Looking for volunteer opportunities on the Camino Frances!

[Katarina0908]

Hey guys,

does anyone know how and where to apply if one wishes to become a volunteer?
I walked the Camino Frances twice and would love to volunteer from may till september

I would appreciate any help regarding volunteer opportunities!!!

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Katarina, if you want to volunteer at a (non-private) pilgrim albergue, you'll need to do a two/three-day training course. After you've done the course, they'll try and match you to an albergue or time period that fits your schedule. You volunteer for 14 days at a time.

Here's some information about courses; I see there's one in Limburg coming up soon that might interest you! https://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/hospitaleros/cursos.asp

 

[Katarina0908]

Hey Jan,

thank you so much for your message and help!!
I just wrote to the gentleman who is in charge for the course in Limburg but is it necessary to attend the course? In case there are no free course spots left ....

Kind regards,
Katarina

 

[Jan_D]

Hi again! If the course was full it would say "completo", so I think you should be ok...

Yes you do need to do the course to be registered with the Association - after the course you will become a "certified hospitalero", and from then on you can contact them to volunteer whenever you have time. Hope he gets back to you soon!

 

[Katarina0908]

Hi once again

the gentleman came already back to me but said I need to have some spanish language skills already ... unfortunately I don´t have any what to do?

 

[Jan_D]

Oh dear... I didn't realise (or forgot) there was a language requirement! When I did the training course my Spanish was pretty limited, but it didn't seem to be a problem. Hmmm, not sure.

How quickly can you learn some Spanish basics (ha ha)? I suppose the other option is to contact a private albergue, but I know, it's really not the same thing.

Anyway maybe let this thread percolate a bit, I'm sure someone else will reply with advice!

 

[naplesdon]

The Albergue Karl Leisner in Hospital de Orbigo is operated by the German Confraternity. I stopped there last summer and talked to them about volunteering, they told me that they are looking for hospitaleros who will stay longer than 14 days.
You have plenty of time to learn Spanish before May.
Remember if you are from outside the Schengen Area you can only stay in Spain for 90 days.

 

[Jan_D]

I was just writing something similar to biarritzdon!! Yes, and I think there's also another albergue run by the German Confraternity in La Faba. I also know there's an albergue run by "Casa Austria" in Los Arcos, which accepts hospitaleros without training, but it is a private albergue so you might not like the idea of volunteering for a private business.

Otherwise, could you not tell Herr Bahnen that you'll be learning Spanish intensively before the summer? As biarritzdon says, you should have the basics down in a few weeks...

 

[Katarina0908]

Thank you so much for the informations! Really appreciate it will write to the albergues you have mentioned and (of course) ask Mr. Bahnen once again about the spanish language requirements as I learned french and italian in college which might be helpful

 

[Jan_D]

Good luck, I really hope you manage to sort something out. Please keep us posted!

 

[Brian E]

Hey guys,

does anyone know how and where to apply if one wishes to become a volunteer?
I walked the Camino Frances twice and would love to volunteer from may till september

I would appreciate any help regarding volunteer opportunities!!!

Not sure if this link was posted but very informative:

Hospitaleros

www.americanpilgrims.org

 

[Antomuchacho]

I volunteered in hostels in my younger days in germany and holland and france!! As long as you know a few words i.e holiday lingo youle be grand!!dont forget they need you more than you realise☺

 

[dansk pilgrim]

hi Katarina,

You might want to check out this place just outside Astorga www.facebook.com/search/str/albergue+casa+las+águedas/keywords_search?epa=SEARCH_BOX
I stayed there in 2016 and just fell in love with the place. At that time they were looking for volunteers.

good luck.

 

[Trude]

Contact Rebekah Scott on this forum. She will guide you......

 

[slynbo]

If you speak French, you could look into volunteering at the main camino office in France in St.Jean Pied de Port. They require 2 languages, I think one has to be French. I'm not sure how long you can stay.