Experience community through action and purpose

United States

4

Had a great time!! I enjoyed my time in Lisbon more than Caneças due to the hours and living space. Caneças is good for connecting with nature and a small community, and Lisbon is great for exploring the city and connecting with locals! The other volunteers at Emmaus are super fun to be around :-)

10 months ago

Denmark

4

I spent 18 happy days at the organization, where everyday I woke up and felt included, cared for, and listened to by an incredible and kind-hearted team. It was a really unique experience to get to live with the community there and to take part in their traditions and schedules. It's worth mentioning the working hours and location. It takes over and hour to get to the city center and work is from 08:30-18:30, so if your priority is to explore Lisbon rather than mostly staying at the project site I would recommend the organization' Pop op store in Lisbon. Both is also an option. I'm looking forward to coming back.

12 months ago

Italy

4

We stayed one week in Canecas and one at the store in Lisbon. I enjoyed both the places, even if I advise that one in Canecas, the beating heart of the organization and where you can get in touch with the companions and connect with the other volunteers. Despite the community in Canecas is a bit far from Lisbon and the free time is less, it's really worth it. The team of the organization is very warm and welcoming, we learned more about their great community and had other enriching discussions. It was my first volunteering experience and I heartily suggest it. Thank you Ophelie, Humberto and Eva for all 🫶.

12 months ago

United States

4

Ophelie was the best!! She was very welcoming, sweet, caring, and very accommodating. I am a celiac and she made sure all my meals tended to my allergy needs in Caneças. She also really encouraged us to go see local attractions and use our time in Lisbon to go see the city! The only reason I give a 4/5 is due to the experience in Caneças. I felt like the language barrier made it hard for the companions to delegate tasks to us as they only spoke Portuguese. We unfortunately did not do much work there and spent a lot of time waiting for direction. I would have loved to help contribute more!

about 1 year ago

Ophelie replied

Hi Annie, thanks for the kind feedback. I know that your time in Caneças has been more difficult because our colleague Eva (who speaks English and Portuguese) wasn't there to manage your work as she usually is. I hope you enjoyed it anyway !

United States

4

Ophelie and everyone else were so kind and welcoming! The days at Canecas are long but not difficult work. It is all men living there that mostly just speak Portuguese, but they make sure to communicate with you as best as they can and were all very nice. They keep you well fed and it is very good food. However, the bathroom in the volunteer room was pretty dirty. At the Lisbon location, the shop is very nice and the work is chill. Ophelie gave great recommendations and made sure we got to see all around Lisbon, and the living space was so cute!

about 1 year ago

Ophelie replied

Thanks for your feedback, Jessie ! I had no idea for the bathroom and you should definitely have told me about it during your stay, we would have come to clean it. Thanks for the time you shared with us, I hope you will keep good memories of Lisbon !

Italy

5

I had a great time volunteering here. As some people have already said, I would suggest to spend part of the time in Caneças (be aware: basic portuguese will be helpful there, possible without but I personally wish I spoke better) and part of the time in Lisboa, if you can! The two experiences are really different and both very valuable. Thank you so much Ophelie and Humberto for this opportunity, I will miss you and i'll be back! xx

over 1 year ago

Ophelie replied

Thank you for sharing your experience and your feedback. It was great to welcome you, and we will host you again anytime !

France

5

I volunteer for two weeks, one in caneças and one in Lisbon. Both experiences are valuable. Caneças is more isolated but will really open your heart to other people, it was really great discovering this place and be part of this community, even tho it can be hard when you arrive. In Lisbon, you feel more free and help mainly in the shop. Ophélie is really kind and ready to help you with anything ! This volunteering is great if you look to open your mind and want to help for something. You will for sure be changed after this :) this place and people warmed my heart ! Thanks for everything

over 1 year ago

Ophelie replied

Thanks for your feedback and for sharing your experience in Arroios and Caneças. We hope you'll keep these good memories with you on the coming steps of your life ! :)

United States

5

Such an amazing organization, amazing hosts , and an amazing first experience with Worldpackers. the organization is an incredible organization with impressive goals, I had no idea how international and long-standing the organization truly is until I started volunteering for them. Ophelia and Humberto were very kind and accommodating, I felt welcome and taken care of in every way possible. I got a good mix of helping at the Lisbon site and in the canecas location. I loved the work I did and all of the people I worked with, would definitely return and I recommend this to anyone considering it :)

almost 2 years ago

Ophelie replied

Thanks Dena ! We loved having you with us, and liked the talks and the curiosity you had about Emaus and our organization. We're glad this first experience with Worldpackers turned into a very good memory of your trip to Europe, and we would be happy to see you back visiting us !

Turkey

5

There are some experiences on Earth that are truly invaluable, and the organization was undoubtedly one of them. You can expect to encounter two distinct work centers, each with its unique characteristics. Humberto and Ophélie will warmly welcome you at Arroiros with the utmost courtesy. On the other hand, Caneças offers a completely different environment where you'll need to adjust to specific rules and longer working hours. However, rest assured that you'll be surrounded by beautiful souls who deeply appreciate your work, and they'll greet you with the most genuine smiles. Long live the organization!

almost 2 years ago

Ophelie replied

Thanks for your kind words, Efe. We loved having with us, and it has been a great experience for the companions too. We're happy that you shared and felt some good energy in Caneças :)

Brazil

5

So where do I start? Coming to the organization was a gift for me. I felt welcomed since the first moment. I had the chance to work on something that really matters! My main job was in the second hand shop, with the clothes - but there is a lot of different works to do! I made a lot of friends and I've learned a lot with them and the community life. If you are willing to work hard and ready to receive and spread love, you can come! Thank you all for everything. Don't give up making this place and world better and better. I love you all! :)

almost 2 years ago

Ophelie replied

Thanks a lot, Laura. We really loved having you with us, and the whole community enjoyed to have you in their everyday life for a bit. Your smile and dynamism have energized the team !

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