William & Maya

United Kingdom
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Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Activities we are interested in:
We have enjoyed Workaways in Ireland, Spain, Portugal & Bulgaria, and are now looking for opportunities to be with other volunteers, in nature, or helping animals and people. Please drop us a message!
Description
Hello!

We are partners Will and Maya enjoying our second year of seasonal travel.

Will is a musician, climber and cook and, though we both love nature, is the more outdoorsy one of us two. Maya is a writer and artist with a background in marketing, social media and photography. We are conscious about our actions and way of life, and always try to prioritise the climate and develop community care as we travel.

- Looking for: We love most to help at places where we can positively impact the local community of people and animals, and especially enjoy working alongside other volunteers. We are really keen to develop our skills in permaculture, rewilding, creating art, writing, music, and more.

- Needs: We are both vegan and cook well with whatever is available. Maya works online through video calls for a couple of hours a week so she will occasionally need stable internet access. We travel on foot and public transport, so may ask for a lift to/from your place if very remote!

We both have over a decade of hospitality experience in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, and activity centres, and eclectic resumes of physical, mental and creative work.

- WA History:
Spain: A donkey sanctuary, maintaining stables and feeding/caring for the animals; a mythological art project, with child care and cooking; hempcrete building on an eco-construction site and maintaining the vegetable garden.
Portugal: 3 months at an artistic guesthouse, event space, bar and community centre.
Bulgaria: House and dog sitting; preparing a house and land for a new guesthouse.
England: Construction, animal care, gardening and housekeeping at a Vegan sanctuary and campsite.

We are rugged and capable people. Our various skills and attributes complement each other well, granting us a strong roster of skills that make us a powerful team and reliable individual workers. Between us, we have experience with manual labour, hospitality, marketing, and working with and caring for animals and children.

Maya identifies as queer and has ADHD, please bear this in mind if you would like to host us, as s she does not wish to be in an environment that is unsafe for her.
We are also intersectional feminists and firm supporters of Palestinian liberation.

We can't wait to participate in your world and community, and hope you wish to host us too! :) x
Interests
Languages
Plant care
Performing arts
Fashion or beauty
Blogging
Art & design
Charity work
Adventure sports
Sailing / Boating
Writing
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Photography
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
LGBTQ
Hitchhiking
Hiking
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Events & social
DIY & crafts
Culture
Cooking & food
Camping
Books
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
Maya is interested in improving Spanish to a fluent level, and tutors English literature and language. Will is learning Spanish.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Languages
Some knowledge of:
Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Being an elderly companion
Charity Work
Able to teach about:
Art Projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping with Computers/ Internet
House sitting
More details about your skills
Maya:
- Work Experience: I have accumulated a diverse skillset through working as a professional writer, running my own tutoring business, and volunteering/working in hospitality roles for 10+ years including cashiering, waitressing, ticketing and bartending.
- Gardening: Worked collaboratively to cultivate our family's allotment, preparing the soil, planting and maintaining fruits, vegetables and herbs. WA experience mainly maintaining veg plots & planting.
- Animal Care: I grew up with a Labrador and ginger tabby and was the primary walker and feeder for the dog. I've helped on my grandmother's farm, caring for two donkeys, a dog, two cats and an anxious, rescued horse. WA experience includes donkeys, cats, dogs, pigs, goats.
- Children: I have babysat a range of ages, including a trio of Spanish and English-speaking kids aged 3, 7, 11. I looked after my younger brother after school by cooking, entertaining, and helping with homework. WA experience includes ages 3-15.
- Arts: Creativity has been a guide in my life, and I've found fulfilment through various arts, including writing, printmaking, painting, crocheting, photography, acting, costume design, and pottery.
- Marketing: I have worked in numerous professional roles that involved social media promotion, copywriting, SEO, blog writing, and persuasive tender writing. I have a keen interest in photography and would love to build a portfolio through WorkAway.
- Manual Labour: From 11-18, I was an active member of Sea Scouts and built up a natural strength through kayaking, sailing, rowing, and more. WA experience includes eco-construction site and roofing.

Will:
- Jobs I have worked include: Climbing instructor, guitar teacher, hotel operations, Pizza chef, professional cleaner, bar staff, Scouting Youth Commissioner/Leader, carer on a pilgrimage for the elderly, teaching English to Syrian refugees, and charity shop/retail work.
- I love playing and making music on any instrument available to me, particularly guitar which I'm happy to teach or jam along with.
- I will also climb anything, rocks, trees, buildings... So please point me to your nearest boulders.
- A degree in Neuroscience and Philosophy has given me insight and wisdom into various world outlooks and approaches to looking after mental ill health.
- I am strong and in good physical health, so am keen to participate in manual work. I am very interested in learning carpentry.
- A good artist, I love creating things and have a particular eye for detail.
- I was a member of the Scouting Organisation throughout my youth, so I have plenty of experience with entertaining young people while also teaching them useful survival lessons.
Age
26 & 26
What else ...
We love to play card games and board games, seeing them as great communal ways to have fun and spark conversations. We are both conversational but are also able to entertain ourselves. Spending plenty of time outdoors and in nature is a priority for us. // Will is a climber and will try and get up anything, so point him out some rocks and nice trees.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegan

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26 Nov 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Seaside garden and orchard ...)

Sasha's wonderful property by the sea made for a lovely Workaway; we stayed for a couple of weeks in late October/November and felt comfortable, appreciated, and well looked after. We really recommend this Workaway experience.
We stayed in the side-house which had a private bathroom and cooking equipment. Sasha kept this well stocked with plenty… read more

(Excellent )

12 Nov 2024

Left by host (Seaside garden and orchard ...) for Workawayer ()

Many Thanks to Will and Maya who exemplify the WorkAway mission. They were wonderful guests going above and beyond on all the tasks. They assimilated into the community quite quickly with their musical and writing talents. I wish them all the best on their adventures!

(Excellent )

30 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with our campsite, rock ...)

I stayed at the camp as summer began to turn into autumn, and I had a wonderful experience. There was always a community of people around to talk, cook or climb with and endless nature all around to explore. I felt safe, comfortable and well looked after by the hosts Kris and Caner who were very kind to me.

Work: I was predominantly helping… read more

(Excellent )

30 Oct 2024

Left by host (Help with our campsite, rock ...) for Workawayer ()

Will stayed with us for almost a month, and we couldn’t be happier with his help! He worked hard on our construction projects and was always calm, polite, and super friendly. Will was respectful and positive, and he kept a great attitude the entire time. We’d recommend him to anyone and would be thrilled to welcome him back to the camp anytime!💛

(Excellent )

27 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Organic gardening, learning ...)

I had a wonderful two weeks with Veronika & her daughter, meeting lots of the local community, family & friends. Veronika is a fantastic cook, gardener and friend. Her dedication to work and play is admirable, and her writing is so inspiring!
Sometimes I worked alone, other times we cracked on as a pair. I always felt listened to, cared for, and… read more

(Excellent )

19 Oct 2024

Left by host (Organic gardening, learning ...) for Workawayer ()

Maya stayed with us for two weeks and helped with chores around the house and garden (cleaning, cooking, painting, stacking firewood etc. ). She also helped me with my homepage and did a photoshoot for me. Communication with her was very easy as she is an open, considerate and friendly person. Right from the beginning we had many topics to talk… read more

(Excellent )

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26 Nov 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Seaside garden and orchard ...)

(Excellent)

12 Nov 2024

Left by host (Seaside garden and orchard ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

30 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with our campsite, rock ...)

(Excellent)

30 Oct 2024

Left by host (Help with our campsite, rock ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

27 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Organic gardening, learning ...)

(Excellent)

19 Oct 2024

Left by host (Organic gardening, learning ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

1 Aug 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join our non-profit ...)

We stayed in this magical house of art, community and laughter for almost 3 months (Spring)
and left with heavy (yet full) hearts, bags of inspiration, and hope for the creative world beyond. In this homely house you will feel safe, appreciated and involved in all the work and happenings occurring around you. The hosts – the magnificent, creative… read more Hugo and the beautiful-spirited performer Lili – ensure this, and for us so did Stephi, the long-term volunteer and top chef, who also became our close friend and flatmate.

Artists of all types bring their unique vitality to the house, attracting kindred spirits and people full of warmth, creativity, community spirit, experimental play, and (of course) party. While staying here, we felt as one with the established and ever-evolving community all enshrined in the history of the Branco family.

Practically speaking: Aveiro is a well-connected city, situated between Lisboa and Porto, accessible by both train and bus. You can walk to public transport links within 20 minutes: we enjoyed days out to the beach, cities and local towns. There are plenty of shops for food and supplies, and a plethora of events and happenings beyond the community's schedule. It was easy to be Vegan here (special thanks to the veg soups at every café) and Maya could video call for remote work. We had a large double bedroom to ourselves and use of the communal areas (well-equipped kitchen, dining room/hang out area and patio garden). During the day these living spaces are often used by various associates of the house but are usually private to the volunteers in the evenings for peace and quiet.

Work-wise: We were mainly tasked with the upkeep of the bedrooms and shared-
living spaces, which were undoubtedly beautiful and charismatic, making the work satisfying
in its own right. Beyond this we would cook large meals now and then for visiting artists and
performers, run the bar on event-nights, help with the set-up of gigs, and clean up again the
next day. There is much scope for additional / different tasks too, particularly if you are full of
ideas!

Thank you so so much to everyone here that made our time special; you have built such an incredible space and community, and we will always be warmed by our memories of the time we spent here. So, as time moves us further from our stay, longing and loving keeps us connected to the community which lingers in our hearts and on the guitar strings, ink and paint in our hands.

(Excellent)

28 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Create countless memories and ...)

We had a fantastic time with Arne, Karishma, Burphy & Mr Grey. We pet & house sat and we were lucky to spend a week together around their trip. They are a calm, considerate and inspiring couple - full of ideas and stories. They made us feel very comfortable and right at home from the moment we arrived. They're very experienced at hosting people… read more

(Excellent)

24 Oct 2023

Left by host (Create countless memories and ...) for Workawayer ()

Will and Maya bring positivity and good vibes with them. They were housesitting for us while we were away and took good care of our dog Barfi and Cat- Mr. Grey as well as our home. We as well as our friends enjoyed their company on the many evenings we were out together :) I would recommend them highly to future guests as reliable, independent,… read more

(Excellent)

14 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help build our eco house and ...)

We had a lovely 3.5 weeks with Stephen and Marjolein, and despite our lack of construction experience, we were encouraged and welcomed to get fully involved with a great variety of tasks on the build site, in the garden, and at their nearby home. This stay was perfect for picking up new skills (particularly building and gardening) and for… read more

(Excellent)

16 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Be a part of our artistic ...)

What an experience! Dani, Ari and their family welcomed us and we immediately felt settled, excited and at peace in the land. They are incredibly warm hearted people: full of joy and infectious energy, who taught us much and who we shared many laughs with. Ari and Dani are great teachers, storytellers, dramatists and musicians! We spent many… read more

(Excellent)

8 Nov 2022

Left by host (Be a part of our artistic ...) for Workawayer ()

Will y Maya son una pareja fantástica, los dos son muy abiertos, simpáticos, siempre disponibles, buenos trabajadores y muy buenos cocineros. Ha sido un gusto compartir con ellos!
Graciaaas

(Excellent)

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