Help us create a sustainable horse and animal sanctuary in Tenerife, Spain

Details

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  Description

  We are a couple with a shared dream of creating a sustainable horse and animal sanctuary on the beautiful island of Tenerife.
  
  Our vision is to grow together as a “finca family” — a community of like-minded people who share a deep passion for animal welfare, sustainability, and simple living. We rescue and care for hundreds of animals, including horses, donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, tortoises, guinea pigs, rabbits, hedgehogs, chickens, goats, ferrets, and more.
  
  Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and is woven into every aspect of daily life here. The sanctuary has been built almost entirely using reclaimed, scrap, and waste materials. We live a freegan lifestyle, with our food coming from rescued supermarket and farm surplus. We are fully solar powered, and our water systems are designed to be as sustainable as possible.
  
  Our project is incredibly rewarding, but it is also hands-on and requires commitment. Life here is about working together as a team, embracing a back-to-basics way of living, and truly enjoying the experience along the way.
  
  We live as a community centred around animal welfare and sustainable living. Volunteers must share these values and be happy living simply, without modern luxuries. Families and people with pets are welcome, as long as they are well suited to this lifestyle. This place is ideal for those who love meaningful work, good conversation, shared meals, and a slower, more intentional way of life — while being willing to work hard for the animals and the community.
  
  Please note: this is not a party environment, nor a place for drugs or minimal-effort volunteering in exchange for a cheap holiday. This is a real community with a strong heart for animals and our planet, and we ask that your work ethic reflects this.
  
  We are happy to accommodate dietary requirements, including vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets, as one of the owners is coeliac.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Enjoy Tenerife’s fantastic year-round climate while staying on a peaceful horse farm with stunning views of both the sea and the mountains, just five minutes from the coast. You’ll be surrounded by rescued animals, nature, and tranquillity. The area is very quiet, with no tourism, making it ideal for walking, hiking, climbing, scuba diving/snorkelling, and horse riding.
  
  You will experience what it’s truly like to live within a large, close-knit community, working together to create something positive for the world. Become part of the behind-the-scenes journey of a fast-growing animal charity, and gain real insight into both the rewards and challenges of animal welfare work.
  
  We can also offer valuable work experience in a range of different areas, including digital such as; fundraising, social media, and video editing. Also manual work such as building, mechanics, gardening and more. References from your stay for your CV can be provided upon request.

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

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  Help

  We currently have over 50 volunteers, around 30 of whom have no plans to leave. Because of this, we unfortunately can’t accept everyone, as we have limited spaces reserved for specific roles, outlined briefly below. That said, we always have room for the right people 😊 Our aim is to create a large, supportive “finca family” working hard together to build an amazing, sustainable animal paradise.
  
  The most important thing for anyone joining us is that they truly love animals, support sustainable living, and have a strong work ethic. We are a fully registered charity, run entirely by a community of dedicated volunteers, so commitment and shared values are essential for everyone to thrive here.
  
  Don't be put off, Although we are do look for experienced horse lovers, previous horse experience is not essential to join our team. As we need a wide range of skills, as well as general helpers, to support and grow this beautiful project. Below are some examples of the roles within our community — we have teams to suit many different people 🙂
  
  Current and ongoing roles include:
  
  *General helpers to assist with cleaning and cooking for volunteers
  
  *Handymen / construction helpers to help us build and develop the finca (all skill levels appreciated)
  
  *Hobbyist or experienced videographers to help create content for our successful YouTube and TikTok channels
  
  *Experienced gardeners to help develop and maintain our gardens
  
  *Drivers to assist with food collections and veterinary runs (must be over 25 with a full driving licence for insurance purposes)
  
  *Office and charity support, including fundraising, administration, and building collaborations — as we are funded solely by donations, this work is vital
  
  *Social media support for those with experience or interest in helping us grow our online presence
  
  *Animal welfare and sustainable living enthusiasts, especially those able to stay longer-term (3 months or more) and fully immerse themselves in the project
  
  *We are also always looking for experienced horse people to help with feeding, cleaning, training, riding, and general care. Applicants must be open-minded to non-traditional horsemanship, working with rescue horses in challenging situations, and operating with limited resources on an island. Interest or experience in positive, force-free methods is essential.
  
  If you have other skills, knowledge, or a strong passion for animals and sustainable living — including eco-building, sustainability practices, or alternative ways of living — please feel free to message us. We love learning from one another and growing together.
  
  Please note: We are located on the island of Tenerife, not mainland Spain, even though some maps may suggest otherwise.
  
  Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Everywhere and anywhere, caravan, cave or wooden hut on the farm, you must be flexible with accommodation to stay here, as it in community living and very rustic with animals everywhere. We have fantastic views and environment however the accommodation is very very rustic, dusty, basic but cute. We are like a big family so it has never been a problem so far if all you need is a comfy bed and shelter. 😉😅

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  What else ...

  We are in a great location for buses. Only a few minutes to walk to the beach, some chances we can take the horses out riding . Always places to see in tenerife and the weather is always great

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have many digital nomads. We have wifi available in some of the finca for general use and we also have an office for working

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have beautiful spots for people to park their campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We can accept pets as long as they are fine with all animals and people, as we have cats, chickens etc all free

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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