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Community Development Project in Barcelona
Volunteers in the Community Development Program in Spain and work with an NGO dedicated to community building. Volunteers get involved in a variety of tasks such as workshops, training, working in food bank etc.
You volunteer with a community-building NGO in the Nou Barris district of Barcelona, an area with a large immigrant population and real socio-economic challenges. Day to day you rotate through the organization's core activities: sorting and distributing food at the food bank, supporting workshops and training sessions, spending time with elderly residents, and helping run activities for children and local families. The program suits volunteers aged 16 and up who have no prior experience but bring a proactive, flexible attitude and are ready to take direction from local coordinators.
Placements run 1–24 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next start on 20 Sep 2026. You live in a hostel or shared apartment (same-gender, shared kitchen and bathrooms) and food is provided throughout, with volunteers cooking and sharing a communal lunch together. Prices start at $962, deposit included. Alongside the community work, the program includes Spanish classes and keeps weekends free for you to explore Barcelona on your own.
- Experience humanitarian actions related to community building
- Connect with the local population of the most humble neighbourhoods of Barcelona
- Gain first-hand international work experience while volunteering with a bunch of enthusiasts
- Meet some committed people from different parts of the world
- Get involved with a wide variety of tasks while volunteering in the humanitarian project
- Improve your Spanish language skills by participating in the Spanish classes
- Work on weekdays for the project, weekends are free to explore the beautiful city of Barcelona
Your role on this program
- Assist with daily food bank operations, including sorting, inventory control, and distributing food to local families
- Take part in workshops and training on topics such as communication, administration, arts, maintenance, and marketing
- Guide and involve local volunteers in center activities, helping assign and organize tasks
- Support scheduled morning activities with elderly community members
- Help collect and distribute donated bread for the following day's food bank operations
- Share in community lunches and help with cleaning and maintenance of the shared living space
- Join partner NGOs to help distribute food to homeless people in the Barcelona city center
- Attend Spanish classes and take part in group activities such as climbing, yoga, or meditation sessions
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers support the NGO's existing programs, they do not run the center, make decisions about beneficiaries, or provide professional clinical, medical, or social work services. All activities are organized and supervised by NGO coordinators and board members, and duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
Between June 26th and September 1st the activities revolve around the summer school (called Casal de Verano) which we run in the center. The majority of the work during this time involves working with the kids so some of the workshops and training may be affected.
The volunteers will work 35 hours/week, this includes cleaning and maintenance of the living space. The working hours are Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm. The day starts with Morning Glory: a 30’ routine including 15’ of physical activity, this can be yoga, stretching, exercise, etc; 8’ of meditation and 7’ of positive writing.
Every day is planned around the necessary activities of the center:
Monday is check in day!
We welcome in the NGO the new voluntrainees to share community lunch at 1pm, Then we give to the newbies an orientation tour of the NGO. Then, they will have a training on the topic of the day until 17hs.
Then, they will go for a climbing workshop between 17:30 and 19:30.Then they will go to recollect donation of bread between 20hs and 21hs to bring to the food bank of the following day.
Tuesday:
Every Tuesday we start at 10am with the Morning Routine of well being.
The first thing in the morning is prepare the area and disinfect the floor, tables and fridges which will come in contact with the food; inventory control and separate the food that expires soon. The logistics are very important and everybody needs to work together in this! We distribute the food to the local families and once finished we disinfect everything a second time.
Once we end cleaning everything, we gather to attend the meditation workshop.
Wednesday are days in which the volunteers work on the morning with elderly people then on the afternoon they get a training on different projects in which they will have task to realize, for example: communication, administration, arts, maintenance and improvements, hygiene, marketing, etc. There is also six hours of training per week: cross cultural of volunteership, human resources, food regulation, NGO’s finance, etc.
Thursday and Friday: every week either Thursday or Friday we have a partnership with other NGOs in Barcelona. Every Thursday we go to our organic farm in the mountains close to the NGO to share community life and work together on the farm before sharing lunch together. Every second Friday we go to the city center of Barcelona with another NGO and to hand out food to the homeless in the area.
From Monday to Wednesday the days end with a workshop of either climbing, or yoga and meditation.
Friday afternoon we have a weekly meeting in order to plan the next week and also do some team building activities.
Weekends are off to enjoy Barcelona!
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 16; volunteers under 18 need a signed parental consent form
- Clean criminal background check required prior to joining, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Interview with a board member of the NGO required before confirmation
- Open-minded, flexible attitude and willingness to take initiative in a new environment
- No prior experience or qualifications needed
- Valid travel/medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is an NGO in Barcelona's Nou Barris district focused on community building, running a food bank, elderly and children's care, homeless outreach, and sustainable development activities. Work is organized into circles of interest, such as administration, marketing, maintenance, workshops, children's activities, and customer service, with volunteers contributing across these areas under the direction of NGO coordinators.
Volunteers pass an interview with a board member before joining, and a background check is required given the presence of children in the program's activities. Day-to-day work is guided and supervised by local staff, and volunteers are not left to run activities independently. Your contribution is practical support to ongoing NGO operations, helping with food distribution, workshops, and care activities, alongside the local team rather than in place of it, with no guaranteed or measurable outcomes attached to your time there.
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $962 | |
| 2 weeks | $1,209 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,479 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,689 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,904 | |
| 6 weeks | $2,169 | |
| 7 weeks | $2,409 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,624 | |
| Each additional week | +$255 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
Note: A mid-season surcharge of $240/week applies to the program fee in April, May and October. A high-season surcharge of $420/week applies from June to September.
✓ What you're paying for
- Pre departure Information and Support
- Airport pickup in Barcelona during scheduled hours
- Accommodation in hostel or shared apartment
- Meals
- Orientation/Induction on arrival
- Training in Community Building
- Complete pedagogical material
- Spanish classes
- Workshop
- NGO internal exam and certification process
- In-country support
- Project equipment and resources
- Personal Coaching & Mentoring
Not included
- Airfare
- Local Transportation in the city
- Touristic visits
- Personal Expenses and items
- Return Airport Drop
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
The project site is in Barcelona, Spain. When you land in Barcelona, a local representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign that says your name and will take you directly to your accommodation. Airport pickup is provided between 10am – 6pm on the program arrival date, which has to be Sunday.
Orientation
Participants are given an induction on arrival and welcome interview in the next few days to be able to plan the volunteering and the program.
Accommodation and Meals
Participants are accommodated in a sustainable hostel or a shared, same-gender apartment, depending on availability and length of stay. Private rooms may be available for an additional cost. All accommodations include shared kitchens and bathrooms.
Food is provided throughout the program. Volunteers collaborate to plan and prepare meals together, with lunch typically prepared and shared communally. Breakfast, dinner, and snacks are self-managed by participants using the ingredients supplied. The project covers basic, healthy, and nutritious food items, with additional support from a local food bank.
Local Transportation
Participants typically use the Barcelona Metro to travel between their accommodation and the project site. The metro system is reliable, affordable, and well-connected across the city.
During your Free Time
Barcelona is one of the world’s most vibrant and visited cities, offering a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. The local team can provide guidance on places to visit, eat, and explore. Volunteers are also encouraged to organize their own outings.
For weekend trips, the Costa Brava—just 1.5 hours from Barcelona—offers beautiful coastal towns such as Cadaqués, Platja d’Aro, and Tossa de Mar.
Volunteer work takes place in the Nou Barris district, an area known for its diverse immigrant community, where many residents face socio-economic challenges. This provides participants with an opportunity to make a meaningful local impact.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Spain
Airport pickup
A local representative meets you at El Prat Airport (BCN) with a sign bearing your name, between 10am and 6pm on your Sunday start date, and takes you directly to your accommodation.
First night
You settle into your hostel or shared apartment, where you will share a kitchen and bathroom with other volunteers.
Orientation
In the first few days you receive an induction on arrival and a welcome interview with the local NGO coordinators to plan your volunteering.
First project day
Monday is check-in day: new volunteers share a community lunch at 1pm, get an orientation tour of the NGO, then join training on that day's topic.
Ongoing support
Local NGO coordinators oversee daily activities, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What kind of work will I actually be doing?
You take part in food bank operations, workshops and training sessions, activities with elderly residents, and support work with children, rotating across the NGO's different circles of interest depending on the day and time of year.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No prior experience is needed, but you do need an open, flexible attitude, a willingness to take initiative, and you must pass an interview with a board member of the NGO before confirmation.
What does a typical day and week look like?
You work Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, with each day focused on a different activity: food bank logistics, elderly care, training sessions, or partnership work with other NGOs, and weekends are free.
How long can I volunteer for and when can I start?
Placements run 1–24 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays); the next available start date is 20 Sep 2026.
What does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $962, deposit included, covering accommodation, meals, airport pickup, orientation, Spanish classes, training, project equipment, and in-country support; airfare, local transport, and personal expenses are not included.
Where will I live and what about meals?
You stay in a hostel or shared, same-gender apartment with a shared kitchen and bathroom; food is provided throughout the program, with volunteers planning and cooking meals together and sharing a communal lunch.
How does airport pickup work?
A local representative meets you at El Prat Airport (BCN) between 10am and 6pm on your Sunday start date and takes you directly to your accommodation.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
Local NGO coordinators handle your induction and day-to-day guidance, and a 24-hour emergency contact is available throughout your stay.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges; specific visa and vaccination guidance, if needed, is sent to you before departure.
Is a background check required for this program?
Yes, all volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of the start date, since the placement involves activities with children.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers aged 16 and older who want hands-on community work in a food bank and workshop setting, are comfortable following a structured weekday schedule, and are proactive team members rather than independent project leaders.
Can I change my dates or destination after booking?
Yes, you can change your program, dates, or destination free of charge up to 45 days before your start date.
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