from 355€

Excellent 4.8rating (53)

Animal saver

location
4 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Rescue wounded and ill animals!
  • Save hundreds of lives, helping catching cats and dogs for castration!
  • Assist our veterinarians with emergencies!
  • Save dogs from being catched and put to sleep by local authorities!
  • Make the difference at our clinic by helping our staff with heavy duties (moving heavy equipment, transporting heavy animals, uploading/downloading rice and dryfood sacks, etc.)

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+

About the program

Takes part into rescues, in different parts of the town and of the island, is available on emergencies, is never tired, knows how to keep calm in stressful situations

An animal saver is ideally someone who is confident or has experience of working with dogs. Animal savers are in charge all the day round. When they are not needed for emergencies or special one-time tasks, their main task will be to assure the best possible life conditions to our rescued dogs, ...

About the program

An animal saver is ideally someone who is confident or has experience of working with dogs. Animal savers are in charge all the day round. When they are not needed for emergencies or special one-time tasks, their main task will be to assure the best possible life conditions to our rescued dogs, working mainly at the shelter, but their mission doesn't allow to have a definite working schedule or a definite amount of free time, as they will help whenever is needed or during spaying/neutering campaigns, or in the clinic when necessary (especially on week ends, or when the staff is off or missing work). 

Animal savers have no fear of difficult situations, can catch dogs with their hands and especially with their heart. Volunteers that wants to call themselves animal savers have no fear to make themselves dirty, never forgets to take a leash and a bag of dry food with them and a bottle of water with a bowl when they go out. They don't miss any occasion to catch a dog on the street and bring him/her to our clinic to be spayed/neutered as this is the easiest way to save lives, and to fight abandonment, starvation and suffering. Their help will be crucial during spaying/neutering campaigns outside the clinic. 

NOTES: 

- Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is per shift: one morning shift from 7AM to 1PM OR one afternoon shift from 1PM to 7PM.
- changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized
- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered
- we'll make our best to give you the morning shift on the last working day of one week and the afternoon shift of the first working day of the following week, so that you have 2 days and 2 nights off and you can visit another island if you like.  



Typical day

The special mission of an animal saver doesn't allow to have a definite working schedule or a definite amount of free time. Every occasion is good to save lives or to stop suffering. In Mindelo and in the villages of Sao Vicente there are thousands of stray dogs that wait to be treated, ...

Typical day

The special mission of an animal saver doesn't allow to have a definite working schedule or a definite amount of free time. Every occasion is good to save lives or to stop suffering. In Mindelo and in the villages of Sao Vicente there are thousands of stray dogs that wait to be treated, spayed/neutered, dewormed, even in your free time! 

You will have the opportunity to share or observe Simabo's wider work, for example outreach vaccination and neutering, and education sessions. This will depend upon what events are timetabled at the time of your stay so cannot be guaranteed but volunteers are welcome to observe / assist these activities.

NOTES: 
- Information given in the Time Commitment session of this program are only orientative and they are not binding: the free day can be on any day of the week (may be on the weekend, maybe not) and the working time is per shift: one morning shift from 7AM to 1PM OR one afternoon shift from 1PM to 7PM.
- changes in shifts must be communicated with a week notice and be authorized
- changes in shifts can't leave shifts uncovered
- we'll make our best to give you the morning shift on the last working day of one week and the afternoon shift of the first working day of the following week, so that you have 2 days and 2 nights off and you can visit another island if you like.  


Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hi

Free-time activities

The island is famous for its music and its partying vibe! So night activity is guaranteed! 

On the island you can find a diving center (in town), a windsurfing school and a kitesurfing school. 
Capoeira is also widely practiced and can be learned with 2 groups in lessons held in the late afternoon.
Hiking paths are very simple to follow. Every volunteer who likes hiking can't miss visiting the neighboring island, Santo Antao, with its beautiful mountains and trekking paths. 
If you are not so keen on hiking, you can rent a bicycles, electrical bicycles and scooters at local shops.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

In addition to the above requirements, animal savers are expressly required to be tolerant, diplomatic, and possess a cooperative spirit (both with local staff, whose contribution is indispensable, and with other volunteers). Also, they must have a willingness to understand a different culture other than their own. We handle both stray animals and animals with owners/guardians who have no other place to go. It is important to know how to communicate even though there may be language barriers.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 - 22:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Simabo

- pick up from the airport at the arrival
- accommodation in a single or double room if travelling alone or in a bigger room if travelling in group (shared bathroom).
- use of the communal kitchen at our nearby hostel 
- advice to organize visits to other islands, especially Santo Antao, with hotel and ferry/flights reservations  
- one tour of the island of Sao Vicente with our staff, usually with a deworming or spaying/neutering campaign

Airport Pickup at Cesaria Evora International Airport

Our driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign of SIMABO with your name.

Be prepared to stay in a row for paying the "airport fee" that costs 32 euros. You can avoid this applying via Internet and paying in advance by credit card. All info to accomplish this will be provided in due time. EU citizens are not required to have/pay a visa, only non-EU citizens will have to buy one at the airport for 25 euros. 

Vaccinations are not required nor recommended. There is no rabies in Cape Verde. 

Accommodation

Accommodation for volunteers is available in single rooms with shared bathroom in our volunteer house or in double or triple rooms with shared bathroom in the hostel. Both are located just a couple of meters away from our clinic, the beach, and the main square of Mindelo. Extra fee is charged for a single room in the hostel.
Volunteers can prepare their own food in the hostel kitchen, where paying guests are hosted to raise funds for the project.
At the hostel volunteers can meet any kind of travellers and together they can plan trips, excursions, parties, dinners, anything that makes fun and makes your volunteering time unforgettable. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Food & Beverages

Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Cesaria Evora International Airport (VXE) in Sao Vicente. We assist you to find cheap flights to Cape Verde. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Cape Verde provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Cape Verde you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Cape Verde. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Volunteers are accepted throughout the year depending on availability.

Usually the best months to come are from april o mid-July and form the beginning of OCtober to mid-December, because of the temperature and also because of the cost of the flights, that can be a expensive in the high season (Christmas, August).
Carnaval is a highlight of Mindelo's life, volunteers are always welcome at that time of the year. 

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks 355€
Average fees 89€/week

Program fees

89€ per week 4 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Simabo during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Simabo

Excellent 4.8 rating (53 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2008

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Silvia

Spoken languages: Italian, Portuguese, German, English

About the project

SIMABO protects, rescues, assists, and spays/neuters dogs and cats in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde

Meet your organization


SI MA BO in Creole means “like you”. 

We are an association for the protection of animals and the environment based in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde, West Africa. Cape Verde has been a Portuguese colony until 1975 and has still a very "European vibe". No vaccinations are required or recommended.The local population is peaceful and more interested in parties and music than in politics or world finance. Mindelo is famous for its music and dancing nights and for being the birth place of Cesaria Evora, the most famous Capeverdean singer. 

SIMABO is a registered charity both in Cape Verde and in Italy. Article 3 of our Bylaws states out mission as following: "The purpose of the Association is to improve the living conditions of the population of the islands of Cape Verde.  In particular, by reducing the risk of transmission of parasitic diseases by cutting down the number of stray animals through spaying/neutering campaigns, also by involving the population in  activities of prophylactic antiparasitic care and by treating animals carrying diseases. The Association also aims at raising funds to be used for carrying out its activities in the Cape Verde islands."

Our work with animals - including running a shelter with 110 dogs, a cattery with 18 cats, a 7/12 clinic, and ambulant castration campaigns - is partially financed by the Simabo's Backpackers' Hostel, a hostel for responsible tourists, which in the meantime has become the most famous tourist facility on the island. 
We have treated and microchipped more than 12,000 animals so far and we are planning to expand the spaying/neutering campaigns to neighboring islands as well. 

SIMABO Cape Verde is managed by a board of 11 directors (1 Italian, 1 Brazilian, 1 Russian and 8 Cape-Verdeans) and employs 12 local workers: 1 veterinarian, 1 nurse, 1 receptionist, 1 driver, 4 dog carers, 3 cleaning staff, 1 night watch + 1 administrator from abroad (Portugal), and relies on the help of 2 full-time volunteers + an average of part-time 10 volunteers on the field and abroad.

The help we need varies depending on your skills. We expect someone who is a self-starter and can work independently with a very high degree of motivation. The focus must be to help the project, with the necessary amount of rest and freetime, to recover from the hard work and to visit the island of Sao Vicente and the neighboring island of Santo Antao, which can be done easily in the free time provided but the working schedule.

Volunteering with SIMABO offers the opportunity to make a great experience abroad in a protected environment, where volunteers can meet other volunteers or hostel guests from all over the world. The relationship with the animals can be extremely rewarding form the emotional point of view, being Capeverdean dogs very tame and social. Volunteers are completely immersed in the local environment, working with local staff and being required to shop and cook their own food. For volunteers that don't want to cook by themselves a wide choice of different options is available to eat at local restaurants and bars for a little price.  

Confirmed volunteers will receive a link to our portal with all the information required for their travel, their stay and the work with us in the different areas: Dog shelter, Cat shelter, Clinic, Hostel, Communication and Fundraising, Education, Maintenance. Feel free to choose the area the best suites you to make the difference for the animals on this beautiful island! 

53 reviews · rating4.8

Chloé Blanchard rating4.6

2024 at Animal saver

Je suis restée 1 mois à Mindelo, et c'était incroyable ! Je ne voulais pas partir.. :) J'ai essentiellement promené les chiens du refuge mais aussi participé au sauvetage des chiens de rue et récupéré des animaux de propriétaires pour les emmener à la clinique. Il y a beaucoup de chiens ...
Sophia van Klooster rating4

2024 at Animal saver

My time working at Simabo was incredible. I worked as a dog walker at the shelter. Most people working at the shelter don’t speak English, but google translate gets you very far. They are all working towards a common goal and are very motivated to do the best for the incredible dogs at the ...
Clara Gaede-MacLaren rating4.8

2023 at Animal saver

My month at Simabo was one of the most amazing months of my life! I recommend this fantastic experience to everyone. But: be aware of where you are going. Many volunteers I met here were not prepared for the sun, the cultural difference and the behaviour of the dogs. If you are scared of dogs ...
Miriam rating5

2021 at Animal saver

Hello, I’m Miriam, 31 years old, from Germany. I had the great honor to be a part of the SIMABÔ team for some weeks. I walked the dogs in the shelter, I cuddled the fluffy cats in my apartment and I couldn’t stop taking photos. The animals at Simabo are just too adorable! Going there wasn't ...
Antonio Malatesta rating5

2021 at Animal saver

Wonderful volunteering experience in Africa. Simabo gave me the opportunity to experience the local culture and be in contact with animals, to work as marketing responsible of the sustainable hostel and to had a great time. They really care about you and will give you the flexibility and ...
Lama M Üsli rating5

2021 at Animal saver

When I came to SIMABO I did not know what to expect, but as soon as Silvia opened the door for me and three other travelers I was taken aback by her energy and spirit. Staying in the hostel was a great experience, as it offers anything you need, has very nice common aeras and is super ...

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Italian, Portuguese, German, English

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