The "Visul Luanei" Foundation is offering a 3-month, full-time Wildlife Care Student Placement at its Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in PopeΘti-Leordeni (Ilfov), next to Bucharest, Romania. It is an unpaid traineeship during studies, open to Bachelor, Master and Doctorate students, and it needs Erasmus+ traineeship funding or another mobility grant arranged through your home university. The expected start is 01 May 2027 and applications close on 28 February 2027. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full offer and set out every task, requirement and condition below.
The Placement at a Glance
πΎ Role: Wildlife Care Student Placement: Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (Veterinary / Biology)
π₯ Host: "Visul Luanei" Foundation, a non-profit / NGO
π Location: PopeΘti-Leordeni (Ilfov), next to Bucharest, Romania, on site
π Type: Traineeship (during studies)
πΌ Pay: Unpaid traineeship
π Expected start: 01 May 2027
π Duration: 3 months, full time
β±οΈ Hours: 35 hours per week
π¬ Fields: Veterinary, Biology, Natural environments and wildlife, Environmental sciences
β³ Application deadline: 28 February 2027 (Brussels time)
The Foundation Behind the Placement
"Visul Luanei" Foundation is a Romanian non-profit dedicated to wildlife medicine, rehabilitation, welfare and conservation.
Its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre has operated in the Bucharest Metropolitan Area since 2018.
A Centre That Admits Around 4,000 Wild Animals a Year
The Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center admits around 4,000 wild animals a year, from more than 150 native European species.
What the Season Looks Like from April to September
From April to September, most admissions are orphaned nestlings and young mammals:
πͺΆ Swifts
π€ Songbirds
π¦ Corvids
π¦ Hedgehogs
πΏοΈ Squirrels
π Others
Trainees join the animal care team during this season and work on real cases every day, after an induction and always under supervision.
Caring for Orphaned Birds and Mammals
πΌ Diet preparation and hand-feeding
π§Ό Hygiene of the animals and their areas
βοΈ Daily weighing
π Patient records in WRMD
Supporting the Veterinary Team
π§Ί Patient preparation
π©Ί Monitoring of hospitalized animals
π§ Enclosure and isolation protocols
Getting Animals Ready for Release
ποΈ Soft-release enclosures
β Release-readiness checks
ποΈ Releases
π Post-release monitoring
Field Work, Data Projects and Public Education
π₯Ύ Joining field work
π Taking part in data projects
π£οΈ Taking part in public education activities
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π All opportunities in Romania β
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What Trainees Do Not Do
π« Trainees do not carry out veterinary procedures
π Trainees never work alone or at night
Your Individual Learning Plan
An individual learning plan is agreed before arrival and signed as your Learning Agreement for Traineeships. The Foundation signs the Learning Agreement for Traineeships, and our guide on how funded traineeships really work explains where the Erasmus+ traineeship grant fits into an unpaid placement like this one.
The Induction Before You Start Work
The induction covers four topics:
π£ Animal welfare
π¦ Biosecurity
𧀠Safe handling
𧬠Zoonoses
Supervision, Mentoring and Assessment
π A designated supervisor on every shift
π§ A separate mentor
ποΈ Monthly check-ins
π A mid-term review
π A final assessment
Certificates You Receive
π A certificate of completion
ποΈ The Traineeship Certificate your university needs
The Weekly Schedule
π°οΈ 35 hours a week over 5 days
π 2 weekends a month are included
π Shifts run alongside the Center team's schedule
π Shifts follow the volunteer rules and manual, which every trainee receives before arrival
Training Assistance Listed as a Benefit
The only benefit listed in the offer is learning courses / training assistance. Pay, accommodation and travel are not part of the offer.
Who Can Apply: Level of Studies
π Bachelor (EQF 6)
π Master (EQF 7)
ποΈ Doctorate (EQF 8)
Who Can Apply: Student Status
π You must be an enrolled student, or a graduate within 12 months of graduation
Working Languages
π¬π§ English is the working language, and English at B2 level or higher is required
π¨οΈ Romanian is also listed as a working language (the offer also names Moldavian / Moldovan)
Skills the Offer Expects
π» Digital literacy, information skills and basic computer use
π¦ Animal care and handling
π Animal breeding and husbandry
π©Ή Monitoring health conditions of humans and animals
π Following instructions and procedures
π₯ Working in teams
ποΈ Documenting, recording and managing information and records
π Accepting feedback
Tools You Will Use
π wrmd.org (the wildlife rehabilitation records system)
πΏ iNaturalist
π Google Sheets
Funding: Erasmus+ Traineeship or Another Mobility Grant
The offer requires Erasmus+ traineeship funding (or another mobility grant) arranged through your home university. The Foundation signs the Learning Agreement for Traineeships and the Traineeship Certificate.
The programmes named in the offer are:
πͺπΊ Erasmus+ traineeship
π Other recognised mobility / funding programme
Our guide to what Erasmus+ covers sets out what the Erasmus+ grant pays for.
Vaccinations Required
πͺ Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
π¦ Pre-exposure rabies vaccination, required for work with bats and foxes and for any task with a risk of mammal bites
β οΈ Activity will be limited if vaccination is not possible
Insurance for the Whole Stay
πͺͺ Health insurance (EHIC or equivalent)
π Accident insurance
π‘οΈ Third-party liability insurance
All three are required for the whole stay.
Physical Demands
βοΈ Being able to work outdoors in summer heat
ποΈ Being able to handle physically demanding shifts
Accommodation and Travel
Accommodation and travel are not provided. The Foundation helps you find a room nearby and matches trainees who want to share.
Visa and Work Authorization Support
International candidates can apply. The Foundation states: "Yes - We can host international candidates and will provide the necessary documentation (e.g., signed Learning Agreement, invitation letter)."
If you need to check whether you need a permit for your stay, our guide on visas and residence permits for Erasmus+ and ESC gives the general picture.
How to Apply
π§ Send your CV
βοΈ Send a short motivation letter stating what you want to learn, your preferred dates and the duration
π Send the contact details of your Erasmus+ coordinator
β³ Send it at least 2 months before your preferred start
Who Posted the Offer
The offer was posted by Oana Vasiliu, Wildlife Veterinarian & Head of Education at the Foundation. Her LinkedIn profile is in the Links section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wildlife Care Student Placement at "Visul Luanei" Foundation?
It is a 3-month, full-time traineeship during studies at the Foundation's Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in PopeΘti-Leordeni (Ilfov), next to Bucharest. Trainees join the animal care team and work on real cases every day, under supervision.
Is the placement paid?
No. It is an unpaid traineeship. Erasmus+ traineeship funding or another mobility grant must be arranged through your home university.
Do I need an Erasmus+ grant to apply?
The offer requires Erasmus+ traineeship funding or another mobility grant arranged through your home university. The Foundation signs the Learning Agreement for Traineeships and the Traineeship Certificate.
When does the placement start and how long does it last?
The expected starting date is 01 May 2027. The placement lasts 3 months, full time, at 35 hours per week.
What will I do at the centre?
You care for orphaned birds and mammals, support the veterinary team, prepare animals for release and join field work, data projects and public education activities. Trainees do not carry out veterinary procedures and never work alone or at night.
Who can apply?
Bachelor (EQF 6), Master (EQF 7) and Doctorate (EQF 8) students can apply. You must be an enrolled student or a graduate within 12 months of graduation, with English at B2 level or higher.
Which vaccinations do I need?
Up-to-date tetanus vaccination is required. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is required for work with bats and foxes and for any task with a risk of mammal bites. Activity will be limited if vaccination is not possible.
What insurance do I need?
Health insurance (EHIC or equivalent), accident insurance and third-party liability insurance, valid for the whole stay.
Are accommodation and travel provided?
No. Accommodation and travel are not provided. The Foundation helps you find a room nearby and matches trainees who want to share.
Can international candidates apply?
Yes. The Foundation can host international candidates and will provide the necessary documentation, such as the signed Learning Agreement and an invitation letter.
What is the weekly schedule?
35 hours a week over 5 days, including 2 weekends a month. Shifts run alongside the Center team's schedule and follow the volunteer rules and manual, which every trainee receives before arrival.
What support do trainees get?
An individual learning plan, an induction in animal welfare, biosecurity, safe handling and zoonoses, a designated supervisor on every shift, a separate mentor, monthly check-ins, a mid-term review and a final assessment. You also receive a certificate of completion and the Traineeship Certificate your university needs.
How do I apply and when is the deadline?
Send your CV, a short motivation letter and the contact of your Erasmus+ coordinator by email, at least 2 months before your preferred start. The application deadline is 28 February 2027 (Brussels time).
Deadline
β³ 28 February 2027
Links
π¨ Application email: contact@visulluanei.org
π’ "Visul Luanei" Foundation website: https://visulluanei.org/
πΌ Oana Vasiliu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oana-vasiliu-05a6a2154/?isSelfProfile=true
π More placements like this one: Internship category on Youth Works Hub
