06.2021 (59 days) - open call - project funds approved
2. group: 14.6.2021- 11.8.2021 (59 days) - project funds approved
There is a great variety of things to do, so if you want to bring out the hero in you and experience living in luxurious simplicity, come and join us!
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
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...
Our work is really diverse. We help people in need, locals with farming and renovation of traditional stone houses, organize workshops for kids, help in an animal shelter, help local Red Cross organization, participate at local cultural events, clean overgrown terraces and paths, organize clean-up actions...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.
We decided to dedicate our work to non-profit charity activities only. This makes us different from most other hosts, but also means that we do not create profit to cover volunteers' costs. Therefore we kindly ask volunteers to contribute 5 eur per day towards the costs of their food. In case you are coming through ESC project, all the costs are covered through the program.
English: Fluent
Slovenian: Fluent
Volunteers will stay in volunteer center in village Kastelec. We have shared rooms that can accomodate 21 volunteers (3 rooms for 2 volunteers, 1 for 4 volunteers and 2 for 6 volunteers), 3 shared toilets and showers, big kitchen, living room, relaxation room and beautiful surroundings. Just behind the house we have basketball court.
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 in the coast. Istria is one of the Europe's top locations for culinary experiences.
Adriatic coast is near.
There is a regular bus to Koper that takes 20 minutes.
About half an hour car drive from us are:
- The old Venetian town of Piran
- Škocjan and Postojna caves.
Towns of Venezia, Ljubljana, Pula, Rovinj and Julian Alps with Triglav national park are 1 to 2 hours away.
For our volunteers we organized charity discounts for some of Slovenia's most interesting activities, such are Soča Valley's rafting and canyoning and hiking in caves of Postojna and Škocjan.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Yes, wifi available.
We have space for your camper/van.
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
More than two
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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