GALICIA VOLUNTEERING

2018-2019 Galicia Volunteering Guide Volunteering is a great way to get to know local people and your city, speak in Spanish (or gallego!), and give back to your new community. It is also a great thing to do for your side project! Volunteering the way we know it in the United States is somewhat of a new idea in Galicia, so don’t be surprised if there are less opportunities than you would have imagined! The good news is that it is becoming more and more common. Here are some organizations that could use your help, but you should also talk to people at your school, your flatmates, neighbors, etc. as they will know more organizations that you can get involved with locally. 

NOTE: When you begin your side project let your main contact at the Commission know what you are doing as you might be a great inspiration for other grantees!

  • Oficina de Cooperación y Voluntariado – Universidade da Coruña
  • Haces Falta A Coruña
  • Asociación de Bulimia y Anorexia de A Coruña (ABAC)– C/ Begonias 33
  • ASPERGA – Asperger’s Association in Galicia with branches in A Coruña and Santiago; call or email the number on the website for more information about involvement opportunities
  • ASDEGAL (Acción Solidaria de Galicia) – Contact provided by Ana Sanz from the U.S: Embassy – An NGO that works throughout Galicia and offers various programs including, but not limited to: ayuda a personas mayores, programa de personas sin hogar, programa de personas con discapacidad, and programa de apoyo socioeducativo a menores en riesgo de exclusión social. 
  • Note: ASDEGAL’s main headquarters are in Vigo and they are also present in Redondela, Pontevedra, Santiago and A Coruñas. Contact person: María Rosa Buceta (coordinadora de voluntariado) Email address: asdegalcompostela@outlook.com 
  • Ayuda en Acción A Coruña – Ayuda en Acción is an international NGO that works to fight poverty and inequality, especially concerning children and families. A 2018-2019 grantee worked with this organization to go to a school on his day off and lead workshops. He said, “The school is great and they are open to you planning your own workshops or creating them for you. Work with 6th grade students so you can work on a particular project you may find challenging to implement at your school.”
  • Proyectos Ferrol – Universidade da Coruña
  • Office of Volunteering on the Ferrol campus of the Universidad da Coruña
  • Xeración – a local NGO that engages in issues about sustainability, city accessibility by bike and bus, and active involvement in democracy. One grantee from 2018-2019 said, “They are very welcoming and have lots of young volunteers from all over Europe!” This organization also maintains an active
  • Facebook Page
  • ACCEM is a nation-wide NGO that works with vulnerable populations. In A Coruña they work primarily with refugees and people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers can work in street outreach, advocacy (helping with empadronamiento, for example), or providing support to refugees and homeless experiencing migratory grief, stress, or negative emotions.
    Please note that it will take about a month just to get registered as an official volunteer, so I would recommend starting early. You can email their volunteer coordinator Zinthia Álvarez at zalvarez@accem.es
  •  Centro Residencial A Coruña – Sanitas Mayores works with elders.
    Contact: Carmen Banda Galán, Directora
    Address: C/ Santo Tomás, 9-11-13; Tel: +34 981 903 385
  • ASDE – Scouts de Galicia  – Grupo Scout 220 in Vigo. For grantees with a background in Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, Scouts de Galicia could be a good option for volunteering or for a side project. A grantee volunteered here, reach out to your mentor if you’re interested in getting involved!
  • Fundación Secretariado Gitano – Pontevedra branch An organization that works with the gitano (Roma) community. Located at Casa Azul, Rúa Sor Lucía, 4.
  • Cruz Vermella Pontevedra – the Pontevedra chapter of the Red Cross. Each chapter has different opportunities, and it should be noted that some chapters look for more long-term volunteers. If you are interested in this organization, it is recommended that you contact them early!
  • ASDEGAL (Acción Solidaria de Galicia) – Contact provided by Ana Sanz from the U.S: Embassy – An NGO that works throughout Galicia and offers various programs including, but not limited to: ayuda a personas mayores, programa de personas sin hogar, programa de personas con discapacidad, and programa de apoyo socioeducativo a menores en riesgo de exclusión social. 
  • Note: ASDEGAL’s main headquarters are in Vigo and they are also present in Redondela, Pontevedra, Santiago and A Coruñas. Contact person: María Rosa Buceta (coordinadora de voluntariado) Email address: asdegalcompostela@outlook.com 
  • Haces Falta Pontevedra
  • Cruz Vermella Ourense (Cruz Roja / Red Cross) Rúa Días de la Banda, 40 32004 Ourense Tlf: 988 222 484NOTE: Unlike in other parts of Spain it is actually fairly straightforward to volunteer with the Red Cross in Ourense. A 2016-2017 grantee who volunteered with them found them to be very communicative and professional. In order to get involved with them, try to go in person the first time, or you can try contacting them by phone. A 2016-2017 grantee called and spoke to someone in voluntariado to set up a meeting. In this meeting they discussed general logistics of volunteering and the grantee was given the date of the next formación de voluntariado,which is a training session for all new volunteers and takes place once a month. It is a one-time session that lasts about 2 hours and is conducted in Castellano, not Gallego. After completing the training session there is a second meeting with someone in the volunteer department. They will call you and you can choose a time to meet. The purpose of this meeting is to talk with the person in charge of the specific area you want to work in. The different programs are as follows: mayores, infancia y juventud, colectivos vulnerables, socorros y emergencias, empleo, and sensibilización. There’s something for everyone, so if you have a specific skill set just ask how you can use it! A 2016-2017 grantee chose to work with the mayores program, and the main contact was a woman named Natividad (extension 57300).She participated in acompañamiento a domicilio, which is helping elderly people in their home. Her specific placement was with an elderly couple that lived alone and the woman was ill and bedbound. She would go a few hours a week and keep the woman company so the man could have a break and leave the house.
  • A 2018-2019 grantee chose to work in infancia y juventud where she volunteered helping students with homework in various subjects. 
  • Fundación Amaranta An organization that works in various locations throughout Spain with women who are victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and prostitution to help them get back on their feet and gain marketable skills. They are open to female volunteers interested in leading a skill-based seminar, though be aware that they mostly interested in English courses because basic English is particularly important for future study and/or employment opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering you should email Clara so that she can put you in contact with the 16-17 Fulbrighter who volunteered at Fund. Amaranta. You can also call 680 107 945 and ask for Esme or Lucía and explain you are interested in volunteering.
  • Cáritas Diocesana de Ourense is a Catholic organization that operates soup kitchens, clothing and food banks, organizes activities for the elderly, and classes for immigrants and their children.  A 2019-2020 taught an English class to a group of immigrants living in the city as a volunteer.
  • A 2019-2020 Fulbright volunteer took initiative to start weekly English classes at a church she attended as her side project. (IBN Ourense; Maxi Alvarez (pastor), +34 695-107-600). If you become involved in any religious or community group, don’t be shy about considering the same!
  • Fundación Secretariado Gitano – Vigo branch An organization that works with the gitano (Roma) community. In the words of a 2016-2017 grantee: “If anyone is interested in working with marginalized communities, tutoring children/teens, or in health/health education, I HIGHLY recommend volunteering with the Fundación Secretariado Gitano Vigo branch. What an incredibly kind and supportive group; they have made my time in Vigo priceless. My only regret is that I did not start volunteering with them earlier! I tutor English and I co-lead a health education program for pre-teens and young teenagers. They are such a fun and spirited group and the other co-leaders are incredibly friendly and kind.” ​
  • Oficina de Voluntariado – Universidade de Vigo. The University of Vigo connects its students and staff with volunteer opportunities. To participate through the university, you must be a part of the university community (i.e. a student), but this could be a good place to find out about other organizations that are accepting volunteers in the area!
  • Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Vigo – The NGO Nova Vida has been created through the United Evangelical Church of Vigo in order to distribute food and clothing to people who need it. For more information, check out the contact information on the website!
  • Cruz Vermella Vigo– the Vigo chapter of the Red Cross. There are many different programs, including teaching English, working with elderly populations, and accompanying patients to medical centers. At this specific chapter, they highly value and prefer long-term volunteers, so if you are interested in this organization, it is recommended that you contact them early! Unlike some other organizations, Vigo’s chapter of the Red Cross is quite responsive to email. If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss volunteering opportunities, email vigo@cruzroja.es . After the initial meeting, you will be asked to complete a 2-hour orientation session led in Spanish and then will be contacted to organize details for your start date. 
  • Grandes Amigos Vigo – An NGO working to fight loneliness in the elderly community throughout Spain. As a volunteer with this organization, you will visit an elderly person for at least 2 hours a week at their home, for a coffee, or even another fun activity in the city that interests you both. A 2018-2019 grantee who volunteered here says, “This has been one of my favorite activities in Vigo. The volunteer coordinator is extremely kind and works hard to make sure everyone involved is completely comfortable. I formed an incredible relationship with the women who I accompanied, got to know the city and its history in new ways, and was able to really improve my Spanish. Plus, I even made friends with a few of the other volunteers!” If interested, there is a volunteer application on the website or you can email vigo@grandesamigos.org . Unlike other organizations in Spain, this NGO tends to be very receptive to email. 
  • AIDA Books – AIDA Books in an NGO and bookstore working to raise funds in order to help disadvantaged communities in developing countries. As a volunteer here, you will collect and sort book donations and sell the books. Their website recommends that you email aidabooksvigo@ong-aida.org , but a 2018-2019 grantee said that stopping into the store to inquire may also be effective. 
  • ASDEGAL (Acción Solidaria de Galicia) – Contact provided by Ana Sanz from the U.S: Embassy – An NGO that works throughout Galicia and offers various programs including, but not limited to: ayuda a personas mayores, programa de personas sin hogar, programa de personas con discapacidad, and programa de apoyo socioeducativo a menores en riesgo de exclusión social. 
  • Note: ASDEGAL’s main headquarters are in Vigo and they are also present in Redondela, Pontevedra, Santiago and A Coruñas. Contact person: María Rosa Buceta (coordinadora de voluntariado) Email address: asdegalcompostela@outlook.com
  • ACCEM –  This NGO has various programs including working with immigrants and refugees, working to relieve poverty, and more. Visit the website for more info!
  • Uniteka – A project offered by the NGO Aslan that offers a weekly school reinforcement program, values ​​training, leisure, art workshops, and snacks to more than sixty children completely free of charge. Hosted by the Iglesia Evangélica Unida in Vigo and very open to new ideas for activities for the kids!
  • Voluntariados por Vigo

 

  • ASPAS (Asociación de Padres de Personas con Discapacidad Intelectual)
  • ASDEGAL (Acción Solidaria de Galicia) – Contact provided by Ana Sanz from the U.S: Embassy. An NGO that works throughout Galicia and offers various programs including, but not limited to: ayuda a personas mayores, programa de personas sin hogar, programa de personas con discapacidad, and programa de apoyo socioeducativo a menores en riesgo de exclusión social. 
  • Note: ASDEGAL’s main headquarters are in Vigo and they are also present in Redondela, Pontevedra, and Coruñas. Contact person: María Rosa Buceta (coordinadora de voluntariado) Email address: asdegalcompostela@outlook.com Oficina de Voluntariado, Patricipación y Cooperación Internacional – Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
  • ASPERGA – Asperger’s Association in Galicia with branches in A Coruña and Santiago; call or email the number on the website for more information about involvement opportunities
  • Oficina de Voluntariado, Participación y Cooperación Internacional–Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
  • Protección Civil – a 2018-2019 grantee volunteered with Santiago’s Protección Civil, helping out with basketball games, chess tournaments, 5ks, and more. If you are interested in this opportunity, reach out to your mentor to get connected with the grantee who volunteered here last year!
  • Departamento de Normalización Linguistica – For grantees interested in linguistics or wanting to interact with Galician, this could be a great volunteer opportunity. A 2018-2019 grantee worked with them throughout the year to help subtitle videos. For more information, stop into the center at the address listed on the website!

 

  • ASANOG – Asosiación de Ayuda a Ninos Oncológicos de Galicia – Your responsibilities as a volunteer with this organization will vary based on their current  projects and your interests. For more information, check out their website where you will also find a volunteer application (although calling or emailing may also be a good idea)!
  • Cruz Vermella Pontevedra – the Lugo chapter of the Red Cross. Each chapter has different opportunities, and it should be noted that some chapters look for more long-term volunteers. If you are interested in this organization, it is recommended that you contact them early!
  • Haces Falta Lugo
  • EOI of Lugo Biblioteca – Volunteering is official, go in and ask if they need a native English speaker’s help on workshops, clases particulares, or any other programming around the language school. Everyone is very friendly and excited that you’re interested in helping them–don’t be shy. Volunteering here is also a great opportunity to practice your Spanish and Galician!