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Christopher

Germany
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Laos - from Feb 2023 until Feb 2023
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Description
Hey,
my name is Chris, I recently turned 30 years and I am from Germany. I was born in Berlin, in the last 9 years I lived in Cologne and studied History, German language and literature and after that Social Work.
For five years now I am working with teenagers which don’t fit in our system in a Youth welfare facility. They do not go to school, have family problems and need support in many areas of life. So I have a lot of experience working with young people and I really enjoy supporting people.
Now that I have completed my studies I decided that I don’t want to work in a fulltime job yet. I had a frustrating year with Covid and stuff and I need a break from my daily routine. BUT I do want to be productive and do something with value. That’s why I am really looking forward to my workaway adventure.

In my freetime I like going on biking tours or go swimming, I read a lot and I’m always up for a beer or two. What my friends like about me is that I am a good listener and I think I can put myself in other people's shoes well.
I like to joke around with the people around me and like everyone to have a good time. Nevertheless, sometimes I also need time for myself.

I am both a spontanous person but also well organized and if I do something, I do it with all my energy and my heart. I am a fast learner, who likes to work in a team with other people. I believe that everyone can do something to make the world a better place. I am a hardworking person and I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.
Interests
Beach
Nature
Camping
Hitchhiking
Water sports
Cycling
Outdoor activities
Charity work
Gardening
Sustainability
Animals
Pets
Books
Music
Vegetarian or vegan
Politics / Social justice
Culture
History
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Beginner
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
DIY and building projects
Eco Projects
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Teaching
Gardening
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
General Maintenance
More details about your skills
10 years ago I lived in Ecuador for two years and worked there as a teacher at a school in the countryside. Together with the children we started a recycling project and planted a vegetable garden. So I have some skills in teaching, in organizing and in working with young people like I did for the last 5 years in my job.
I also have experience with gardening, last year we had a field with friends where we grew vegetables.
I had my own dog and I worked in two dog shelters in Greece ("ark of hope shelter" in Veria and "hopeland" near Thessaloníki). So I know how to handle dogs and have experience in giving medicine, cleaning, feeding and so on.

I am willing to do any kind of work and can learn quickly if I am shown something beforehand.
Age
31
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I don't eat meat

Feedback

15/12/2022

Left by host (Help us rescue, foster and ...) for Workawayer ()

Chris was one of those volunteers that end up extending their stay, and specially at the time it really helped us have some stability and someone reliable to count on. He always promptly picked up the extra work in the morning when we were understaffed and that helped us a lot! He was experienced with shelter work and very comfortable with the… read more

(Excellent )

28/10/2022

(Help us rescue, foster and ...)

This summer I spend 8 remarkable weeks in the sanctuary and had a really good time! As it was summer and temperatures were really high during the day most of the work took place in the early morning with cleaning the depots, poop picking and feeding and in the evening when it's finally time to go on walks in the nearby areas and closing the dogs… read more for the night. As always when working with living beings and especially this wonderful dogs, you can never be sure what the day will bring, but for sure you will not get bored. Help is always needed, whether it's going on vet trips, cooking, making sure the dogs get fresh water in the afternoons, brushing them so they aren't too hot or just spending time with the dogs, cuddle them, play with them and give them the attention they deserve.

The accommodation was the best I have ever experienced in a workaway project, every volunteer has his/her own room with private bathroom - I even had a nice balcony with a great view. The same goes for the food - whatever food we wanted, we could simply write on the shopping list. Most of the food was vegetarian and during the time I was there, we took turns cooking. Even if I wanted a snack in between, I could just prepare something on my own.

In their free time the volunteers can go on walks, spend time at the pool (!) and even use the car if it's not needed for the dogs and arranged beforehand. Like this I was able to explore the surroundings, go to Saklikent canyon and to beautiful Patara beach. One time we even took some dogs to the beach and it's so heart warming to see the dogs enjoy being in nature, the water and the whole trip, that I would definitely recommend this to future volunteers!

The people who work and live at the sanctuary dedicate their entire lives to the welfare of the dogs, often putting their own needs second. Working with the dogs on a daily basis, watching and listening if there is a fight between two or more dogs (which doesn't happen often, but still needs to be watched out for), the dogs barking at night and many organisational and sometimes interpersonal challenges make working at the sanctuary challenging at times. But what the people there and also future volunteers get in return is unconditional love and affection from the dogs, is the knowledge of having saved many of them from certain death as an abandoned puppy, an injured street dog or a dog abused and disappointed by humans. As a volunteer, for a limited time, you can do your part to ensure that the dogs continue to live as good a life as they can in this sanctuary, thanks to the valuable work of the people there.

I enjoyed my time there very much, postponed my departure several times and can only recommend a stop there to anyone who has a big heart for dogs. Thank you for a wonderful time!

(Excellent )

04/08/2022

(Non-profit organisation ...)

Well this place is definitely one of a kind! I was able to spend a little over 2 wonderful months in Cisnadie and I had a really good time! This place and the atmosphere are super warm and welcoming, shortly after arriving I felt like being part of the big family and from that point the attachment to the place and the people would grow more and… read more more.

The working schedule is organized by the volunteers themselves. There're three different shifts every day - morning, afternoon and evening - and each shift is around 5 hours. The tasks are varying depending on the shift but most of the time the volunteers are helping with cleaning the shelter homes and the kitchen as well as sometimes helping serving meals. Apart from that there are always different activities during the day in which help is appreciated and everybody can participate and volunteers being good with tools can always find something to repair, too. The work is never to hard, it's always possible to take breaks, to have chats, to joke around with all the family members and other volunteers - you can feel the nice atmosphere and that everybody is having a good time. Like this working doesn't even feel like that, it feels more like participating in the daily life of a big family.

On days off there are plenty of things to do, like discovering the village Cisnadie and the mountains, forests and landscapes in general (try hiking on top of the mount Vagura!), going to the city of Sibiu, which is nearby and really beautiful or even going on little trips (I was able to explore Brasov and Sighisoara). It's safe to hitchhike or to take an Uber, but often you will also find someone giving you a ride to Sibiu as almost every day someone is going and there you can find train and bus stations.

The accommodation is super nice, the guest quarters for the volunteers are in a seperate area with bedrooms and living room where you can hang out and relax after the day is over and bond together with people from all over the world. When I was there in times I had my own room, in times we were sharing it with two or three other volunteers. The food is provided and there's always plenty of it, it's cooked daily and mostly with meat, but you can also prepare something yourself (for example if being vegetarian).

The best part of this project of course are the people. The environment is very international and like that there are a lot of opportunities to meet people from different cultures and all different parts of the world as well as Romanians and to exchange knowledge, practice languages, and of course having a lot of fun and creating countless great memories. You can also learn a lot about charity work and the situation of the Roma in Romania.
I miss all the kids (a lot!) and to play ping pong with them, the volunteers and the place itself and like so many others I'm hoping to come back one day.

(Excellent )

11/07/2022

Left by host (Non-profit organisation ...) for Workawayer ()

Having Chris with us has been amazing! He first came expecting to stay at least two weeks, but ended up staying two months with us! He is a very hard worker, always committed to his tasks. He's great with kids and very responsible. We can't thank him enough for everything he did!

(Excellent )

10/06/2022

Left by host (Active outdoor help in the ...) for Workawayer ()

Chris was a very quite and hardworking guy so it was great to have him at our place

(Excellent )

09/06/2022

(Active outdoor help in the ...)

I stayed two weeks and a half here and had a really good time thanks to the lovely and warm people working there and putting their hearts and their souls in this place.

The working days always started relaxed with coffee, and as most of the time I was working alone I could freely arrange my work and working hours. My main task was carrying… read more

(Excellent )

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15/12/2022

Left by host (Help us rescue, foster and ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent )

28/10/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help us rescue, foster and ...)

(Excellent )

04/08/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Non-profit organisation ...)

(Excellent )

11/07/2022

Left by host (Non-profit organisation ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent )

10/06/2022

Left by host (Active outdoor help in the ...) for Workawayer ()

Chris was a very quite and hardworking guy so it was great to have him at our place

(Excellent )

09/06/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Active outdoor help in the ...)

(Excellent )

06/04/2022

Left by host (Help needed with our ...) for Workawayer ()

Christofer is a person with a huge heart and very understanding.His very mature and logical and transmits a very good and positive energy which comes from within .He helped us so much,he is a very fast learner and understands the rules .During his stay we had also many conversations as he is a person you want to talk .I hope one day we will meet… read more

(Excellent )

22/03/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help needed with our ...)

Hard to find words to describe all the warm thoughts and feelings which come to my mind when thinking back of my time!
This place is home to 120 dogs and was my part-time home from December to February.

Dogs
Some of the dogs live in the big house with the volunteers and some outside in large cages. They are all kept in really good condition,… read more receive good food and if needed medicine twice a day and there is a timetable to assure that all of them have enough time to play and run outside with other dogs. Everything is cleaned often (picking up poop, mopping, washing are volunteers tasks!) and in good conditions. Of course, the dogs - many of them have a long way of suffering behind them - are all incredibly adorable, playful, enjoy cuddling and found their way straight into my heart. It was wonderful living close in one house with so many of them. I can't imagine a better sanctuary - anyway and even more so if you know the conditions in other shelters and so called "shelters", no matter in which country!

Accommodation/food/people
There is enough space for all volunteers, depending on how many we were at the time I shared a room with two others or had my own room. I never experienced a better supply of food for the volunteers, whatever we needed, we got it. Every night we cooked and ate together.
The people coming are united in their belief that animals deserve a dignified life. So a lot of good people! I had a lot of fun and memorable moments while sitting on the steps and talking about life, at the bonfire, drinking wine and listening to music, celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve or going together on a walk with some dogs.

Place
Making sure that everything is alright can sometimes be very challenging. It's a lot of work, a lot to remember and a big responsibility, all for the well-being of the dogs! The days go by really fast and it never gets boring.
Quickly, I got used to the daily routine. I got a warm and safe feeling in a way like being outside time and space - when the world is going bananas it's nice to work for something you believe in and I grew together with the dogs and people around me.
Natasa as the host and founder, is a woman with a huge heart and certain values. And of course she knows everything about dogs! She created this unique place for dogs and one has to remember that she is holding this place together and without her and her everlasting efforts, it wouldn't work. I'm very glad for everything I've learned and that we had the opportunity to share some moments together and I hope to see her and the dogs again!
I left thankful and sad and I'm still thinking back to my time.

(Excellent )

26/03/2022

Left by host (Live music, radio station, ...) for Workawayer ()

Chris is a sweet heart ❤
Very nice guy . Very smart and emphatic soul . We wish to see him again and again !!!

Super top n. 1 !!!

(Excellent )

24/03/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Live music, radio station, ...)

I spend three remarkable weeks at this project and I enjoyed my time there!
Even though getting there wasn't easy (coming from Shkodra you have to take the bus to Velipoje and get out at the roundabout before entering Velipoje, then hitchhike to Baks-Rrjoll) I received a warm welcoming from the host Domenico and all the other volunteers.
The… read more

(Excellent )

14/03/2022

Left by host (Help at our dog shelter in ...) for Workawayer ()

We can totally recommend Chris! :)
He was a good and hard worker, he didn't hesitate to help each day and make his hands dirty. He was a big help! Chris is a very friendly and nice person. Ilias liked his company a lot. Big plus, he didn't only do a great job he is also a true animal lover! We enjoyed having you here! You're always welcome back,… read more

(Excellent )

26/02/2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help at our dog shelter in ...)

I spent four weeks in the shelter in November/December 2021 and I had a really good time! Although the circumstances were hard sometimes because of the cold weather in winter and the containers not having heating, I was provided with everything I needed like a lot of blankets, food and a lot of sweets!
This place is perfect for those traveling… read more

(Excellent )

27/11/2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help make my grandfather's ...)

Theo saved me! Another project was cancelled and Theo was so kind to be my host spontaneously. And I think maybe it all happened for a reason. Because from the beginning on it felt like coming home. Theo picked me up from the train station and we went to the house, which is very cozy!
We had deep talks and lots of laughs over the days while having… read more

(Excellent )

11/11/2021

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Having Christopher as a workaway guest was a real blessing. He is everything that he describes in his profile. Hardworking, friendly,open, with a great ability to adjust in the new enviroment. He takes every task with care and full responsibility.
Totally recommended.

(Excellent )

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