Join us
Europe Cares is a young & growing humanitarian organization that supports people on the move on the European borders. Here, you can find opportunities to join our team and help us.
We only exist because hundreds of people dedicated their free time and energy to support of people on the move. Volunteers are a key to our work - no matter if “on the ground” at Paréa Lesvos or remotely from anywhere in the Core Team. You can take on roles of responsibility, bring in new ideas and support the work as it best suits you.
If you would like to join us, check out the open positions below and fill in the application form - we will reach out to you within the next couple days. In case of any questions, contact volunteer@europecares.org!
Support our community center on Lesvos! Paréa is our community center, where visitors from the camp have a welcoming space to spend their day and can the offerings of our nine partner organizations. You can learn more about the center here.
Check the open volunteer positions below. Please note that our volunteer team is full until May 2024. If you’re able to join us from June 2024, you can apply here.
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Location: Paréa, Lesvos
Starting date: ASAP
Commitment: 6+ weeks (for volunteers joining between October & April) and 8+ weeks (for volunteers joining between May & September)Paréa Lesvos is our community center located within walking distance from the refugee camp on Lesvos. The center offers a safe space where residents of the camp, locals, international people can meet freely to spend time in a peaceful environment with many recreational activities (board games, volleyball, basketball, video games), a Women Space, a cafeteria with free drinks and daily lunch.
We are looking for motivated volunteers that help us make our center a welcoming place for our visitors and the other partner organizations.
Your daily tasks may involve:
running the cafeteria and lunch distribution;
helping with community events;
running our daily programme of activities in Women Space and Paréa Club;
contributing to the maintenance of the space (painting the walls, cleaning, fixing or building new things, etc.);
driving;
suggesting new ideas or activities.
So, if you are…
At least 20 years old
Fluent in English
Able to commit for at least 6 weeks
An enthusiastic team-worker
Open-minded, flexible, and cross-culturally aware
Aware of the refugee context and (ideally but not necessarily) with previous experience in working with people on-the-move
… apply to join our team!
We offer
Endless amount of coffee, as well as daily breakfast and lunch
100€ reimbursement every 4 weeks (only for volunteers that commit for a minimum of 12 weeks)
Training sessions
Regular team building activities
Recommendation letter (upon request)
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Location: Paréa Lesvos
Starting date: ASAP
Commitment: 6+ weeks (for volunteers joining between October & April) and 8+ weeks (for volunteers joining between May & September)
Paréa Lesvos is our community center located within walking distance from the refugee camp on Lesvos. The center offers a safe space where residents of the camp, locals, international people can meet freely to spend time in a peaceful environment with many recreational activities (board games, volleyball, basketball, video games), a Women Space, a cafeteria with free drinks and daily lunch.
We are looking for a motivated volunteer that helps us make our center a welcoming place for our visitors and the other partner organizations.
Your daily tasks may involve:
designing flyers and posters to advertise our daily programme of activities and events;
assisting our Communications team in improving our website and producing content for social media (photos, videos, posts, etc.);
proposing creative ideas to make our center look more beautiful (painting, murales, etc.).
So, if you are…
At least 20 years old
Fluent in English
Able to commit for at least 6 weeks
A creative person with an artistic eye and working knowledge of editing and design tools (Canva)
An enthusiastic team-worker
Open-minded, flexible, and cross-culturally aware
Aware of the refugee context and (ideally but not necessarily) with previous experience in working with people on-the-move
… apply to join us!
We offer
Endless amount of coffee, as well as daily breakfast and lunch
100€ reimbursement every 4 weeks (only for volunteers committing for a minimum of 12 weeks)
Training sessions
Regular team building activities
Recommendation letter (upon request)
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Location: Paréa Lesvos
Starting date: ASAP
Commitment: 6+ weeks
Paréa Lesvos is our community center located within walking distance from Kara Tepe refugee camp on Lesvos. The center offers a safe space where residents of the camp, locals, international people can meet freely to spend time in a peaceful environment with many recreational activities (board games, volleyball, basketball, video games), a Women Space, a cafeteria with free drinks and daily lunch.
We are looking for a motivated volunteer that helps us make our center a welcoming place for our visitors and the other partner organizations. Working under the guidance and instructions of our Technical Coordinator, your daily tasks may involve:
contributing to the maintenance of the space (repairs, deconstruction and building of new containers, etc.);
helping to solve technical issues for us and our partner organizations in the center (electricity, WiFi, water, etc.);
building furniture (benches, gazebos, tables, etc.) for our center; painting.
So, if you are…
At least 20 years old
Fluent in English
Able to commit for at least 4 weeks
An enthusiastic team-worker with relevant manual and technical skills
Open-minded, flexible, and cross-culturally aware
Aware of the refugee context and (ideally but not necessarily) with previous experience in working with people on-the-move
… apply to join us!
We offer
Endless amount of coffee, as well as daily breakfast and lunch
100€ reimbursement every 4 weeks (only for volunteers committing for a minimum of 12 weeks)
Training sessions
Regular team building activities
Recommendation letter
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Location: Paréa Lesvos
Starting date: ASAP
Commitment: 6+ weeks (for volunteers joining between October & April) and 8+ weeks (for volunteers joining between May & September)
Paréa Lesvos is our community center located within walking distance from the refugee camp on Lesvos. The center offers a safe space where residents of the camp, locals, international people can meet freely to spend time in a peaceful environment with many recreational activities (board games, volleyball, basketball, video games), a Women Space, a cafeteria with free drinks and daily lunch.
We are looking for a motivated volunteer that helps us make our Women Space a welcoming and safe place for our female visitors and their kids. This is a place where girls and women can rest in privacy, enjoy some time together freely, participate in recreational activities and workshops, and practice their English.
Your daily tasks may involve:
planning and implementing daily activities (arts & crafts sessions, beauty sessions, dances, etc.) under the guidance of our Project Coordinator and with the support of other volunteers;
leading the team of international and community volunteers involved in the activities;
actively proposing new ideas to improve our programme dedicated to women and girls;
contributing to the cleaning and maintenance of the Women Space.
So, if you are…
Female (due to the requirements of the position)
At least 20 years old
Fluent in English
Able to commit for at least 4 weeks
An enthusiastic team-worker with good communication, listening and observation skills
Organized and able to work independently with (ideally) previous experience in implementing activities for women and girls
Open-minded, flexible, and cross-culturally aware
Aware of the refugee context and (ideally but not necessarily) with previous experience in working with people on-the-move
… please apply on our website at https://www.europecares.org/vacancies!
We offer
Endless amount of coffee, as well as daily breakfast and lunch
100€ reimbursement every 4 weeks (only for volunteers committing for a minimum of 12 weeks)
Training sessions
Regular team building activities
Recommendation letter (upon request)
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How can I apply to volunteer at Paréa Lesvos?
To apply as a volunteer please fill in the application form selecting the “Paréa Lesvos” project. We will contact you soon.
Please note that our volunteer team is full until May 2024, and we are able to welcome new volunteers only from June 2024.
I have applied to become a volunteer at Paréa Lesvos, what happens next?
After receiving your application and checking that you meet the basic requirements to volunteer with us, we will contact you for an interview to assess your motivation and skills, and present our project to you.
This is a chance for us to check whether your skills match our project needs, and for you to make sure that our project meets your expectations and interests. If so, we will then start the onboarding process, collecting the documents needed and sending you additional information.
What are the requirements to be a volunteer?
To volunteer with us, you should:
Be at least 20
Be available for at least 6 weeks (for volunteers joining between October & April) and at least 8 weeks (for volunteers joining between May & September)
Provide us a criminal record check
Provide us with your passport/ID
Be fluent in English
Previous experience working with displaced or vulnerable people is a great plus.
Other relevant languages (Arabic, Farsi, French, Somali, etc.) are a plus.
Do I need an international driver’s license?
An international driver’s license is not required to volunteer with us.
What kind of support do you need? How can I contribute?
We are currently looking for the following volunteer positions:
General Volunteer
Social Media Volunteer
Volunteer Maintenance Assistant
Women Space Lead
For more information about the tasks and requirements, please read the role descriptions in the section above.
I want to help, but have limited time available. Can I volunteer with you?
At Paréa Lesvos we have both full-time and part-time volunteers. Whereas full-time volunteers work 5 days a week, part-time volunteers can be involved once or twice a week with a minimum stay of 2 months. Please note that part-time volunteers will not receive any reimbursement and might not be able to participate in all the activities. We work with very vulnerable people, including children, and their wellbeing is our utmost priority.
I want to help, but cannot travel internationally. How can I help?
If you want to contribute to the Paréa Lesvos project remotely, you can help our Communications team with social media content and website design and editing. Moreover, we will also consider remote options for the position of Social Media Volunteer.
Will I get training?
Upon arrival, you will have a mandatory induction including some safeguarding and safety training. Please note that some volunteer positions may require additional on-site training. Moreover, with the support of partner organizations specialized in MHPSS and legal support, we offer regular trainings including topics sucha as psychological first aid, the Greek asylum process, first aid, etc.
Are my expenses covered?
Our volunteers can have:
Free breakfast, snacks and lunch during working days (from Monday to Friday)
For volunteers that can commit for at least 12 weeks: 100-euro reimbursement every 4 weeks
I want to donate equipment/items for the refugees, what do they need?
Before bringing any equipment/items or sending donations, please contact us at lesvos@europecares.org and we will share with you our list of needs.
Our Core Team is the backbone of the organization. Here, we coordinate our projects, run our social media channels and plan campaigns. We have an international team, who work together remotely across borders - so you can join us from anywhere!
Fundraising - Help us apply for grants, plan fundraising campaigns and much more!
Communications - Pictures & videos say more than a thousand words! Help us tell a story, create meaningful content and raise awareness for the cause!
More information for specific roles & responsibilities in the team is coming soon. If you are interested and have any questions, you can always out to us via volunteer@europecares.org!
If you are interested in working with us, check out the vacancies below. For any questions, you can reach out to us via lesvos@europecares.org.
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Our Program & Logistics Officer is responsible for the supervision of two projects run by Europe Cares in the center (the cafeteria with free drinks and lunch, and the security team), as well as the supervision and support of volunteers involved in them. In close cooperation with the Project Coordinator and the Program Officer, you will conduct program meetings and training to monitor the overall success of our activities and train the incoming volunteers. Moreover, you will take care of the overall procurement and supply management for our program of activities.
The full-time role is based in Lesvos, Greece. The starting date is ASAP (latest end of May).
Your daily tasks may involve:
Supervising the daily operations in the café and the security team, in cooperation with the Project Coordinator;
Supporting & supervising volunteers involved in the café and security team;
Conducting program training with newly arrived volunteers;
Organizing & conducting daily morning briefings and monthly program meetings, in cooperation with the Team leads and Project Coordinator;
Recruiting team leads for the café and security team;
Supply management & purchasing;
Storage organization & management;
Ensuring the supplies in stock are adequate to run the project;
Driving;
Support in expense tracking;
Support of Program Officer, Project Coordinator and overall staff team;
Other relevant tasks as requested by the Project Coordinator.
What we are looking for:
At least 21 years old;
Eligible to reside and work in the EU (as a small NGO we are not able to offer assistance for visa applications);
Able to commit for (at least) 5 months;
Able to provide a Criminal Record Check;
(Under-)graduate degree in a relevant field of study;
3-months minimum experience from humanitarian organizations, and project or volunteer management in particular;
Excellent communication & interpersonal skills;
Good organizational & time management skills;
Ability to work in high-paced environment and under pressure;
Ability to work independently and take initiative;
Fluent in English. Greek and other context relevant languages (i.e. Farsi/Arabic/Amharic/Somali) are an advantage;
High degree of integrity and strict compliance to Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy;
Commitment to the values and mission of Europe Cares;
An experienced driver with an international drivers license. This is a necessary requirement for the position;
Previous experience in logistics is highly desirable.
What you get:
400 € monthly stipend;
1 (paid) week off every 8 weeks;
Shared rental car;
Regular training sessions & team building events;
Support in the further development of professional skill set;
Wide network of partner organizations and local actors;
More coffee than you can drink as well as breakfast, lunch and snacks on working days.
How to apply:
Please send your CV and motivation letter to lesvos@europecares.org by the 30th of April. Please include when you would be available to start. References and criminal record check will form part of the hiring process.
We consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We strongly encourage qualified people with a refugee background to apply.
As we review applications on a rolling basis, please submit the application as soon as possible. We retain the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date if the right applicant is found.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.