from 355€

Outstanding 4.9rating (45)

Videomaker/Photographer/Graphic designer/

location
4 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Experience the Cape-Verdean way of life while documenting our work in the community
  • Take incredible pics of awesome landscapes around the island of Sao Vicente and Santo Antao
  • Propel your career with internationa experience
  • make experiences you will never forget documenting rescues and campaigns around the island
  • Visit the beautiful island of Santo Antao during your free time

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples

About the program

We always need to document our work, to make it more visible, to find the right image to convey the importance of what we do to prospect donors, supporters and volunteers

We always need good photographic and video material to document and communicate our work. 

The running costs that are not covered with the hostel revenues or with membership fees of the association are covered with donations from abroad, so we have a lot of fundraising and communication work as ...

About the program

We always need good photographic and video material to document and communicate our work. 

The running costs that are not covered with the hostel revenues or with membership fees of the association are covered with donations from abroad, so we have a lot of fundraising and communication work as well.
Our organization includes 4 locations: a clinic, an office/volunteers' house/cats shelter, a dog shelter and a hostel for backpackers. 
All these activities are managed with a high level of computer work, so we need help also in this specifica area (IT/Internet/social networks).
This volunteer program is especially tailored for those of you who want to make an international experience while working with the local staff. 
Photogrphers and videomaker will be asked to work in shifts and to be present at the office/hostel during their working shift if not around to photograph/making videos.

Vaccinations are not required nor recommended. There is no rabies in Cape Verde. 

NOTES: 
- Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is per shift: one morning shift from 7,30 to 12,30 OR one afternoon shift from 13,30 to 18,30.
- changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized
- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered
- we'll make our best to give you the morning shift on the last working day of one week and the afternoon shift of the first working day of the following week, so that you have 2 days and 2 nights off and you can visit another island if you like.  



Typical day

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. Work is per shifts: morning from 8 to 13 or afternoon from 13 to 18. 

Volunteers who work in the morning must have breakfast  before starting, ...

Typical day

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. Work is per shifts: morning from 8 to 13 or afternoon from 13 to 18. 

Volunteers who work in the morning must have breakfast  before starting, even if they work at the office or in the hostel.  Lunch is after 13. Most volunteers like to have something ready from the previous day so that they can eat as soon as they finish their working shift, and then they have still time to rest and go for some free time activity on the beach or in town or visit another village on the island. Public buses go back and forth from town to the 4 villages on the coast during the whole day, with the last ones coming back from the villages at about 5 PM. Sometimes volunteers can organize shifts in the kitchen and prepare food for themselves at 12,30, before going to work, and other volunteers that finish working at 13. 
Volunteers working in the afternoon must be ready to go at 13, so they have free in the morning.

For people that don't like to cook or don't want to spend their time cooking, meals can be bought for little money in a lot of local small restaurants. You can be dropped off at the market place when our car go to the shelter at 1PM and have lunch there, before going to the beach for a nap. Everything is so close and easy to reach that there is almost no need to "organize" free time.
Free time activities can vary according with the time of the year: in winter it is not so hot, so you can go round during the whole day. In Summer it will be difficult to do anything else than rest or being at the beach from 12 to 17. 

Shifts are allocated according to the needs at the shelter and to the desires of the volunteers. Some people like better to work in the morning because it is cooler, but of course night life suffers from this schedule. Other people prefer to go to bed later, rest in the morning and work in the afternoon. In general volunteers are working one per shift or more only if available. 


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 (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

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

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 will be in a single room only if available, usually in a double or bigger room. All the rooms will be with shared bathroom.
- advice to organize visits to other islands, especially Santo Antao, with hotel 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 a communal kitchen.

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 it will cost you 60 euros. All info to accomplish this will be provided in due time. 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 single rooms with shared bathroom 

in our volunteer house or in double or triple rooms with shared bathroom in the hostel. 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 room in the hostel.
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 are accepted throughout the year depending on availability.

Usually the best months to come are from april o mid-July and form the beginning of OCtober to mid-December, because of the temperature and also because of the cost of the flights, that can be a expensive in the high season (Christmas, August).
Carnaval is a highlight of Mindelo's life, volunteers are always welcome at that time of the year. 

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

Program fees

4 weeks 355€
Average fees 89€/week

Program fees

89€ per week 4 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 4 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

Outstanding 4.9 rating (45 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2008

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Silvia

Spoken languages: Italian, English, German, Portuguese

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! 

45 reviews · rating4.9

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 ...
I spend the October last year in Cape Verde and had a great time. I will split this review into 3 main parts: People - Work - Free time PEOPLE: Everyone was very welcoming and trying to make you feel comfortable. Of course there was a little language barrier sometimes if you just speak ...
Google Translator: I am going to do this review in Spanish so that Spanish speakers have a review in our language ;) Last September I went to volunteer in Cape Verde for a little more than two weeks and I was completely right with my choice; I was looking for an NGO that takes care of animals in a ...
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 ...
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 ...
R Long rating5

2023 at Veterinary Doctor

Wonderful, challenging and rewarding work as a veterinary surgeon. Plenty of opportunity provided to explore the area around Sao Vincent Island and neighboring Sant Antao ...

Location


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

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