from 285€

Outstanding 4.9rating (64)

Animal Caretaker Assistant

location
1 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

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

Highlights

  • Gain a unique international experience in the field community service and animal care.
  • Experience the Arab lifestyle and culture by emerging in one of the ancient imperial cities of Morocco.
  • Gain Arabic language fluency by living with a local home stay.
  • Meet other international volunteers and plan excursions all over the country, through the diverse Moroccan landscape of mountains, beaches, and desert.
  • Do camel trekking at Sahara desert while living the nomad's lifestyle and visit the beautiful blue pearl of Morocco. Besides, Spain is a few miles away in case you plan to visit Europe after Morocco.

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Wheel Chairs

About the program

Activities in this program include but not limited to feed, groom, and exercising animals, cleaning, disinfect, and repair the kennels and cages...

Rabat as the capital of Morocco is home to a lot of street cats and dogs. Institutions and organizations that work in this field are very few, and the ones who do are fully packed and work with minimal resources. In this project, volunteers will work with one of the main animal shelters if not the ...

About the program

Rabat as the capital of Morocco is home to a lot of street cats and dogs. Institutions and organizations that work in this field are very few, and the ones who do are fully packed and work with minimal resources. In this project, volunteers will work with one of the main animal shelters if not the only one left in the capital of Morocco. 
Volunteers on this program will work together with local volunteers in different activities including and not limited to training, feeding, grooming, and exercise animals. They also clean, disinfect, and repair the kennels and cages. They play with the animals, provide companionship, and observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury.
Also, volunteers help in receiving new dogs and cats to adapt in the center, helping people to choose a pet to take home among the animal’s center. Animals that volunteers will be responsible for are limited to dogs and cats.


Typical day

This project is available all day long and all year around, but working hours range between 3 hours to 6 hours a day. The number of working hours will be agreed on with each volunteer upon arrival to the country.  

– 8:00 Breakfast at the host family

– 9:30 to 12:00 starting work at the ...

Typical day

This project is available all day long and all year around, but working hours range between 3 hours to 6 hours a day. The number of working hours will be agreed on with each volunteer upon arrival to the country.  

– 8:00 Breakfast at the host family

– 9:30 to 12:00 starting work at the placement.

– 12:00 to 14:00 Lunch at the host family

– 14:00 to 17:00 resuming work at the placement. 

– 20:00 Dinner at the host family.

Note: Working hours might differ slightly depending on the season. 


Free-time activities

After work or during the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Rabat and Morocco. Besides sightseeing and visiting different historical places like Tour Hassan, Kasbah des Oudayas, the archaeological museum, Mohamed VI Modern ...

Free-time activities

After work or during the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Rabat and Morocco. Besides sightseeing and visiting different historical places like Tour Hassan, Kasbah des Oudayas, the archaeological museum, Mohamed VI Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, Rabat as a coastal city, volunteers can also go swimming or surfing at the nearby beach downtown, or engage in other water sports like canoeing and jetski at the beach and in Bouregrag river in Rabat or the neighboring city of Salé. 

Weekends and long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to destinations, such as Marrakech, Merzouga (Dunes), Tinghir and Ouarzazat (Kasbah), Fes, Meknes (imperial cities), Chefchaouen (the blue city), Volubilis (Roman), Tangier, and south of Europe (Gibraltar, Andalusia, Portugal, south of Spain).

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 (intermediate level) or French (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV and copy of passport

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

Common practices of dealing with animals, especially street cats, and dogs. Previous experience in the field is a plus but a requirement.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Off To Morocco

- 50 %: to your host family to cover your accommodation and board. 
- 20%: to projects materials and supervision where volunteers work. 
- 30%: to cover the administrative and coordination work of the program. This also includes volunteers' pick up. 

Airport Pickup at Sale Airport

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Rabat International Airport (RBA). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transferred to your accommodation in Rabat or Sale (location will depend on proximity to your specific placement). Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Morocco prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at the Rabat Ville Train Station in Rabat on the day before your program orientation.

Accommodation

Our volunteers are accommodated in a homestay where you will live with a local family and other volunteers. These families receive money from your program fee for support, food, and board. It is exciting to stay with a family, as this is an opportunity to learn the Moroccan way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language (Darija: the Moroccan Arabic dialect) and engage in local customs and traditions. Volunteers may share a room with other volunteers but in many homestays, volunteers have their own rooms. Volunteers are recommended to bring their towel and toiletries. It is important to note that Moroccan homes have a shared living environment in which Sdaders (Moroccan couches) are used as a sitting and dining room.

WiFi is available in all our homestays in Rabat. You can also get connected to the internet if you purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Food & Beverages

Influenced by African, Arab, Moorish and Berber cuisines, Moroccan cooking blends Mediterranean fruits and vegetables with spices, typically imported. A typical Moroccan meal begins with a series of hot and/or cold salads, followed by a tagine (Moroccan stew) and bread is eaten with every meal. Lamb or chicken dishes are common, as couscous topped with meat and vegetables. The consumption of pork and alcohol are prohibited, as per Muslim dietary restrictions and drinking mint tea is a daily tradition. 

Our volunteers in Morocco are served three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Running tap water is drinkable and bottled water is readily available in Morocco. Volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for mineral water (2 liters per day) if they want to stick to it. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Sale Airport (RBA) in Rabat. We assist you to find cheap flights to Morocco. 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 Morocco provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Morocco you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Morocco. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The program orientation begins on the Monday of each week throughout the year, and volunteers need to arrive in Rabat on the Sunday before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Rabat International Airport (RBA). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transferred to your accommodation in Rabat or Salé (location will depend on proximity to your specific placement). Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Morocco prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at the Rabat Ville Train Station in Rabat on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Morocco – Introduction to Morocco, Moroccan Customs, Rules and Expectations, Language Lessons, Safety, Travel Opportunities in Morocco, Introduction to your Project and Placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

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

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 285€
2 weeks 565€
3 weeks 839€
4 weeks 1,114€
8 weeks 2,234€
16 weeks 4,467€
24 weeks (max. stay) 6,597€
Average fees 280€/week

Program fees

280€ per week 1 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 24 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 Off To Morocco during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Off To Morocco

Outstanding 4.9 rating (64 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2017

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Samad

Spoken languages: English, Arabic, French

About the project

Volunteer, intern, learn Arabic and French in Morocco with Off To Morocco.

Meet your organization

- Who we are: Off To Morocco is a Moroccan local association that is created in 2017 by three passionate young Moroccans to help improve and provide adequate education to deprived Moroccans through its diverse educational programs and through driving volunteers who are looking for opportunities to volunteer in their own way in Morocco. Off to Morocco works closely with other local Moroccan associations, daycares, and NGOs in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, Salé (the neighboring city) and Casablanca who share the same passion of providing adequate education to all. 

- What we do: With its give and take belief, Off To Morocco believes in education to all.  Our focus is education to underprivileged Moroccans, mainly children. We run teaching projects to children, women, and students. Through our various volunteering offers, we welcome international volunteers to help us achieve this noble mission of education to all. We also offer Arabic and French language lessons to our volunteers to help them adapt and communicate easily while in Morocco. Volunteers can choose more than one project to volunteer into and can choose the period that suits them to stay starting from one to twenty-four weeks. This platform is open to everyone who wishes to travel with a purpose. Anyone who wants to impact themselves and others.

- Where we work: Morocco (the full Arabic name is Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah which translates into “The Western Kingdom”) is located on the North West coast of Africa and has ports in the North Atlantic Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fourth most populous Arab country (after Algeria, Sudan, and Egypt) and shares the largest part of its border with Algeria to the East and Mauritania to the South. Morocco is divided into sixteen regions. Each region is further divided into provinces and prefectures. Despite the fact many people identify Marrakech as the major center of Morocco, the capital city is Rabat and its largest city is Casablanca. Marrakech is the major tourism hub for Morocco. The program is based in the capital of Morocco, Rabat, which is where orientation and general administration is carried out. Volunteer projects are located mainly in Rabat, Salé and Casablanca are secondary placements.

Morocco is a safe country. You are cautioned to make sure that you have your valuables kept safe, somewhere you can feel them at all times, especially when you are in crowded market places or nightclubs. Most tourists in Morocco never experience any trouble as long as they stay alert and use common sense. Our local staff during orientation will give you a guided tour on safety. They will also guide you on areas to stay away from. If you are ever unsure of anything just ask us and we will be happy to respond promptly. We recommend that you travel in a group or at least with one person.  However, during the day you are fine traveling alone once you know your way. Make sure to have all of the coordinators’ telephone number on you.  We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies.

It is expected that all volunteers have their own health insurance. Vaccinations are not typically required to enter Morocco, however, this can vary depending on your travel path. We, therefore, recommend carrying out independent research and talking to a travel doctor about the required vaccinations if you plan to travel before or after your volunteer program. You may choose to get vaccinated against some illnesses (please see our list below of recommended vaccinations). In addition, please carry with you preventive agents, such as mosquito repellents, as well as other medicines for headaches and stomachaches. On the off chance that you fall sick and need a doctor’s attention, our Morocco staff has access to an emergency medical service and will take you to the hospital if necessary. There are good and reputable hospitals where you can be treated. We recommend you consult a travel doctor before you travel, as they will also be able to advise you on what vaccinations you require, be sure to allow plenty of time to receive these vaccinations.

Recommended Vaccinations for Morocco:

Polio

Hepatitis A

Diphtheria/Tetanus

Typhoid

Hepatitis B


- Who are we looking for: We are looking for passionate volunteers who wish to travel with a purpose. Our platform is open to anyone who wants to impact themselves and others. Especially, passionate people who are looking for opportunities to volunteer in their own way in Morocco while leaving a lasting impact on our educational projects. 

- Why choose us: if your passion is education and if you care about helping underprivileged students, so are we. Off to Morocco will not only provide you with the opportunity to practice your passion for education and helping others but also will give you the chance to discover the beautiful country of Morocco by living with a hospitable local host family where you will experience the daily life of Moroccans and their delicious meals. 

64 reviews · rating4.9

Olivier Brandicourt rating4.2

2023 at Animal Caretaker Assistant

Important Note: I did not do the animal caretaker but a combination of both "Coach assistant" and "English lesson teacher" Mustafa who managed my experience during my stay was of great support. The host family was very nice. As per the experience itself, I found the "english lesson" experience ...
Aaron Kannenkeril rating5

2022 at Animal Caretaker Assistant

Yes very enjoyable experience helping all the people here. Everyone was very friendly and the host family was incredibly welcoming. The food was excellent and I feel like I got a great culturally vibrant experience out of this ...
Rossana Simeone rating5

2024 at Local Women Educator

It has been a pleasure and a great time at the women's association. The staff of Off To Morocco has been supportive, lovely, and kind. I will repeat it and surely support ...
Viacheslav Nichugovskii rating5

2024 at English Language Assistant

It was absolutely great experience. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I enjoyed it. Everything was organized well. Very kind, pleasant, friendly host ...
Roxane Leduc rating5

2024 at English Language Assistant

I had an amazing time there. I was teaching English to women. They were really interested in improving their English. I hope that one day I will be able to come back and see them again. The coordinator Mustapha was also really ...
Maminirina Rabarisoa rating4.8

2024 at Sport Development Assistant

Durant mes 4 semaines de volontariat, j'ai pu participer à 2 programmes. J'ai la première semaine avec l' education sportif et ensuite, j'ai continué avec l'enseignement de langues. Concernant l'hébergement, la famille & accueil a été très accueillante. I'endroit est bien placé. Il est ...

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