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29 Apr 2025
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Description
We are looking for volunteers with experience of animal welfare to help at our sanctuary. Could this be something for you? Please read on to find out more.
𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝘀:
- Hands-on animals volunteers
- Vet nurse/ animal carer/ persons experienced with animal care
- Fundraisers
- Permaculture expert, gardener and/or cook
- Someone with experience of construction work/building
Embedded in the wonderful countryside of the island of Kos lies our animal sanctuary, the mainstay of our charity work on this beautiful island. We are a small non-profit and non-governmental organization, established 15 years ago and primarily dedicated to the protection of animals. Our approach is to tackle problems at the root and act sustainably. We work in different areas, always with the aim of improving the conditions of animals (and humans) and creating long-term change. Our key areas include sterilization programmes for stray animals, rescue of and care for injured/sick animals, education and law enforcement.
To do all this as efficiently as possible, we rely on volunteers. The animals in our care need to be attended to several times a day, enclosures need to be cleaned, animals have to be taken to the vet and back, stray animals need to be caught, the facilities must be maintained, and so on. The work is very varied and by no means boring. 😉 In this field of activity you need a lot of flexibility and spontaneity, as emergencies often throw all plans out of the window, but the work is highly rewarding. Every animal deserves attention and help. And just as important to us as the animals are people and the planet. We are all one, and if we treat everyone with compassion and respect, we bring a lot of positive energy into this world.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀. 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 (𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 '𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽'), 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
- A vet nurse/ animal carer/ person experienced in animal care – please contact us for more details.
- A permaculture expert/ gardener/ passionate cook – please contact us for more details.
- A fundraiser: assistance with fundraising is needed, as expenses for animal food, medicines, vehicles, general maintenance, etc. are covered only by the donations we receive. This means that we need volunteers who are keen to reach out to people, who enjoy talking to people and informing them about our work. You could even consider developing and implementing your own fundraising campaign – all efforts and ideas will be highly appreciated.
Interested? If you have a manual driving licence, good English and some experience of animal welfare, please get in touch and let us know how you would like to help. We speak German, English and French.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Gardening
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers from all over the world meet at our animal sanctuary. Through the shared work, living together, and the frequently emotional situations, many close friendships have already been formed. We support each other, no matter what situation each one of us is in. And we all can learn from each other in the time we spend together – cooking, baking, maybe even music, dancing, singing? – all your talents will be highly appreciated. Due to the nature of our work, we often interact with local people too.
Help
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
- Caring for animals on-site (feeding, shampooing, spending quality time with them, etc.)
- Cleaning kennels/cattery
- Cleaning chicken/goat/sheep sheds
- Walking dogs
- Painting and maintenance when needed
- Gardening
- Off-site help such as cat catching (together with an experienced supervisor)
- Trips to and from the vet
- Sharing cooking, baking, etc.
- Cleaning the accommodation
- Fundraising
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
All volunteers live on-site on our large premises. The downstairs flat in the main house is shared between all volunteers. The flat is spacious with a kitchen, modern bathroom, table and couch, and has a balcony with a picturesque view of the surrounding countryside and the sea. There are beds outside the main house, just 10 steps away, in a small bamboo lodges. There is also an outside shower for the adventurous. You get to enjoy the peace and quiet of our magical place, and the beautiful sunsets. There are several hammocks and chilling chairs for quiet times.
What else ...
We have a car that can be shared by volunteers when not being used for our work. Alternatively, you can organize a rental car (possibly with your fellow volunteers) so that you can get around in your free time as you wish.
We are located in the countryside, a 20-minute walk from the village. However, we are off-site almost every day, which gives you ample opportunity to buy food etc. The beach is 10 minutes away by car or an hour’s walk. Whenever possible, we combine trips to save petrol, which means you can simply stop at the beach on your way back from off-site jobs and enjoy a siesta. There are plenty of attractions worth seeing on Kos, and we’ll be happy to tell you about all the secret places…..
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (29)
During my stay I met many amazing and strong people and lovely animals.
The work with the animals was very rewarding and mainly about cleaning, feeding and cuddling. You learn a lot about communication with cats and dogs and about their health. If found the work perfectly doable, but… read more
I learned incredibly much during my time there. On the one hand, of course, about working with the animals. Irene gave us a lot of helpful tips, especially about handling and training the dogs. Also the other volunteers were happy to… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(4.9)
During my stay I met many amazing and strong people and lovely animals.
The work with the animals was very rewarding and mainly about cleaning, feeding and cuddling. You learn a lot about communication with cats and dogs and about their health. If found the work perfectly doable, but… read more
I learned incredibly much during my time there. On the one hand, of course, about working with the animals. Irene gave us a lot of helpful tips, especially about handling and training the dogs. Also the other volunteers were happy to… read more
The work was quite flexible but mostly we had to do the… read more
Right from the start you are thrown into the work, and you learn so fast. The work is definitely NOT boring, it is super varied and no day is ever the same. We loved it all, and especially enjoyed frequently doing offsite jobs such as cat-catching.… read more
I stayed there for one month, worked with nice people and animals and discovered the beautiful island of Kos. At the time I visited we have been four volunteers and shared the work at the shelter. The normal "day shift" was… read more
Irene is a wonderful person, full of energy: Spending some of our free time with her was a blast and we had many crazy and spontaneous adventures. Working with, and learning from her was very rewarding. She carries herself with such openness and confidence; I felt very accepted, and at the same… read more
My stay here was spontaineous and maybe a little short. But in those three weeks I saw so much of beautiful Kos, learned so much about animal care and compassion towards every single human and animal, which is for an animal lover like me truly heart… read more
Irene who’s in charge of the place is absolutely amazing. She’s fun, very easy going and beautiful to the core. You can tell she truly cares about the well-being of the animals, and being a vet nurse she really knows her stuff, and I’m sure it would’ve been a great learning experience if I would’ve stayed… read more
Jula is a very positive-minded and cheerful person. Communication was great, and she was happy to help wherever needed. She is a good team player and fun to work with!
Irene was super welcoming and the communication with her was great! She is a very funny… read more
Although he is a smoker, he was always respectful and, as requested, did not smoke in the house. He left his accommodation clean… read more
I stayed here from mid january until mid february and can say i left really happy and sad, happy for great opportunity to stay here and sad that i was leaving.
The job was easy for the most part because it was winter so mostly house… read more
I had a great time spending time with the animals and team members from all over the world. The work mostly consisted of taking care of animals, cleaning runs and collecting donations.
There is lots to do in your free time:… read more
She is completely honest and trustworthy and capable of working under pressure. She has become part of the family and we would welcome her back any time. Thank you Lena for all your help.
