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Help in running our friendly hostel in Udabno

4.5
(124 reviews)124

The experience

Volunteer at our small hostel in Udabno: help with check-ins, keeping rooms and common areas tidy, and creating a warm, friendly atmosphere for guests. Flexible hours, shared room, and use of facilities included. Ideal for open-minded people who enjoy quiet desert landscapes, simple living, and meeting travelers from around the world. Be ready for a challenge!

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

1 day off per week

Team Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner English or Intermediate French

Between 21 and 50 years old

Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Hello! We are a Polish family running a unique guesthouse and restaurant in the small village of Udabno, right next to the David Gareja monastery complex. Life here is raw, windy, and sun-drenched. The views are endless, the food is real, and the effort is genuine.

We’re looking for volunteers who love to be active, solve problems independently, and don’t expect to be babysat. If you’re the kind of person who sees a full trash bin and takes it out without being asked – this might be your place. If you’re someone who needs daily to-do lists, shift schedules, and reminders to clean up after yourself – it definitely isn’t.

We really care about cleanliness — both in our own spaces and the ones we share. If you naturally notice when something needs cleaning and take action without being asked, you’ll likely turn out to be one of the most wonderful volunteers we’ve had. For us, this kind of awareness is one of the biggest assets you can bring.

Activities & Shift

You'd help with:
- welcoming guests (very few during winter time),
- cleaning the tables and putting clean plates on the table with cutlery
- cleaning the floor each morning
- cleaning the toilets
- chopping the wood and putting it into hearth,
- cleaning if there are some guests staying for night,
- cleaning empty dishes (not always),
- chatting with guests :)

Rules

We are a place built with and for the local community. We employ many villagers — mostly women for whom this is often the only source of income. Volunteering here sometimes means supporting something larger than a private business, including ongoing charity for elderly, children, and people in need.

Our philosophy: daily activities are part of life, not separate from it. Skills matter less than attitude: initiative, responsibility, awareness, and the ability to care for shared spaces without being asked.

Cleanliness: volunteers share simple rooms and must keep them clean. Managing your own cleaning schedule is your responsibility and not part of your volunteer hours. When we ask you to take over a task (like cleaning the floor), it becomes a regular responsibility.

Solidarity: if a rush happens outside your shift, we expect the natural instinct to help. Community is built through awareness, not rigid rules.

Couples: we rarely accept couples who met recently; no private rooms are provided.

Our dynamic: if after two weeks the energy doesn’t match, we may end the stay— this is not personal and prevents future frustrations. You’re also free to leave anytime.

Responsibilities and boundaries:
– Respect the contribution of local staff.
– Don’t assume access to money, tips, or alcohol.
– Baking a cake or doing extra creative tasks doesn’t count as a required task.

Value and mindset: your stay is fully compensated through accommodation and food, which cost 1000–1500 GEL monthly.

Winter volunteers: you may stay alone and must know how to handle a fireplace. Independence and emotional resilience are essential.

After two weeks we sit together and decide whether to continue — based on whether the collaboration feels right for everyone.