Help our non-profit donkey sanctuary in Crete, Greece

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am welcoming people, preferably two at a time, to help at the sanctuary and general improving of our off grid lifestyle.

    1. Happy to live in off grid situation
    2. You will sleep in nice tent or a house in village
    3. You are happy to poo pick after horses, donkeys and dogs.
    4. Mature attitude
    5. Smiling faces!
    6. Eat vegetarian and vegan food…..lots of beans, lentils and veggies!
    7. You are flexible. Priorities are always changing and sometimes we have to stop what we are doing to do something more urgent.
    8. Comfortable around horses and donkeys and dogs and cats.
    9. No smoking or consumption of alcohol or drugs.
    10. Enjoy a simple lifestle.

    my partner and I (from Scotland and England) haverun a donkey sanctuary in a remote location in the mountains of south east crete since 2006. We also have horses, a pony and dogs and cats. We are a registered non profit organisation in Greece and as such rely on help from volunteers. We take in donkeys that are old unwanted and often abused and they live their last days in freedom and knowing they are loved. The dogs we have here are dumped in the area and we look after them until we can find a new home for them. Some of them will stay with us forever. We have olive trees .

    In the tourist season we sometimes get visitors who like to walk around and learn about all the animals and our work.
    During the summer months of July and August it can be very very hot . We go to beach every afternoon and can take volunteers down to the town beaches if they like.

    The area that the sanctuary is in is amazingly scenic but very rural and remote.

    I also make craft items to sell in monthly online fundraising auctions - so anybody with artistic talent willing to help by donating their work would be so appreciated.

    in the last year things have changed somewhat with Alistair’s ill health and I find myself in need of self sufficient help.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Anatoli is a traditional village. The locals are mainly farmers and mainly more elderly. Although they do not speak english they are very friendly to visitors. There are minoan sights in the area.

  • Help

    Help

    Ideally we would like help for about 3 hours each day for 5 days a week. On somedays we may ask for help for longer than these times and it is essential that you can be flexible as working on the land and with animals is always unpredictable. We would prefer long term stays but minimum would be 2 weeks please.

    Daily tasks involve - cleaning manure from fields and shelters, feeding and cleaning water containers, Making sure all animals appear healthy, treating any that need treatment. Walking and feeding and cleaning dogs. grooming animals and generally getting to know them all. There are also general tasks such as tidying up, clearing vegetation.

    Duties vary according to the time of year, in summer months we would want you to help out in split shifts, early morning and early evening. In winter and spring time we would like help in the morning although sometimes would ask that you do a split shift.

    No experience is necessary but a genuine love of animals and sense of humour and willingness to help with whatever task presents itself, is. We want people who are cheerful.

    At the end of the summer months there is always repair and construction projects that needs to be done to keep our animals safe and warm and dry over the winter. In the spring time we need to tidy and prepare for visitors. In the hot summer months all physical hard tasks are done early morning and late afternoon. Barring emergencies we do not work when it gets too hot and do not expect this of volunteers.

    We work according to daylight hours and as such often start early in the morning.

    in the winter time, if possible, we would like to collect our olives so that we can make olive oil.

    BEFORE APPLYING PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:-

    Helpers must be
    1) flexible and cheerful and not 'clock watchers'.
    2) Willing to follow instructions and NOT just do things their own way.
    3) Put the needs of the animals before their own needs
    4) Understand that the chores can be mundane and boring at times but the animals must be made as comfortable as possible at all times.
    5) Happy to help with whatever task

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Greek: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    There is no internet connection. Please arrange something with your phone provider.

    Accommodation will be basic . Either in our house in village or be a tent with airbeds and blankets (please bring your own towels and sheet sleeping bag). Water in the summer is usually sparse so we have to be careful. There is a toilet and shower at sanctuary.

    Work starts at 7.30 in summer with animal feeding. If staying in house there is a 30 minute downhill walk to sanctuary

    Breakfast provided on working days.

    Unless you are very happy to be on your own, this position is best suited to a couple of friends.

    I live on site.

    STRICTLY NO SMOKING PLEASE

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Experience living in a traditional cretan mountain village. If you enjoy nature and quietness this is for you. Working with donkeys is something that most people adore, they are amazing animals and very affectionate.

    The only night life in the village is sitting in the cafenion and watching and chatting to the locals who are always very interested in visitors.

    The village of Anatoli is quite remote. During school terms there is a bus leaving the village before 7 in the morning and returning around 2-3 in the afternoon, This goes to the town of Ierapetra.

    There are beautiful walks from the village and sanctuary, arcaelogical sites to visit and plenty of interesting birds and flowers.

    We have many rare and unusual flowers in the area and if you are interested in birds you will enjoy seeing a variety of birds including the griffon vultures who have a colony nearby.

    There is an early morning bus to the town of ierapetra and the sea - which returns in the afternoon. It is always possible to get a lift to the town with one of our neighbours or ourselves if we are going.

    We retire into our caravan at the sanctuary when it gets dark and do not socialise in the evenings. Volunteers must be happy to spend time alone - lots of books to read, dvds to watch or go to the cafenion.

    There are beaches about 20 minutes drive away.

    Fabulous walking, bird watching, archaelogical sites, mountain biking.

    Cars and scooters can be hired in the town of Ierapetra.

    There is an early morning bus from the village which returns mid afternoon to the town.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    There are wild camping opportunities close to sanctuary

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 3 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 375829539849

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