Povoa do Minau

All experiences

Help Build a Sustainable Farm in the Heart of Portugal

Animal Care Building & Repairing Farming Gardening

Sobral, Oleiros, Portugal

Reviews

3.0
(5 reviews)5

Staff & Host

3.0

Hours & Tasks

3.5

Hostel

4.0

Learning & Fun

3.0
5

Trully great and over the moon. The terrain is an absolute bliss. The food is amazing and in abudance.

23 days ago

Germany

2

I felt very welcome at first.the tasks and working hours were also fair. I got along well with the other volunteers and had a lot of fun. The landscape is very beautiful. We were also driven to swim or to sertã. However, I felt more and more uncomfortable, as I always got the feeling that I had said something wrong when I asked. It was also not communicated when we would get the warm meal, so we often waited a long time. Via whats app they told me 1 week bevor arriving to leave 11 before the confirmed departure date . Maybe this place is better for more extroverted people.

29 days ago

Marco replied

You forget about the sing along in the car, firepit sessions with guitar and you on the mouth harmonica or trully relaxing on the yoga platform or playing hitster 2 days prior to leavin and having a lot of fun. Meals are written in the document I sent before arrival. We always had to pull the communication out of you. You used other volunteers to communicate on your behalf. Understand that you share the feelings of the group but that is 1 side and you never connected to find out about the other.

Italy

1

The place and the idea were really nice, but honestly, I can't even speak to the volunteering experience.
After just one night, I was told l'd have to leave that evening for unfair reasons, such as that they didn't feel a good connection with me and that the dog didn't feel comfortable around me. So, after just one day there as the only volunteer present, I found myself in the middle of Portugal without a place to sleep or anything, so I had to sort things out for myself for the rest of the week.

about 1 month ago

Marco replied

So you and I sit down after your first day work and evaluate. You said: it is really not that motivating to move rocks from one to the other place. And the fact that you are shy did not make a good connection. We did not kick you out but offered that you spend the remainder of your vacation doing other things and you admitted that it was too lonely for you at our place. Understand that we are disappointed as well. Our kids did the utmost to connect but you said nothing to them......

Belgium

3

The first day, we felt really welcomed. We enjoyed the work at first and there was a good vibe. After some days I felt that the hosts were more distant and when we asked questions, I sometimes felt uncomfortable because the answers felt offensive.
Also, we only had one proper meal a day which some days we had to wait 2-3 extra hours for, after hard work. The meals could've been respected a bit more. I am grateful for the volunteers I met and for the nice landscape.

about 1 month ago

Marco replied

After one week you declared us THE PERFECT HOSTS. We agreed to 1 warm meal that we provide respecting the vegan, vegetarian and meatlovers at 1 table. The other 2 meals you, yourselves make. You wanted granola 3 chocolates, muesli, fruits an occasional beer that became daily beer, beers and then wine. We made tosties when you guys returned in the pitch dark from a long hike, snacks at the firepit and lunch kits for the swimming or city tours we drove you to. So really surprised!

Belgium

3

At first, we felt welcomed and comfortable, and we appreciated being part of the project.
As time went on, communication felt more distant, and we sometimes missed clearer guidance and understanding for volunteers. During a personal difficult moment, I tried to express how I felt. There was not much space for this and I personally didn't feel empathy, which made things harder.
Unfortunately, other volunteers and us decided to leave the experience earlier than planned, as we were not feeling comfortable anymore. We will however miss the nature and the other volunteers.

about 1 month ago

Marco replied

Until the last 2 days everything went more than fine. The evening before there was so much joy and laughter playing games with the kids. Then a volunteer with whom you connected big time left (as planned) and you received terrible news from home. You and your girlfriend left early. Only 1 volunteer remained. During our long talk we cleared the air. We appreciated you opening up to us and understand that homesickness and mental challenges leads to early departure.