🇮🇹 ESC Volunteering in Italy 🐾 Animal Welfare, Shelter Care & Sanctuary Life at Porcikomodi 🐕

A sanctuary for rescued farm animals. A dog shelter for dogs with chronic health conditions. And an organisation that does not ask where the animals came from — only that they deserve a second chance. This ESC placement in Italy is for someone who genuinely loves animals and is ready to do the real, physical, daily work that care actually requires.

Vitadacani — Associazione a tutela dei diritti animali runs the Porcikomodi project in Magnago, Italy — an animal welfare initiative with two connected components: a sanctuary for rescued farm animals and a dog shelter for dogs requiring medical assistance and living with chronic health conditions. The placement is coordinated by No Borders and is open to volunteers who are available for the full duration of the project.

What Is This Role About?

The sanctuary welcomes animals that are usually considered food — rescued, freed, or saved from exploitation and suffering. The organisation maintains no economic relationship with those who exploit or trade animals as commodities. As a volunteer, you become part of the daily life of this place — caring for the animals, maintaining the shelter, and contributing to the organisation’s communications work.

Activities

🐾 Daily animal care — for rescued farm animals and dogs with chronic health conditions

🧹 Cleaning the animal shelter — physical, hands-on, and essential

🚶 Long walks with the dogs — a core part of shelter life

🐶 Approaching and building trust with animals — especially dogs requiring medical care

📱 Supporting social media — TikTok and Instagram knowledge is a plus

💬 Communication tasks related to the shelter’s work and mission

Who Should Apply?

The organisation is looking for someone who is genuinely aligned with the values and daily realities of this work — not just curious about it.

🔹 Great love for animals — especially dogs — and the ability to approach them with care

🔹 Background in veterinary, biology or related fields preferred — or previous work in shelters, pet-sitting, or having animals at home

🔹 Ready to get hands dirty, get up early, and do physical tasks

🔹 Ready to live in a remote, small town location — at least 1 hour from a big city

🔹 Enthusiastic and open — able to adapt to a community with shared values

🔹 Preferably adhering to — or willing to adapt to — antispecism and vegetarianism during activities

🔹 Understanding of TikTok and Instagram is a plus

🔹 Motivated to learn Italian

🔹 Available for the full duration of the project — May to 31 December 2026

⚠️ CV and Motivation Letter must be submitted in English. Check your spam folder — if your profile suits, the organisation will contact you by email.

Training & Support

📋 On-Arrival Training from the Italian National Agency

🐕 Task-specific training in animal care, security, and hygiene in the shelter

📢 Training in communication tasks related to the shelter’s activities

💬 Not sure what to include in your ESC motivation letter or how to present yourself effectively? This guide walks you through the whole process: https://youthworkshub.org/6061/

Accommodation & Practical Details

🏠 Volunteers share a double room in a simple apartment

💶 €6 per day pocket money

🍽️ €160 per month for food

🥗 While in the shelter, volunteers must adhere to a vegetarian diet — outside the shelter they are free to eat as they choose

📍 The house and shelter are located in a small town and remote area — at least 1 hour from a big city

Activity Details

📅 Activity Period: 18 May 2026 – 31 December 2026

📍 Location: Magnago, Italy

👤 Activity Type: Individual Volunteering

🏷️ Project Code: 2024-2-IT03-ESC51-VTJ-000278042

Deadline

⏰ 29 April 2026

Eligible Countries

🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇾 Cyprus 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇲🇹 Malta 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden

Apply

🔗 https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/51344_en

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