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Ireland

Community Development Project

This programme is for participants who are flexible and want to experience more than one type of volunteer project. We work with different community projects and you will be matched taking into account your profile and the needs of the community.

Highlights

  • Incredible opportunity to work for various community development programs in Ireland
  • Engage in a positive cultural exchange during your stay with a local host family
  • Work with a bunch of experienced & qualified staff, gaining the first-hand experience
  • Meet some like-minded travelers from different parts of the world
  • Explore Ireland like never before!
Progetto di sviluppo comunitario

Overview

Being a volunteer for the Community Development Program in Ireland, you can choose from an array of projects that would suit your interests. No matter which project you opt for, you'd be working with experienced local staff and gain valuable work experience. And it isn't just that - but you'd also get to serve the society meaningfully.

Here's a list of volunteering opportunities that are currently available under the Community Development Program:

- Charity Shops
Volunteer work includes: Provide sales assistance to customers, ensure goods are well displayed, sorting donations, etc.

- Tourist Office
Volunteer work includes: Provide assistance to visitors, assist local staff in administrative tasks, etc. 

- Community Clean up
Volunteer work includes: Take part in the community clean up with local community groups to improve the local environment and make it a better place to live

- Assisting at local events (e.g. sports events, festivals, etc.)
Volunteer work includes: Assist with crowd/ticket control, providing information to the public, etc.

-  Helping in a local touristic/natural heritage attraction
Volunteer work may include: assisting staff in providing services to visitors (play area for children, café, crowd control, etc.)

- Day Care Centre for Elderly people
Volunteer work includes: Assist local staff in running activities with local elderly people, organize games, serve food or simply have a chat and bring your positive energy!

-  Helping at local Secondary School
Volunteer work includes language classes assistant, assisting staff with running activities with pupils.


Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteers work approximately 25 - 30h per week with two days off.

 


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

This programme is for participants who are flexible and want to experience more than one type of volunteer project. We work with different community projects and you will be matched taking into account your profile and the needs of the community. Most community development placement involve volunteering in a charity shop + one or 2 other community project.


Project Requirement

Project Requirement

Volunteers are required to be adaptable, flexible people. Participants must be over 18 when the project starts. Volunteers joining the project should have at least an intermediate level of spoken English (B1/B2). Participants will join a group of workers and local volunteers composed of people from different backgrounds and different age groups. Volunteers need to be able to partake in teamwork, but personal motivation, maturity and responsibility are also important. Volunteers joining the project should provide a criminal background check. A video call interview may be done to check participants suitability. Volunteers with a diversity of profiles are welcome; they do not necessarily need to have an artistic background.
 

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Living

Living

Airport Transfer
Participants are picked up by a driver who will be waiting with a sign displaying the participants’ name. Participants are transferred to a hostel accommodation located in Cork city centre.

Volunteers who arrive at a different airport (Dublin or Shannon) need to make their own way to Cork. It is very easy to arrive at Cork city from Dublin airport as there are buses from just outside the arrival terminal in Dublin that go directly to Cork city center (aircoach.ie). Participants are picked up from their point of entry in Cork (bus station or train station).

It is preferable to book a flight that arrives before 2pm in Dublin airport not to miss the welcome dinner!

If a participant arrives earlier than the arrival date, they should arrange their accommodation and transfer themselves.

Orientation
On the morning of the second day, participants are met by the coordinating staff at the hostel reception and will walk to the Cork Volunteer Centre where the orientation workshop takes place.

The orientation workshop lasts approximately 3.5h and includes the following topics:

  • Sharing and discussing fears and expectations

  • Exploring motivations

  • Skills and attitudes to make the programme a success

  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders(sender/host/volunteer)

  • Lines of communication

  • Potential challenges

  • Introduction to Irish culture

  • Cultural adaptation, culture shock and inter-cultural competences

  • Cultural adaptation in the Irish context

  • Practical tips for a successful voluntary service

  • Health issues

  • Safety and security, risk mitigation

  • Overview of what to do during free time

After the orientation workshop and their lunch, participants take part in a 2 hour walking tour of Cork City. During the tour, they are provided with practical advice, cultural and historical information.

At the end of the tour, participants are brought to the bus or train station and go to their project location. In some cases, depending on the location and availability of project mentor, the transfer could be done the following morning.

Accommodation & Meals
On arrival in Cork, volunteers are provided accommodation at a hostel in the city.The hostel is located in the city centre, a very short walk from all the shops and attractions of the city.

Hostel facilities:

  • Bed in shared dormitory bedrooms (4 to 8 beds per room)

  • Free Wi-Fi all over the hostel so you can stay in touch wherever you are

  • Free Home Cinema with big plasma screen, comfy beanbags

  • In-House Sauna

  • Always Open Coffee Dock and shop

  • Personal Lockers

While on the project, volunteers will live in local host family accommodation allowing you to get a real sense of life in an Irish family and community.Staying with a host family allows participants to be fully immersed within the Irish culture. Our local team in Ireland has developed a network of host communities in different part of the country. Host communities are managed by the local coordinators who deal with local families. Every host family goes through a thorough selection process, we make sure our participants are placed with welcoming and supportive hosts. Host families come in different shapes and sizes: e.g. parents and children with a spare room, a single host mother, or a retired couple. Families give participants an instant support system and help them learn the local language and culture. Most host families offer participants generally their own single room. On occasion participants might have to share a bedroom with another participant from the same gender. Many families are living at a walking distance from the projects while others can be based a bit further out of town. In this case volunteers are either given lifts, use bicycles or local transportation (cost not included in programme fees).

Meals will be provided along with a packed lunch as needed.

The host family provides breakfast (cereals or toasts, hot drink etc.), packed lunch (sandwiches, fruit etc.) and hot dinner in the evening (e.g. pasta, sausages, potatoes, pizza etc.). It is possible to cater for vegetarians (this information is subject to change, please check with us).

During your Free Time
Ireland is a wonderful place to visit. From vibrant, exciting cities like Dublin, Cork or Galway or Belfast to breath-taking landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way. Attractions include the world-famous sceneries of Connemara and West Cork, the ring of Kerry, the cliffs of Moher, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin etc. There are also a multitude of less touristy but equally interesting places to visit and activities to do such as whale watching in county Cork! Local staff will give participants further information on visits and excursions during their orientation and in the welcome pack.

Volunteers will have the weekends to explore. There is always something happening in Clonmel, with frequent theater, concerts, live music, art exhibitions, and festivals.

During your free time, volunteers can discover the countryside around Clonmel, Tipperary region. They can visit famous attractions such as the Rock of Cashel Castle and Cahir Castle located in nearby towns. They can also discover cities such as Kilkenny, Cork or Dublin.


Dates

Dates

January

06

27

February

17

March

10

April

07

28

May

19

June

09

30

July

07

28

September

08

October

06

November

03

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out


Costs

Duration
Program Fee
Choose your currency
3 Weeks $1745
4 Weeks $1975
5 Weeks $2245
6 Weeks $2495
7 Weeks $2775
8 Weeks $3075
Extra Week $445

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

Inclusions

  • Pre-departure Information guide and support
  • Pickup in Cork
  • First night in hostel in Cork City
  • Transfer to Project
  • All Meals except lunch on arrival day
  • Accommodation in Host Family or at Project
  • Orientation with local staff
  • Ongoing support from project mentor
  • Local staff support and coordination

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunch on arrival day
  • Return airport transfer (local team can assist with this)
  • Visa Fee
  • Vaccinations
  • Medical & Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses

FAQ's

Application and Program Details

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Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the programs?

Why Volunteer in Ireland?

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When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Ireland?

I haven’t traveled or volunteered abroad before. Can I still be a part of VolSol?

How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?

Does VolSol provide with a reference or a certificate after program completion?

Flights and Visa

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Health and Safety

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