IVHQ Volunteering in Lisbon

Key Information
Eligibility
About

Key Information

Information

Application Deadline: 06/02/23 at 9:00 am

Opportunity type: Extra-curricular opportunities, Volunteering

Ref: 10007210

Dates

Departure Date: 26/06/23

Return Date: 10/07/23

Costs

£1100: the estimated cost for travel and programme fees including meals and accommodation (excluding DMU Global funding). Students will also be required to pay for: airport transfers, food and drink, DBS check and visa (if applicable)

Funding

DMU Global Bursary: £500

Booking

Accommodation: Booked and provided by IVHQ

Travel: Students will be required to book their flights independently

Contact

General Enquiries: dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

Eligibility

All DMU students are eligible to participate in this opportunity, but it would be particularly relevant to those with a demonstrable interest in public good, volunteering and contributing towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

 

There are a maximum of 20 places available, with a minimum of 8 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommend to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

 

Please note, that no DMU staff will be travelling with students as part of this opportunity, instead participants will be supported by IVHQ and the host organisations in Lisbon, Portugal.

About

DMU Global in cooperation with our partner International Volunteer HQ, are offering DMU students the chance to spend 2 weeks volunteering in Lisbon in summer 2023. By participating in this opportunity you will help to make a genuine difference by working on a variety of community projects in Lisbon and the surrounding area, including:

  • Animal care – Help out at a local animal shelter for dogs and cats, providing the animals with medical treatment and companionship, while raising awareness of abandonment. (Please note this project has limited capacity, and place will be allocated on a first come first served basis).
  • Food rescue – Help to redistribute unused food from restaurants and supermarkets to up to 300 locals in need throughout Lisbon.
  • Forest conservation – Help restore Portugal’s native forests by aiding the ecological recovery of degraded areas and protecting precious ecosystems.
  • Homeless support – Help a local homeless centre to provide the basics for homeless people, with a focus on combating addiction and the challenges it poses for those in vulnerable states.
  • Youth support – Help teenagers from underprivileged communities on after school programs, providing help with homework, games and activities to keep them entertained and inspired.

For more information about IVHQ and the specific volunteering opportunities in Lisbon please visit the IVHQ website.


Practical information

Students that participate on this volunteering experience will be provided with a shared room (single gender) with other volunteers. The package also includes an airport pick-up, orientation, all meals and 24/7 in-country support.

This 2 week programme fee has a Registration Fee of £250 ($299) that students will need to pay to confirm their place. In addition you will be required to pay the Program Fee of approximately £720. DMU Global will provide students with a special £500 bursary to contribute towards these costs.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

De Montfort University is the only higher education institution in the UK to be a global hub for one of the Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 16 to promote peace, justice and strong institutions. The SDGs were introduced by the United Nations in 2010 with the aim of improving the lives of millions of people by 2030.


Through our activities at DMU, we aim to contribute to all of the UN SDGs in a variety of ways. This DMU Global volunteering opportunity specifically gives students the chance to engage with the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Learning Objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop a range of skills and competencies that enhance your studies and boost your employability. Through participation in this volunteering opportunity in Lisbon, we expect that students will develop the following:

  • A greater sense of societal responsibility and civic mindedness, by engaging in behaviours and activities in the best interests of society and the environment.
  • Respect for other cultures, beliefs, world views and practices.
  • Cross-cultural empathy and the ability to understand cultures and how different people perceive situations, emotionally respond to them, and how to behave as a way of showing understanding.

Cultural Activities

The projects offered within the volunteering program will provide many opportunities for intercultural learning. As students will be volunteering for 3-6 hours per day, there will be plenty of time to explore Lisbon in the surrounding areas. Recommended cultural activities include taking a day trip to visit the Palaces and parks of Sintra, or going to the attractive seaside resorts of Cascais and Estoril.

COVID-19 information

Travel to Portugal is permitted according to the travel rules for England as listed on UK Government website. Students are expected to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to travel. Further guidance can be found on the FCDO webpage for Portugal.

All students that are offered a place on this DMU Global opportunity will receive further COVID-19 advice and guidance by email and in pre-departure briefing sessions. More details and COVID-19 Travel Information can be found here.