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Excellent 4.85rating (84)
  • Life On Land

Animal Caretaker Assistant

location
1 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

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.

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.
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    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 that do are fully packed and work with minimal resources. In this project, volunteers will work with one of the main animal shelters, if not ...

    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 that 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, but not limited to, training, feeding, grooming, and exercising 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 from the animal 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 the Bouregreg 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

    On-site Services

    - 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
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    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

    $285 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

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.8
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Africa > Northern Africa > Morocco > Rabat

    Meet your project coordinator

    Samad
    84
    reviews
    4.85
    Excellent
    2017
    Founded

    Verified

      Moderate response rate
    Spoken languages: French, Arabic, English
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    French, Arabic, English

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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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