Valencia, the third most important city in Spain, after Madrid and Barcelona. Its popular festival of fallas, its historical attractions, its rice fields, its beaches and museums, put Valencia in the sights of many tourists looking for a different trip.
Valencia is a beautiful city with incredible neighborhoods full of history, blue flag beaches, dream settings for any wedding album, but unfortunately almost a third of Valencians are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The entire Western world suffered from the banking crisis, in addition to that, Valencia before 2007 its main economic source was construction, which was mainly affected by the lack of mortgages and creating numerous debts in thousands of families.
Thanks to international volunteering in Spain, many women and children at risk of social exclusion can have hope, which is the first step in the search for a better future.
PROGRAMS IN VALENCIA
women empowerment and teaching
The volunteer program focuses the activities of the women's empowerment program on their personal and social development.
SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN
We seek the active participation of children of limited resources, through knowledge and learning.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOL REINFORCEMENT
Volunteering in the school support programme in Valencia (Spain), seeks to work on aspects related to cognitive factors, emotional manifestations and everything related to self-knowledge.
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
It allows you to help children, young people and adults with intellectual diversity to improve their social skills. Through activities that offer personalized and group support. Cheer up!
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECTS
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
As a volunteer in the women’s empowerment program, you will work with women at risk or in situations of social exclusion. In general, the volunteer program for the empowerment of women works with immigrant, unemployed, low-education and mostly low-income women.
In the women’s empowerment program, there is always room for the creativity, interest and talent you may have. If you know about handicrafts, music or art, these are activities that you can do with the women in the different workshops that take place during the week.
The activities that are planned are focused on women’s self-awareness and confidence in them. It will usually work in groups as well as individually.
The volunteer regularly performs activities such as:
- Personal development
- Employment orientation
- Spanish and English classes
- Literacy and Education
- Physical activities, sewing and painting workshops.
Support for out-of-school children
Adventure Volunteer through volunteering in the Out-of-School Support Program seeks to provide educational support and care to all of these children. In addition to motivating them through educational activities where they can develop their potential and skills.
Through the activities, the aim is to reinforce social skills, to strengthen their autonomy, and to strengthen their personal maturity by obtaining study habits and social skills.
Volunteers can be part of activities programs such as:
- Group activities and dynamics throughout the course.
- Creation of handicrafts, to develop attention and creativity.
- Body expression and relaxation activities.
- Support in oral and communicative expression activities. Where emotions and feelings are worked on, with the intention of improving the children’s relationship skills.
- Accompaniment in film activities. Indirectly, basic social skills such as empathy, concentration, language skills and attention are worked on.
The objectives of these activities in the voluntary programme are that children begin to develop their potential and expand their knowledge.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOL REINFORCEMENT
Every day we look for new options and ways to be able to contribute or give something to others. Adventure Volunteer values all creativity and ideas that you can bring to the children… If you want to volunteer and participate in a teaching program, during a break in your career, a sabbatical year, or during your vacation, you can do your bit in the teaching programs.
As a volunteer in the teaching and reinforcement programme in Valencia, you can contribute and help children with learning difficulties to improve their knowledge and skills. Through educational, sports and leisure activities, we work on cognitive aspects, emotional manifestations and children’s autonomy.
In general, activities such as the following are carried out during the classes:
- Implementation of cross-cutting themes.
- Use of new technologies, where lucid and academic activities are carried out.
- School support, where the knowledge acquired is reinforced… This will depend on the developmental stage and specific needs of the child.
- Support for children with learning delays and difficulties in some areas.
- All the activities planned are aimed at providing children with the tools, knowledge and skills they need for education, learning and the development of personal and professional skills.
Support for children with functional diversity
Volunteer program focused on helping children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities to improve their social skills.
One of the objectives of the programme to support children with different abilities is to enhance the capacities and skills of all people with and without functional diversity through inclusive training and leisure activities. In addition to guiding and supporting the process of labor market insertion of our young people.
Through the programme of support for children with functional diversity in Valencia, group and individual activities are developed, where we encourage the creation of groups of belonging. Some of the activities that are developed in the program are:
- Family counseling
- Psychological Care
- Psycho-educational support, helps our children and young people to develop in competitive environments, to face conflictive situations in a resolute and assertive way.
- Support in leisure and free time activities (Photography, writing, confectionery, cooking, creation of curricula and use of new technologies).
- We believe it is important to provide our children and young people with tools in social skills and conflict resolution and thus encourage them to increase their level of empowerment and self-confidence.
TIMES AND DATES OF COOPERATION
The dates to participate in the program can be any month of the year except Easter, whole August and holidays, using the latter to get to know better neighborhoods and towns of the Valencian Community. Consult the dates for each programme as they may vary slightly.
The volunteer’s hours of collaboration are from Monday to Friday divided into two shifts, according to programs. Specifically, the women’s empowerment program and school reinforcement program for children in Valencia (Spain) take place during the afternoon between 17:30 and 19:30. During the morning from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., the school support program for out-of-school children takes place.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Volunteers participating in volunteer programs in Valencia (Spain) have several housing options.
The different options you can find to stay in Valencia are:
Option 1: Accommodation in Hostél. They offer shared rooms from 9€.
Option 2: Private rooms in Airbnb, if you want a more intimate trip. From 20€.
Option 3: Rent a whole house if you plan to take a different trip in a family or volunteer trip with friends and couple.
Normally these types of accommodation are located in the centre of the capital of Valencia. You will also find Spanish schools and all kinds of shops, restaurants, bars and discotheques nearby.
As for food, in Valencia you can eat from 3 euros a plate. You can find many food shops near your accommodation. Valencia is a province of Spain quite cheap to eat, you will enjoy dishes such as paella, baked rice, Mediterranean salad and all kinds of pasta.
For volunteers who participate in the program of support for children with Functional Diversity, lodging and meals are included in the supervised flats of the center.
For all accommodation options we will recommend and help you make your reservation.
REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Anyone interested in participating in a volunteer program in Valencia (Spain) with Adventure Volunteer must meet the following requirements:
- You must be 17 or older to participate in some of Adventure Volunteer’s volunteer projects.
- Present a criminal record certificate.
- Volunteers must be tolerant, enthusiastic and open-minded.
- Knowledge of English and Spanish for the women’s empowerment program.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
COST PROGRAM
The cost of the program is from 180 € for 2 weeks, depending on the program you choose you will be in different homes and with different types of maintenance.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- Pick up at the airport.
- Induction to the program
- Orientation day in the project area.
- 24/7 support from the Adventure Volunteer team.
- Program monitoring and evaluation meetings.
- Certificate of participation.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Flight to Valencia
- Compulsory Health Insurance
- Internal transportation or excursions
- Return to the airport on the last day
- Trips within or outside the country
ARRIVAL AT YOUR DESTINATION
Upon arrival at Valencia Manises Airport (VLC), the responsible local coordinator will be waiting for you and will take you by transport to Valencia where you will stay.
Depending on what time you arrive, you will have your orientation day. You will be given an overview of the activities and basic rules of the project. In addition, you will be guided about places you can visit in your free time.
CLIMA
The average temperature is usually 17 degrees all year round. From May to September you can enjoy the heat and the beach between 25 and 30 degrees. It is characterized by its mild and humid climate. August being the warmest month of the year and the coldest month of the year is February.
MONEDA
The official currency is the Euro, in your volunteer trip in Valencia you must have euros. If you don’t have euros in your country of origin, you can exchange them before coming to your bank, or you can withdraw money by credit card or go to a foreign exchange office. Valencia is one of the cheapest cities to volunteer in Spain.
VUELOS
For your volunteering in Valencia, the flight must have as final destination Valencia Manises Airport (VLC), where you will be transferred to the location of the program according to organization and information given by the coordinator.
Flights are between 50 and 500 euros approximately. You can find flights on the following airlines Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, German Wings and other lines that you will find in your European or American city.
TOURIST SPOTS
In Valencia you will find many places to visit, here are some that you can’t miss if you travel to Spain.
NATURAL PARK OF LA ALBUFERA
One of the largest lakes in Spain, with great ecological and cultural importance. It is easy to get there, if you are very adventurous, just take public bus #25. This line takes you from the centre of Valencia to Palmar and Perellonet, only for 1,50€ per route. In the place you can do boat trips on the lake. The other option to visit the Park is to take the Albufera Bus Turistic.
History and its neighborhoods
You would like to know a little more about the history of Valencia, we recommend the Old Town where you can find 4 very beautiful neighborhoods with so much history as: the Pilar, the Mercat and Sant Francesc.
You can’t miss the fishing village of El Cabañal, where you can also take the tram or hire bicycles to visit the large white beaches of the Malvarrosa.
If you’re into nightlife, your neighbourhood is Ruzafa, full of charming bars, making it one of the most modern neighbourhoods in Europe.
In all the districts of Valencia you will be able to access with electric bicycles, Tram, Bus, Bicycles. In their neighborhoods you will find tapas routes, mini theaters and places to do English Spanish tandems.
The Carmen, you will find an incredible gastronomic variety, cultural and leisure activities that make this neighborhood one of the most charming. It’s one of the neighborhoods where you can go out for dinner, take a walk and why not party too. Through its ancient streets you will walk through centuries of history, from the towers of the mountain monument at the entrance to the city of Valencia to the towers of Quart.
THE CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
It was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. It is made up of several buildings that have become the meeting place for cultural and leisure activities to enjoy with family and friends.
Among the buildings that we can appreciate are: L’Hemisfèric, the Oceanográfico, the Palace of the Arts Reina Sofía, the Bridge of Assut de l’Or and the Ágora.
The beaches
From Castellón Valencia and Alicante, everything in no more than an hour you can see an infinite number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, very close to Valencia, you can go by bike or bus to the beach, you can see the beaches of Saler and Albufera of Valencia, also very famous are the Playa de alcocebre, Javea Calpe Altea and Benidorm, on the beach of Peñíscola Peñíscola, in addition to enjoying you can also see the castle of Papa Luna where fragments of thrones are set.
Near Valencia
Valencia is to the east of Spain With Barcelona to the north, Malaga to the south, Madrid to the east and the Balearic Islands to the west, you can reach all these cities in about three hours by car, from Alicante you can take a ferry to the island of Ibiza, where you can spend the weekend.
Main cities in Spain
By means of the BlaBlaCar transport, or if you prefer by train, you will be able to know the main cities like Madrid or Barcelona, they are very Cosmopolitan cities full of history that will make you feel like in the XVII century.
Mountain
Valencia also has multiple trekking routes, many climbing routes, and the old river bed of the Turia River where since April it is full of activities of all kinds to enjoy every afternoon surrounded by nature in the heart of the city.
SPANISH CLASSES
You can improve your Spanish by attending one of our centrally located Spanish language classes in the afternoons after your international volunteering has ended.
We work with a centrally located Spanish academy, where you can take weekly classes from Monday to Thursday for 2 hours for 148 euros/week, 18€/hour
When you finish your classes you will be able to use the means of transportation, communicate with your fellow volunteers, learn main verbs, pronunciation, used words, which will allow you to continue volunteering in our destinations in Central America.
Once you finish your classes you can stay in the central bars with the rest of your classmates and enjoy the outdoor terraces in the centre of Valencia.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES
As soon as I arrived at the organization I felt as if I had always been part of the team, both the coordinators Karina and Carla and the children welcomed me in an unforgettable way, it was only three weeks but the experience I had in Valencia I will not forget thank you.
Sara, Belgium
I wasn’t sure whether to choose the program with children or the women’s program in the end I chose the women’s program because of the support I could give them with the English language and it turns out that I’ve been doing both of them and I’ve loved it because these women are very, very strong and have taught me a lot. The children I remember, they are all love, I want to come back thanks to the whole team for the good organization.
Mary, UK
FAQ
Which airport should the volunteer arrive at?
Your flight must be to Valencia Airport (VLC). Ideally, you should arrive on a Friday or Saturday, as all volunteer programs begin on Mondays of each month.
How does the volunteer move into the program?
The local coordinator will accompany you on the first day you start your volunteer work, which is only a 15-minute walk from your accommodation.
With what time should I apply for my place?
It is recommended to apply for your place in the programme as soon as possible, as places are limited. With the dates of your volunteer trip clear, it is important that you fill out the application form and secure your place for the program.
Can I volunteer with my friends or family?
Of course I do! All help and input is welcome. You can volunteer with friends, families, student groups, volunteer with your business colleagues or do your university internships.
HOW TO BOOK?
From the moment you fill in the registration form for a program in Valencia (Spain) we will keep your place for 7 days.
To confirm your place definitively, you must pay a deposit of 150 € before 7 days, once the deposit is paid, your place will be guaranteed and you will be formally part of the Adventure Volunteer family.
As soon as you pay the deposit for the program, we will send you an email to confirm that your place is safe. After that, you will receive another email with more additional information on the web, to explain absolutely everything you need to know to prepare your trip correctly. The rest of the payment is made one month before you join the project.