Konjeniški in mladinski center Škatlica
Tomaž pri Ormožu, Slovenia
⭐️ Activity Title
Outdoor, Practical & Animal Care Volunteer at Škatlica, Slovenia
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🔷 Activity Details
Description
We work at the intersection of youth work, animals, nature, sustainability and community life. Our home is a small rural center surrounded by fields, forest and animals, including our herd of six horses.
For our next long-term placement, starting in November 2026, we are looking for a volunteer who is especially interested in the practical, outdoor side of our work. The placement can last up to 12 months.
At Škatlica, you can gain hands-on experience in everyday property care, basic animal care, gardening, use of tools, seasonal tasks and planning what needs to be done around a rural center throughout the year.
Horse experience is welcome but not required. More important are reliability, independence, a can-do attitude, common sense and willingness to learn. We especially value people who notice what needs doing, take responsibility and are curious about learning new things.
You should be comfortable working outdoors in different weather, getting dirty and doing physically active tasks.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
Volunteers have their own room at the center, food, monthly pocket money, access to a car and bike, the possibility to learn horsemanship skills - or just spend time with our wonderful herd - and the chance to be a part of a very rural, welcoming community surrounded by nature (and animals - our animals love to smother volunteers with love). We love to eat some meals per week together and we don't mind catering to different food preferences. The center is located in a very rural area but there are direct train connections to Ljubljana and Maribor and the nearest town is 15min away.
Training during the activity
We organise a brief pre-departure workshop and an in-depth training on arrival related to working with horses, safety, community building, conflict management and team building. Volunteers are assigned a local and a task-related mentor. The Slovenian National Agency organises an on-arrival and mid-term training for long-term volunteers. Horse lessons are possible upon request (groundwork, lunging, riding, trail riding).
Participant profile
We are looking for someone who enjoys learning by doing and would like to become more confident and independent in practical life. You should enjoy being outdoors, physical activity and getting your hands dirty. Reliability, initiative, common sense and curiosity are more important than previous experience. This placement may especially suit someone interested in farming, homesteading, animals, nature, DIY or one day managing their own rural property. A driving licence is a strong bonus - especially to enable you to explore our surroundings in your free time.
While there are always super-friendly locals coming for a visit and a cup of coffee, this is a rural place without much happening in the sense of culture/events so it's a bit different from living in a city. Horsey experience is not necessary as our herd is quite low-maintenance and you can learn with us, but volunteers with a passion for horses (and animals in general) will get far more from this experience.
An intermediate level of English is appreciated as you will work with the local community, but not necessary - we've now hosted volunteers without knowledge of English and are happy to say that they've integrated nicely and learned English along the way!
We don't always have a lot of time to teach you the basics of riding and working with horses if that's your goal - some independence in this area and a desire to plan your own learning is more welcome than actual skills (we have a lot of horsey books and local volunteers who'll be happy to teach you the basics!).
When applying we appreciate you using your own words instead of chatGPT, this makes us want to cry.
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🔑 Key Information
Activity dates
A total of 44 week(s) during the period 01/11/2026 to 30/09/2027
Activity location
Senik 1, Tomaž pri Ormožu, Slovenia
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Activity topics
Environment and natural protection
Health and wellbeing
Physical education and sport
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 30/09/2026 15:02
Project code
2026-1-SI02-ESC51-VTJ-000402988
🔗 Official Project Page
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/54029_en
