Homeless Support Volunteer Program in Lisbon - Portugal

The IVHQ Portugal Program is located in Lisbon, the capital and largest city in Portugal. Volunteers are required to fly into Lisbon Airport (LIS), which is a 20 to 22 hour flight from most major airports in Australia. Volunteer placements are located throughout the wider city area of Lisbon with​​ ​Wolf Conservation volunteers based in Mafra. Volunteers travel to their placements from the volunteer accommodation via public transport or by foot.

The majority of the volunteer projects begin on the first and third Monday of every month. The Wolf Conservation dates change each month and you will be presented with the available dates when you apply. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods ranging from 1 week to 12 weeks.

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of every month, and volunteers need to arrive in Lisbon the day before their orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Lisbon Airport (LIS). Australian travellers are eligible to gain a 90 day tourist stamp on arrival into Portugal. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to travel with written consent from both parents or guardians in order to enter Portugal. Volunteers under the age of 18 who require a pre-arranged visa will also need their visa application to be signed by a parent or guardian.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in either Lisbon or Cascais. Your accommodation location will depend on the proximity to your specific placement. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Portugal prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a prearranged location in Lisbon on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Portugal team at the accommodation. It begins the morning of your chosen start date and lasts for a full day. The orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Portugal – Introduction to Portugal, Culture and Customs, Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities, Introduction to Project and Placement as well as a tour of the local area. The orientation will also give you a chance to sign up for Portuguese language lessons, if you’re on a Lisbon based project, and to meet other volunteers with whom you can swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

Weekdays: After the initial orientation, you will have afternoon or evening shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating on. A typical morning schedule is as follows:

7:00 AM Breakfast begins at the volunteer apartment, available until 9 AM

8.30 AM Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating on - some placements run in the afternoon and volunteers on these placements will have the morning free to use as they wish or to attend Portuguese language lessons.

12:00-2:00 PM Lunch is served at the accommodation or at your placement. After lunch, you will continue your volunteer work (where applicable).

2:30 PM Volunteers with afternoon or evening shifts travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on their project. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are participating on.

7:00-9:00 PM Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. After dinner you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish.

Please note this schedule will vary depending on the needs of your particular project.

Volunteers on most projects are accommodated in a dormitory-style hostel located in Lisbon. The hostel can accommodate up to 42 guests at a time and you can expect to share a room with other volunteers of the same gender. Bedding and towels are provided, and there are shared western bathrooms. Staff will clean the accommodation throughout the week, however volunteers are required to keep their rooms tidy. Please note that there is a 10pm curfew in place at the volunteer hostel for volunteers under the age of 18.

WiFi is available at the volunteer accommodation, as well as many cafes and restaurants in the area. To keep connected, the local team will provide you with a free local SIM card that you can activate to purchase mobile data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Volunteers on the Wolf Conservation project will be accommodated in houses on-site in Mafra. As the houses on the Wolf Conservation project have limited rooms, volunteers are not able to be separated by gender. Volunteers should expect to be accommodated in mixed gender rooms with up to four other volunteers. These houses have fully equipped kitchens and comfortable living space for volunteer use.

Private single, twin or double rooms in the ​hostels, with the use of the communal bathrooms, can be arranged at an additional cost of €100 per week (about US$120 (approximately AU$175)), and payment can be made in cash directly to the local team upon arrival. Private twin or double rooms for Wolf Conservation volunteers can also be arranged at an additional cost of €210 (about US$230 (approximately AU$335)) per week. All accommodation upgrades are subject to availability.

Please note, the local team will require a deposit of €10 (about US$11 (approximately AU$16)) from each volunteer for your apartment key. This will be refunded to you on your final day when you return your key.

Portuguese food is delicious and during your time in Portugal, you will be sure to receive some incredible treats. Most volunteers are provided with three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Breakfast is self-serve at the accommodation and generally includes tea, coffee, bread, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yoghurt and fruit. Lunch and Dinner will include local staples such as fish and chicken, as well as rice, pasta, vegetables, and salad. If your placement requires you to be away from the accommodation during lunch or dinner, these will be provided at your placement or you will take a packed meal. Tap water is fine to drink in Portugal, however bottled water is readily available if you prefer and you should budget approximately US$10 (AU$15) per week for this.

The Wolf Conservation project is self-catering with volunteers required to purchase and prepare their own meals for the duration of their stay. Volunteers will be provided with transport once or twice a week to the nearest town to obtain supplies. Volunteers can cook together or individually and tap water is fine to drink here too.

“Volunteering in Portugal has re-energised me. I have new enthusiasm for my teaching job in England. I feel more confident when speaking Portuguese. At times I was out of my comfort zone, but I managed the situations better than I thought I would, therefore I am ready to push myself more when I return to work in England. The accommodation staff were great, they have lots of energy and were very happy to help me. My favourite moment from the volunteering experience was interacting with the kids at the youth club - they taught me more Portuguese in 4 days than I had learnt in 6 months! I was given the opportunity to develop my own sessions and the staff at the youth club had a lot of trust in me. The flexibility at the youth club was great so I could experience different parts of Lisbon too. It is a shame that I could only stay for one week, I was starting to build some good relationships with the kids and staff, and I will definitely return in the future.” – Andrew Britton (Youth Support in Portugal)

Read more reviews from IVHQ volunteers in Portugal here

Volunteers have the weekends free and Portugal is a hub for history, art, culture, cuisine and natural beauty, so there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do while in Lisbon or further afield in Portugal! Volunteers can fill their free time visiting the many historical sites and attractions, dining on the amazing cuisine, sipping espresso in the many café bars or simply exploring parts of Lisbon by wandering through the beautiful streets and alleys or taking a tuk tuk tour. Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Lisbon, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.

See our Portugal Travel and Tours page for more volunteer travel options in Portugal!

Weather and climate: Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate with dry hot summers and mild winters. Winter (December to February) temperatures are mild and vary from 8°C to 14°C (46°F to 57°F). Summer (June to September) is dry and hot with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 29°C (64°F and 84°F). Rainfall is heaviest in December/January and driest in July/August.

Volunteers who are under 18 years old will be required to provide IVHQ with two seperate parental/guardian consents from each of their parents/guardians and two character reference letters in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team. Independent volunteers under the age of 18 years will be required to provide additional waivers and documentation, which a guardian must complete. Volunteers under the age of 18 can only participate on the Food Rescue, Youth Support and Marine Conservation projects. Volunteers must speak fluent English. All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a recent criminal background check and a copy of their passport to IVHQ’s partner organisation staff at least 2 weeks before their arrival in Lisbon.

Free Interactive Volunteer Training - All volunteers are encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training, which is available exclusively to registered IVHQ volunteers. The training is designed to build an understanding of important aspects that need to be considered before embarking on an IVHQ program. It helps volunteers to prepare in the right way by providing advice on what it takes to be a safe, responsible and valuable volunteer. Try a sample of the training here.

Volunteer Language Lessons

Portuguese language lessons are available to all Lisbon-based volunteers, regardless of your Portuguese language ability. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these lessons to allow you to work and communicate more effectively during your program.

If you would like to sign up for the language lessons, simply let your Program Manager know and they will be happy to help you arrange them. The language lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Portuguese and are taught by a professional Portuguese language teacher. Classes run Monday through Friday, the cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers. They are paid for prior to your arrival and the local team will help you arrange a suitable time to complete your lessons during your program orientation.

• 10 Hours: US$325
• 20 Hours: US$575
• 30 Hours: US$775
• 40 Hours: US$990
• 50 Hours: US$1,120

Please note, Portuguese lessons are held at the Lisbon accommodation and are not available to volunteers on the Wolf Conservation project.