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Come home to our green oasis in the heart of Shkodra city

4.0
(10 reviews)10

The experience

We are looking for friendly, open, community-minded, animal-loving & eco-conscious people to volunteer at our gorgeous green hostel.
Our volunteers contribute to the hostel by undertaking basic duties such as cleaning & completing check-ins, but will also engage in a range of other interesting & fulfilling tasks, such as; looking after our large garden, caring for our resident dogs & cat, running the bar, undertaking creative projects, etc.

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

Pet Sitting: Taking care of and looking after pets.

Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

Housekeeping: Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

2 days off per week

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

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

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

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

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Intermediate Italian

Between 18 and 40 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We pride ourselves on the sense of community that we have built here, attracting wonderful volunteers and travellers from all over the world. As such, we do not just look for people who are willing to work, but also for people who will nurture the energy that acts as the heart and soul of the hostel. We called our hostel "Mi Casa Es Tu Casa" because we wanted to create the sense that this is a home for everyone who stays here.
The position will be a mix of independent work and co-operating with other volunteers/staff, so you will need to work well with others, have a strong sense of initiative, and possess good communication skills.
As with most hostel positions, volunteers are required to help with basic cleaning, bed turnover, laundry, and check-in duties. But you will also have the opportunity to engage in a range of other interesting & fulfilling tasks, such as; looking after our large garden, caring for our resident dogs & cat, running the outdoor bar, undertaking creative projects, organising activities, and many more.
However - just like our extensive garden - volunteer duties will change with the seasons, so make sure to ask what is required during the time you intend to stay with us!

In return, you will have free accommodation in our beautiful Italian-style villa with a wrap-around garden in the heart of Shkodra with easy access to the lake and many nearby attractions, free use of hostel bikes, and a place in our warm and caring community - Mi Casa Es Tu Casa!

Activities & Shift

All shifts require volunteers to:
- answer any questions from guests
- tidy/clean where necessary
- complete check-ins and check-outs
- check the laundry frequently
- check bathrooms to see if toilet paper is needed
- check all bins (kitchen/bathroom/outdoor) to see if they need to be emptied
- make sure the dogs have water (especially in hotter months)
- communicate any relevant information to the person who is on shift after you (e.g. what tasks have been finished or left unfinished)

07:00-12:00
- make coffee and tea for breakfast
- water plants
- walk the dogs
- clean kitchen after breakfast
- confirm all check-outs and start making the beds/taking the bedclothes to the laundry

09:00-14:00
- laundry (the previous day's washing will need to be folded and all of the bedclothes from the morning check-outs will need to be washed and hung out to dry)
- work the bar if needed

14:00-19:00
- water the plants
- check if towels need changing
- work the bar
- (winter) prepare the fire and keep it running

19:00-00:00
- check if anything is needed for breakfast & grind the coffee
- walk the dogs
- close the bar and ask everyone to move inside for noise reasons
- tidy the kitchen (dry and put away plates, wipe surfaces, sweep and mop, etc.)
- close windows and turn off lights

00:00-07:00
- make sure the animals are all inside
- check the toilets
- check the weather to see if anything needs to be covered
- make sure noise is kept to a minimum
--take a nap!--
- prepare the bar
- make sure that the guests who are leaving early for tours are awake and provided with sandwiches
- open door and windows before finish

Rules

Smoking is allowed, but only in outdoor areas.
Possession, distribution, and consumption of illicit drugs is prohibited.

We run off a system of mutual respect, so please be mindful of the other people working and staying in the hostel.