🇵🇹 ESC Volunteering in Portugal 🤝 Community Solidarity and Companionship for Elderly People 🌳

Description

SOPRO – Solidariedade e Promoção is a non-profit organisation based in Barcelos, in the north of Portugal. For 30 years, we have worked in solidarity, volunteering, education, and community participation, guided by our motto "Small gestures change the world."

Volunteering Footprint is a 75-day project that aims to create a meaningful opportunity for young people, particularly those with fewer opportunities.

As a volunteer, you will join our team and actively contribute to our day-to-day work, both at SOPRO and with our partner organisations. A large part of your time will be spent with elderly people who live alone or feel isolated (visiting them, talking, organising activities and keeping them company). You will also support other SOPRO initiatives, such as food collection campaigns, preparing food baskets for local families, sorting books for our international projects in Mozambique, garden maintenance and leading awareness sessions in schools on interculturality, human rights and volunteering (for example). We want you to be a true part of our team, not just someone carrying out tasks. As you get to know the organisation and the community, you will be encouraged to share your ideas, take on more responsibility, and even develop a personal initiative of your own.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements

Volunteers will live in a shared house in Barcelos alongside other volunteers, in shared triple rooms. The accommodation includes a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine, internet access and a common living room.

Participants will prepare their own meals in the shared kitchen, supported by a monthly allowance of €300 (€120 for food allowance and €180 for pocket money).

Local transport necessary for project activities is fully covered (whether on foot, by bicycle, by company car, or through a local bus pass when needed).

Participant profile

We are looking for motivated young people, flexible, responsible, flexible, adaptable, and great team players with a natural curiosity for intercultural exchange and active citizenship

The candidate should show strong motivation to contribute to social, solidarity and environmental activities, with a particular willingness to work closely with elderly people to combat social isolation.

A perfect level of English is not required; a basic level is fully accepted as we prioritize enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn and communicate over language fluency.

Activity details

Activity type

Individual volunteering

Activity dates

A total of 11 week(s) during the period 01/10/2026 to 31/12/2027

Location

Travessa de Santo António 236, Barcelinhos, Barcelos, Portugal

Deadline

30/06/2027

Project code

2026-1-PT02-ESC51-VTJ-000403626

Topics

Looking for participants from

25 countries can apply. The activity takes place in 🇵🇹 Portugal.