General helper

location
4 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Meet travellers and volunteers from all over the world and help them to have the best time with us!
  • Enjoy cheap flight fares in the low season
  • Propel your career with international experience
  • Make memories you'll never forget during your volunteering time
  • enjoy the nearby beach and visit the whole Sao Vicente island and the neighboring island Santo Antao during your free time!


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples

About the program

We always need eclectic volunteers that like to help with anything needed: hostel, animal care, social media, decoration, office work, IT, and anything you are good at!

Our hostel was founded in 2015 to raise funds for our charity SIMABO, Association for the Protection of Animals and the Environment. Since then it doubled its rooms due to the big success we had among travellers. The hostel is listed in most booking platforms and is full most of the time, especially ...

About the program

Our hostel was founded in 2015 to raise funds for our charity SIMABO, Association for the Protection of Animals and the Environment. Since then it doubled its rooms due to the big success we had among travellers. The hostel is listed in most booking platforms and is full most of the time, especially in the high season (October-March, August). Cleaning staff provides cleaning during the whole day and office staff provides support for payments, so the volunteer tasks are mostly connected with checkin/checkout procedures, support to the guests, and especially the communication work linked to the hostel (updating the FB page, etc.). The volunteer will have to update the board with events going on in town, organize groups for excursions, provide information about anything useful to the guests (ferry timetables, rent a car or a scooter, beauty farm, doctor/clinic, visits of our shelters, etc.). A  checklist is provided to support the volunteer in accomplishing his/her tasks. 

Very important: animals are the core of our mission, so it is fundamental not to have problems with this, no allergies, no fears, or anything that makes the reletionship with animals difficult. And you must be ready sometimes, when needed, to execute little tasks with the animals as well, for instance walk some dogs that live at the office or in the volunteers' house, or feed an ill animal or a puppy or a kitten. We have staff to clean and feed and walk, but sometimes we need extra help with this out of hours.

Secondly, the hostel volunteer has no time schedule. We have staff for cleaning, but there is no time for check in, so sometimes gusts might arrive late at night. Sometimes guests arrive all in the morning, or there are very few arrivals, and you can have a lot of free time, but smetimes we have guests that arrive all in different times from 8 in the morning to 12 at night, so you must be able to take your free time when possible. 



Typical day

The volunteer will work per shifts, either from 7AM to 2PM or from 2PM to 9PM. The working time can also be splitted in 2 or 3 shifts according to check in times of the guests (when possible). He will have his meals at the hostel, and in general will have plenty of time during his/her duty to ...

Typical day

The volunteer will work per shifts, either from 7AM to 2PM or from 2PM to 9PM. The working time can also be splitted in 2 or 3 shifts according to check in times of the guests (when possible). He will have his meals at the hostel, and in general will have plenty of time during his/her duty to accomplish his/her tasks. Hostel helper must be available to check in guests also late at night, when needed.


Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hi

Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hiking paths are very simple to follow. Every volunteer who likes hiking can't miss visiting the neighboring island, Santo Antao, with its beautiful mountains and trekking paths. 
If you are not so keen on hiking, you can rent a bicycles, electrical bicycles and scooters at local shops.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Reliability, punctuality, maturity, resilience, flexibility, organizational skills, enthusiasm, communication skills, social media, proactivity, small maintenance skills, supervisor skills.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Simabo

- pick up from the airport at the arrival
- accommodation in a single or shared room if travelling alone or in a bigger room if travelling in group with shared bathroom and wifi. 
- bedsheets and towels (no beach towels provided)
- cleaning of the room and the communal spaces at the volunteers' house 
- no curfew
- free access to our international youth hostel 
- free access to parties at the hostel with guests and staff 
- advice to visit Sao Vicente
- advice to organize visits to other islands, especially Santo Antao, with hostel and ferry/flights reservations  
- one tour of the island of Sao Vicente with our staff, usually with a deworming or spaying/neutering campaign
- food is not provided, but volunteers can use the communal kitchen at the hostel
- certificate 

Airport Pickup at Cesaria Evora International Airport

Our driver will wait for you in the airport arrival hall with a SIMABO sign with your name! Driving time to town is about 10 min. 

Be prepared to stay in a row for paying the "airport fee" that costs 32 euros. You can avoid this applying via Internet and paying in advance by credit card, but you will be charged 60 euros!  EU citizens are not required to have/pay a visa, only non-EU citizens will have to buy one at the airport for 25 euros. 

Accommodation

Accommodation for volunteers is available  in double or triple rooms with shared bathroom in the hostel or in the volunteers house. Both are located just a couple of meters away from our clinic, the beach, and the main square of Mindelo. Extra fee is charged for a single rooms in the volunteers' house or in the hostel, according to availability.
Volunteers can prepare their own food in the hostel kitchen, where paying guests are hosted to raise funds for the project.
At the hostel volunteers can meet any kind of travellers and together they can plan trips, excursions, parties, dinners, anything that makes fun and makes your volunteering time unforgettable. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Food & Beverages

Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Cesaria Evora International Airport (VXE) in Sao Vicente. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cape Verde. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cape Verde provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Cape Verde you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cape Verde. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Volunteers that apply for this program are accepted  only in the tourist low season, depending on availability. See Availability section. They can start on any day of the week according to flights availability and costs.


Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 255€
6 weeks 350€
8 weeks (max. stay) 500€
Average fees 63€/week

Program fees

63€ per week 4 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 8 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Simabo during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Simabo

Excellent 4.8 rating (53 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2008

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Silvia

Spoken languages: German, Portuguese, English, Italian

About the project

SIMABO protects, rescues, assists, and spays/neuters dogs and cats in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde

Meet your organization


SI MA BO in Creole means “like you”. 

We are an association for the protection of animals and the environment based in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde, West Africa. Cape Verde has been a Portuguese colony until 1975 and has still a very "European vibe". No vaccinations are required or recommended.The local population is peaceful and more interested in parties and music than in politics or world finance. Mindelo is famous for its music and dancing nights and for being the birth place of Cesaria Evora, the most famous Capeverdean singer. 

SIMABO is a registered charity both in Cape Verde and in Italy. Article 3 of our Bylaws states out mission as following: "The purpose of the Association is to improve the living conditions of the population of the islands of Cape Verde.  In particular, by reducing the risk of transmission of parasitic diseases by cutting down the number of stray animals through spaying/neutering campaigns, also by involving the population in  activities of prophylactic antiparasitic care and by treating animals carrying diseases. The Association also aims at raising funds to be used for carrying out its activities in the Cape Verde islands."

Our work with animals - including running a shelter with 110 dogs, a cattery with 18 cats, a 7/12 clinic, and ambulant castration campaigns - is partially financed by the Simabo's Backpackers' Hostel, a hostel for responsible tourists, which in the meantime has become the most famous tourist facility on the island. 
We have treated and microchipped more than 12,000 animals so far and we are planning to expand the spaying/neutering campaigns to neighboring islands as well. 

SIMABO Cape Verde is managed by a board of 11 directors (1 Italian, 1 Brazilian, 1 Russian and 8 Cape-Verdeans) and employs 12 local workers: 1 veterinarian, 1 nurse, 1 receptionist, 1 driver, 4 dog carers, 3 cleaning staff, 1 night watch + 1 administrator from abroad (Portugal), and relies on the help of 2 full-time volunteers + an average of part-time 10 volunteers on the field and abroad.

The help we need varies depending on your skills. We expect someone who is a self-starter and can work independently with a very high degree of motivation. The focus must be to help the project, with the necessary amount of rest and freetime, to recover from the hard work and to visit the island of Sao Vicente and the neighboring island of Santo Antao, which can be done easily in the free time provided but the working schedule.

Volunteering with SIMABO offers the opportunity to make a great experience abroad in a protected environment, where volunteers can meet other volunteers or hostel guests from all over the world. The relationship with the animals can be extremely rewarding form the emotional point of view, being Capeverdean dogs very tame and social. Volunteers are completely immersed in the local environment, working with local staff and being required to shop and cook their own food. For volunteers that don't want to cook by themselves a wide choice of different options is available to eat at local restaurants and bars for a little price.  

Confirmed volunteers will receive a link to our portal with all the information required for their travel, their stay and the work with us in the different areas: Dog shelter, Cat shelter, Clinic, Hostel, Communication and Fundraising, Education, Maintenance. Feel free to choose the area the best suites you to make the difference for the animals on this beautiful island! 

53 reviews · rating4.8

Naomi T rating1.8

2021 at General helper

Good cause for animals in the community. Management could be better in terms of planning and resources for the volunteer when they arrive. For example I made animal beds and repaired bedding/ curtains around the hostel but the sewing machine took days to arrive from another location, then it broke ...
Christine Salomon ép. Gavet rating5

2024 at Veterinary Doctor

i always wanted to do veterinary volunteering and I was finally able to carry out this project ay Simabo where I spent 5 weeks. I felt really useful by sterilizing and caring for street animals or those belonging to people in need. the local staff are committed and helpful, the volunteers come ...
Alice Albergucci rating5

2024 at Animal Supporter

Ho fatto una settimana di volontariato al rifugio di Simabo e’ stata un’esperienza veramente bella ,ho conosciuto persone che porterò nel mio cuore e sto parlando sia delle persone che gestiscono l’associazione ma anche delle altre volontarie e che dire dei tutti quei cagnolini ❤️ ...
Julia Ottiger rating5

2024 at Animal Supporter

I had a really good time at Simabo. I went to the shelter almost every day and walked the dogs. The dogs are super friendly and are really happy when they see you and know that it's time for a walk, cuddle or play. The cats at the hostel are also lovely and love it when you play with them or give ...
Andréa Rodrigues rating5

2024 at Videomaker/Photographer/Graphic designer/

To start with, it's been a really incredible experience, everyone is super nice and welcoming, you never feel alone. To talk more specifically about the communication work, it's really important. Simabo really needs visibility because their work is really important and you'll see that they really ...
thierry ouzelet rating5

2024 at Dog walker

Unforgettable experience that I recommend to everyone. If you like to share and be useful, then come. I stayed 3 weeks and would have liked to stay longer. I will definitely come ...

Location


You might also be interested in

Contact Silvia
  Very high response rate
German, Portuguese, English, Italian

Most volunteers ask about


Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Silvia
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.