CALL FOR ESC VOLUNTEERS IN WILDLIFE CENTRE IN ITALY
Are you interested in learning more about wild animals keeping and exploring different cultures? Apply now for this European Solidarity Corps long term volunteering project!
Project details
- Where? Poggio San Lorenzo, Italy
- When? From June 2025 to February 2026
- How long? 9 months
- Who can participate? 18-30 years old citizens, living in EU member countries or Ukraine
- Deadline for applying: as soon as possible
Activities
- Taking care of injured or sick local animals: distributing food, cleaning enclosures, with the final aim of (if and when possible) reintroducing them into their natural environment
- Taking care of exotic animals that cannot be released in the wild: distributing food, cleaning enclosure
- Promoting and spreading evolutionary process knowledge through the direct observation of animals
- Carrying out education activities and environmental education to support the development of a right relationship between man and other animals
- Performing research activity in the field of behavioural ecology in collaboration with universities and research institutes.
- Communication and social media (taking pictures and videos, writing texts for the centre’s website and social media).
Volunteers will work 35 hours per week on assigned tasks, with two consecutive free days per week (not necessarily Saturday and Sunday). These hours include 1 hour for a meeting with the coordinator of the activities, that coaches the volunteers on their tasks, meetings with the mentor, that evaluates the volunteers’ project, satisfaction and learning process. It’s also possible to organise Italian language course, if the Italian-speaking volunteers, supported by Kora staff members and provided with all activities we made in the past, are happy to lead it. If this is the case, the language course will take 2 hours a week.
Volunteers will dedicate an additional 7 hours per week to shared community responsibilities such as cleaning and cooking. While we encourage volunteers to engage in community life, we expect everyone to approach their roles with dedication and reliability.
Criteria
- 18-30 years old citizens living in EU member countries or Ukraine
- Available for the whole duration of the project
- A passion for outdoor physical work
- Collaborative spirit with a willingness to take initiative
- Practical problem-solving skills and adaptability
- Respect for community living, sustainable practices, and eco-friendly lifestyles
- Ready to live in an intercultural context in a rural area, where the closest bus stop is at 20 minutes on foot downhill, and the closest shops are at 10 minutes by car
- Basic level in English
- Interested in learning Italian
- Driving license is very welcome.
Logistics and support
- Food will be bought by volunteers with a food allowance of 6 euros per day, given monthly, and cooked autonomously in their house kitchen
- Accommodation will be in a house at 2 minutes walking distance from the Park, in rooms shared with other volunteers of the same gender. The house is equipped with kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, wi-fi, and washing machine
- Pocket money of 6 euros per day
- Health insurance (www.henner.com)
- Travel expenses will be refunded up until a fixed amount (211 € from 100 to 499 km distance, 309 € from 500 km to 1999 km, 395 € if more; the budget is higher if more than half of the itinerary is made by sustainable means of transport: train, bus or carpooling).
Hosting organisation
The project is hosted by Giardino Faunistico di Piano dell’Abatino, founded in 1980, a rescue center for injured, sick, or confiscated wild animals, including those from vivisection labs or harmed by humans. The park cares for around 400 animals, aiming to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild when fully recovered.
How to apply
- Fill the online form below
- Send your CV with picture to [email protected], writing “Application for Abatino Wildlife Centre” in the object of the mail.
Infos and questions: [email protected]
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The deadline to apply is as soon as possible. The pre-selected candidates will be invited to an online interview.