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Youth & Education Volunteer Program in Valencia
Mentor and inspire local children and teenagers in Valencia through language, sport and after-school activities — a rewarding education placement on Spain's Mediterranean coast, from two weeks upwards.
In Valencia, you are placed in a school, childcare center or after-school club matched to your interests, working alongside qualified local staff. Day to day you run conversational English activities, supervise homework clubs, organize sports and creative workshops, and give one-to-one attention to children who need extra support, including children with intellectual or physical disabilities. The program suits volunteers aged 18 and over with no teaching qualification required, particularly gap-year travelers and education or childhood-development students.
Placements run 2–8 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next departure on 11 Oct 2026. You live with a Spanish host family, who provide all meals, which puts you in Spanish conversation from morning to night. Programs start from $2,248 (deposit included), and the $249 deposit counts toward your total. Afternoon-only hours keep your mornings free to add accredited Spanish classes or explore Valencia's Old Town and beaches.
- Support local children and young people through conversational English, homework help, sport and creative workshops
- Placements in schools, childcare centers and after-school clubs, matched to your experience and interests
- Sharpen real teaching and mentoring skills in an international setting — ideal for future teachers and education students
- Option to add accredited Spanish classes so you can connect with students and staff
- Flexible from 2 weeks to 12 months, with afternoon-focused hours that keep your mornings free
- Host family or shared apartment, airport pickup, orientation and 24/7 in-country support
Valencia is a young, energetic city — and its schools, childcare centers and after-school clubs are always glad of an extra pair of hands. The Youth & Education program places international volunteers alongside local educators to help children and teenagers learn, play and grow in confidence, particularly through English and enrichment activities that schools don’t always have the resources to run.
Working through our established local partner, you’ll be matched to a setting that fits your interests — a primary school, a childcare center, an after-school homework club or a holiday activity camp. Days revolve around the children: leading a lively conversational-English game, cheering on a football tournament, running an arts-and-crafts session, or sitting one-to-one with a child who needs a little extra help. It’s hands-on, joyful work, and you’ll see the impact of your encouragement almost immediately.
The program is a natural fit for gap-year travelers, education and childhood-development students, and anyone considering a career in teaching. Placements run from two weeks to a full year, and most start in line with the Spanish school calendar, with workshop-based options over the summer. No formal teaching qualification is needed — just energy, patience and a genuine liking for young people — though a commitment of around 20 hours a week is expected.
Because our partner is also an Instituto Cervantes–accredited language school, you can bolt on Spanish lessons and study in the mornings while you volunteer in the afternoons. It’s the best of both worlds: you give something back, and you leave with a new language and classroom experience for your CV.
Your role on this program
- Lead conversational English games and workshops to get children talking and build their confidence
- Supervise homework sessions in after-school clubs alongside local staff
- Organize sports and games for children and teenagers during club hours
- Run arts, crafts and music activities as part of after-school programming
- Give one-to-one attention to children who need extra help during group activities
- Support children with intellectual or physical disabilities within group settings
- Act as a dependable, encouraging role model, sensitive to each child's needs
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You work alongside qualified local teachers and after-school staff and support their lesson or activity plans; you do not replace them, set curriculum, or take sole responsibility for a class or child. Your local coordinator in Valencia oversees your placement, and duties may vary with the placement's needs.
A typical day and week
Your role
Your responsibilities are always supportive — you work alongside the qualified local staff, never in place of them. Volunteers typically help with:
- Language support — leading fun, conversational English activities and workshops that get children speaking and build their confidence.
- After-school clubs — supervising homework sessions, organizing sports and games, and running arts, crafts and music activities.
- One-to-one support — giving individual attention to children who need extra help, including children with intellectual or physical disabilities, during group activities.
Above all, you’re a positive role model: dependable, encouraging and sensitive to each child’s needs.
A typical week
Volunteers commit around 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Because most of the work happens when children are out of school, placements usually run an afternoon shift (roughly 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.). That leaves your mornings free for Spanish classes, sightseeing or a slow Valencian breakfast, and your weekends completely open for travel.
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 18
- No teaching qualification required — patience, reliability and enthusiasm for working with children matter most
- Conversational English ability; Spanish is not required to start
- Clear criminal background check, issued within 12 months of your start date, since the role involves working with children
- Valid passport and completed pre-departure questionnaire for host family matching
- Travel and medical insurance, your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
- CV or brief statement of relevant interest or experience for placement matching
The placement, its limits and your part in it
Your placement is arranged through a vetted local partner organization in Valencia, which matches you to a school, childcare center or after-school club based on your interests and Spanish level. Day-to-day supervision sits with the qualified teachers and club staff you support, backed by a dedicated local coordinator and 24-hour in-country support.
Because the role involves children, a clear criminal background check is required before you start. You are there to support existing staff and activities, not to direct a child's education or care on your own, and one-to-one time with children who need extra help always happens within a supervised group setting. Your contribution is additional support and attention during the hours schools and clubs are often short-staffed — not a substitute for trained educators.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in SpainCountry-level partner context and standards
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $2,248 | |
| 3 weeks | $2,698 | |
| 4 weeks | $3,198 | |
| 5 weeks | $3,698 | |
| 6 weeks | $4,148 | |
| 7 weeks | $4,648 | |
| 8 weeks | $5,148 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Placement with a vetted local partner organization, matched to your interests and Spanish level
- Accommodation for the duration of your program (host family)
- All meals at the host family
- Airport pickup and transfer to your accommodation on arrival
- A city orientation and a full pre-departure information pack
- Walking tour through the center of Valencia
- A dedicated local coordinator and 24/7 in-country support throughout your stay
- A certificate of completion for your CV or studies
Not included
- International flights to and from Valencia
- Travel and medical insurance (mandatory — we can help you arrange it)
- Visa costs, where a visa is required for your nationality
- Spanish language classes (available as an optional add-on)
- Local transport, personal spending and weekend travel
Accommodation & meals
Airport Pickup
Pick up and transfer service (airport, train station or bus station of Valencia) is provided to the volunteers.
Orientation
The local team will provide a program orientation, followed by a walking tour of Valencia’s city center, including the main landmarks and historic squares of the Old Town.
Accommodation
Participants are provided accommodation with a Spanish host family. Our team members in Valencia have have years of experience working with a wide range of host families, all of whom have extensive experience hosting international students. They understand the cultural challenges, language barriers, and other difficulties that international participants may face when living in a new country and culture.
Homestay accommodation may include:
• A single room and shared living room.
• A shared room (*with another participant) and shared common areas.
*You must request this if you are coming with friends on the same or similar dates.
To find the right host family, we ask students to complete a questionnaire before we begin the search. This allows us to answer questions about your diet, family preferences, pets, hobbies, interests, and more. This helps us get to know you, consider your requirements, and place you with a family we believe will provide you with an optimal and
unforgettable Spanish experience!
Families are chosen for their hospitality and their experience of hosting international students, and they’re briefed on your dietary needs and interests before you arrive. Living with a host family means you speak Spanish from morning to night and always have someone local to turn to — the easiest way to settle in and beat any homesickness.
Meals
With a host family you will be provided with all home cooked meals everyday. Food allergies and dietary preferences can be taken into account.
A few local notes: in Spain clothes are usually air-dried rather than tumble-dried, and heating and air conditioning are used sparingly — fans are provided and the Mediterranean breeze does most of the work.
During your Free time
Valencia is compact enough to feel like home within days, yet packed with things to do. Spend your free hours on the beach, in the Turia Gardens, or exploring the tapas bars and markets of the Old Town, and use your weekends to discover the rest of Spain by high-speed train. Our local team also organises optional get-togethers so you can make friends with other international volunteers.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Spain
Airport, train or bus station pickup
The local team provides a pickup and transfer from Valencia Airport, the train station or the bus station on your arrival date.
First night with your host family
You are taken directly to your host family, matched beforehand using your dietary needs, interests and preferences questionnaire.
Orientation and Old Town walking tour
Your coordinator runs a program orientation followed by a walking tour of Valencia's historic center, taking in the main landmarks and squares.
Starting at your placement
You begin your afternoon shift at the school, childcare center or club you have been matched to, with your local coordinator on hand throughout your stay and 24-hour emergency support.
From volunteers in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing day to day?
You support local staff with conversational English activities, homework supervision, sports, arts and music sessions, and one-to-one attention for children who need extra help, in a school, childcare center or after-school club.
Who is this program suited for?
Volunteers aged 18 and over, especially gap-year travelers, education or childhood-development students and those considering teaching, are a good fit; no teaching qualification is required.
Do I need a teaching qualification or Spanish?
No teaching qualification is required, and you do not need Spanish to start since much of the work is in English; accredited Spanish classes can be added if you want to connect further with children and staff.
What are the hours and a typical day like?
You commit around 20 hours a week, Monday to Friday, mostly in an afternoon shift of roughly 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., since that is when children are out of school; mornings and weekends are free.
How long can I stay and when do placements start?
Placements run 2–8 weeks, with a new start every week (sundays); the next start date is 11 Oct 2026.
What does the program cost and what's included?
Programs start from $2,248, deposit included; this covers your placement, host family accommodation and meals, airport or station pickup, orientation, the Old Town walking tour, a local coordinator and 24-hour support, and a certificate of completion. The $249 deposit counts toward your total and is refunded if no place can be offered.
Where do I live and eat?
You stay with a Spanish host family, who provide all meals; families are chosen for their hosting experience and briefed on your dietary needs and interests in advance.
How does airport pickup work?
The local team provides pickup and transfer from Valencia Airport, the train station or the bus station to your host family accommodation.
What support is there if something goes wrong?
You have a dedicated local coordinator in Valencia and 24-hour in-country emergency support throughout your placement.
Do I need a visa, insurance or background check?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and guidance is sent before departure; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions; and because you work with children, a criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required.
Will I work with children with disabilities?
Some placements involve giving one-to-one support to children with intellectual or physical disabilities during group activities, always alongside qualified staff and matched to your experience.
Can I change my dates or add Spanish classes later?
Your program, dates or destination can be changed free of charge up to 45 days before your start date, and Spanish classes can be added as an optional extra to your placement.
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