Hostel helper
Coordinator | Silvia
Coordinator | Silvia
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Meet travellers from all over the world and help them to have the best holiday with us!
Gain English fluency speaking every day with our guests from many different countries
Propel your career with international experience
Make memories you'll never forget during excursions with our guests
Visit the whole Sao Vicente island and the neighboring island Santo Antao during your free time!
30% of our work is financed with the funds raised with our hostel. We always need help with the guests, little maintenance work, advertising, reservations, and events!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Our hostel was founded in 2015 to raise funds for our charity SIMABO, Association for the Protection of Animals and the Environment. Since then it doubled its rooms due to the big success we had among travellers. The hostel is listed in most booking platforms and is full most of the time, especially in the high season (December-March, August-September). Cleaning staff provides cleaning during the whole day and office staff provides support for payments, so the volunteer tasks are mostly connected with checkin/checkout procedures, safety issues, supervision of the cleaning staff, reservation management, support to the guests, and especially the communication work linked to the hostel (advertising, updating the FB page, keep in contact with former guests, answer messages, etc.). The volunteer will have to update the board with events going on in town, organize groups for excursions, provide information about anything useful to the guests (ferry timetables, rent a car or a scooter, beauty farm, doctor/clinic, visits of our shelters, etc.). A checklist is provided to support the volunteer in accomplishing his/her tasks.
Very important: even if you come to help in the hostel, where there are no animals, animals are the core of our mission, so it is fundamental not to have problems with this, no allergies, no fears, or anything that makes the reletionship with animals difficult. And you must be ready sometimes, when needed, to execute little tasks with the animals as well, for instance walk some dogs that live at the office or in the volunteers' house, or feed an ill animal or a puppy or a kitten. We have staff to clean and feed and walk, but sometimes we need extra help with this out of hours.
Secondly, the hostel volunteer has no time schedule. We have staff for cleaning, but there is no time for check in, so sometimes gusts might arrive late at night. Sometimes guests arrive all in the morning, or there are very few arrivals, and you can have a lot of free time, but smetimes we have guests that arrive all in different times from 8 in the morning to 12 at night, so you must be able to take your free time when possible.Typical day
The volunteer will work per shifts, either from 7AM to 2PM or from 2PM to 9PM. The working time can also be splitted in 2 or 3 shifts according to check in times of the guests (when possible). He will have his meals at the hostel, and in general will have plenty of time during his/her duty to accomplish his/her tasks. Hostel helper must be available to check in guests also late at night, when needed.
Free-time activities
The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed!
On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school.
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hiking paths are very simple to follow. Every volunteer who likes hiking can't miss visiting the neighboring island, Santo Antao, with its beautiful mountains and trekking paths.
If you are not so keen on hiking, you can rent a bicycles, electrical bicycles and scooters at local shops.
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Climbing
Hiking
Sports
Requirements
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.
You need to speak English (fluently)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Reliability, punctuality, maturity, resilience, flexibility, organizational skills, enthusiasm, communication skills, social media, proactivity, small maintenance skills, supervisor skills.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
What's Included
- pick up from the airport at the arrival
- accommodation in a single or shared room if travelling alone or in a bigger room if travelling in group with shared bathroom and wifi.
- bedsheets and towels (no beach towels provided)
- cleaning of the room and the communal spaces at the volunteers' house
- no curfew
- free access to our international youth hostel
- free access to parties at the hostel with guests and staff
- advice to visit Sao Vicente
- advice to organize visits to other islands, especially Santo Antao, with hostel and ferry/flights reservations
- one tour of the island of Sao Vicente with our staff, usually with a deworming or spaying/neutering campaign
- food is not provided, but volunteers can use the communal kitchen at the hostel
- certificate
Our driver will wait for you in the airport arrival hall with a SIMABO sign with your name! Driving time to town is about 10 min.
Be prepared to stay in a row for paying the "airport fee" that costs 32 euros. You can avoid this applying via Internet and paying in advance by credit card, but you will be charged 60 euros! EU citizens are not required to have/pay a visa, only non-EU citizens will have to buy one at the airport for 25 euros.
Accommodation for volunteers is available in single rooms with shared bathroom in our volunteer house or in double or triple rooms with shared bathroom in the hostel. Both are located just a couple of meters away from our clinic, the beach, and the main square of Mindelo. Extra fee is charged for a single room in the hostel.
Volunteers can prepare their own food in the hostel kitchen, where paying guests are hosted to raise funds for the project.
At the hostel volunteers can meet any kind of travellers and together they can plan trips, excursions, parties, dinners, anything that makes fun and makes your volunteering time unforgettable.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.
The nearest airport is Cesaria Evora International Airport (VXE) in Sao Vicente. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cape Verde.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cape Verde provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Cape Verde you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cape Verde.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Volunteers are accepted throughout the year depending on availability.
New Year's Eve, Carnaval and Baia das Gatas Festival (August) are highlights of Mindelo's life, volunteers are always welcome at those times of the year.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 8 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$401
6 weeks
$599
8 weeks
(max. stay)
$791
Average fees
$100
/week
The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
Simabo
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
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.
Your final payment will be agreed with Simabo during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
Volunteer World is the world's leading comparison platform for international volunteer opportunities. We guide you through a safe and easy
application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if Simabo cancels your trip
Support & Mediation
We cover your back no matter what happens
Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Simabo.
What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Hostel helper
30% of our work is financed with the funds raised with our hostel. We always need help with the guests, little maintenance work, advertising, reservations, and events!
$88/week
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