Over the last 3 years, since Tenerife Animal Sanctuary was born, a question we get regularly is: How to be a live-in volunteer with us?
We have had approximately 200 people volunteering with us, living with us, helping us to create and grow this place and to take care of our constantly growing number of animals. This is a useful guide to some of the things to expect when volunteering with us.
Written by Kat from Germany, who is on her second long-term stay here.
Without all of these people, putting their energy and dedication into our project, this project would not be even half as impressive. It all started with one single volunteer, but the number of people who wanted to help increased quickly. These days we are about 30 people living on the finca and helping to run and grow this place every day. The finca has become a lovely community with people from all over the world. We are not only working together, we have community dinners, yoga classes, trips to the beach, jump in for emergencies and enjoy all kinds of activities together. We all share similar values and our passion for this project — to work for the welfare and rescue of animals and to contribute our part to make this world a better place.
How are the volunteers organised?
In the beginning, everyone was just doing anything that needed to be done. But now the project has reached a dimension where everything needs to be well-organised to avoid big chaos. And if you have been here, you know that it can still be chaotic sometimes when you least expect it!
Every live-in volunteer at Tenerife Animal Sanctuary has a specific role, like in a real job. We have wall builders, gardeners, a small animal team, a horse team, a cob building team, a kitchen team, an office team, and more.
We try to accommodate every volunteer’s skills and preferences to keep our team happy and motivated. In exchange for 25 hours of work weekly (normally 5 h/day), we provide accommodation and all food. Some have commented that it’s too many hours — but if you think about the average wage here on the island and what we give back, it’s very fair. Most volunteers share the same working schedule, so they can enjoy weekends and afternoons off together.
Where do your volunteers live?
We are an animal sanctuary, and our main purpose is to provide our animals with a better life — they always come first. Because of this, we have only rustic accommodation for our volunteers. Don’t get that wrong — without our full-time volunteers we wouldn’t be where we are, but we have limited resources and space, so we cannot offer luxurious housing.
People who come here share our values and don’t mind staying in caravans, caves, huts, or whatever space is available. You might have to walk a bit to get to the next bathroom, live with dust, or light a candle in your cave at night — but we all love our basic, charming cave life. Have a look at our Finca Live Episode on YouTube to see more about how we live.
How long do our volunteers stay?
Many people plan to come for a month and end up staying several months — even years. Some have lived here for over two years and aren’t planning to leave! Of course, not everyone can stay long-term, but we welcome volunteers for at least one month. Shorter stays aren’t practical due to training, space, and adjustment time.
We love meeting new people who bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the finca family — watch our Finca Family video to see why.
Which role should I apply for?
The answer is simple: apply for the job you love, are skilled for, and enjoy doing over time. It’s incredibly helpful when live-in volunteers bring useful skills. You don’t need to be a professional, but some experience helps — especially with horses or construction.
We’re looking for passionate, motivated volunteers who help keep this place alive. We love our volunteers and appreciate the hard work they do every day!
How do I apply?
We regularly post open positions on Workaway and Facebook. If you see a position that suits you, apply directly there or fill out the application form on our volunteer page. We look forward to meeting you! 😊
Do you still want further information?
Have a look at this Honest Video on Community Living as well as this video where Katja describes her experience as a live-in volunteer at the sanctuary.
Source: Tenerife Animal Sanctuary
