Int’l Internship & Volunteer Network Discover Infinite Possibilities   Discover Spain ~ Premier Program* Bilbao   *Participants of this program must make up a group of 8-10 individuals.  Group will take part in Week I and Week 4 activities together.    Each participant will select their choice of a volunteer program to take part in during weeks 2 & 3 independently.    Program Fees noted for this program are per participant.

Bilbao is one of the most vibrant cities in the world! Known as one of the main financial, communication, and cultural capitals of Spain, Bilbao offers participants a dazzling array of cultural events and institutions, educational resources, entertainment, sport events restaurants, markets, shops and services of every kind imaginable. Surrounded by mountains and beautiful beaches, Bilbao maintains an average year-round temperature of 20ºC. Here, you will find a vibrant street-life, which is why it is sometimes referred to as "The capital of joy and satisfaction".   ~ ~ ~ Applicant Requirements Start Dates & Duration Program Fees & Inclusions Application Process ~ Benefits of Participation Other Important Information   ~ ~ ~

Start Dates & Program Duration    Our Discover Bilbao Premier* Programs are offered annually beginning the first Monday of January and ending the last Friday of January.   For further details regarding each week of our Discover Bilbao Premier Program, click on your link of interest below;   Week 1 – Orientation/Introduction Weeks 2 & 3 – Volunteer Programs Week 4 – Holiday Week   ~ ~ ~   Week 1 – Orientation/Introduction *Participants of this program must make up a group of 8-10 individuals.  Group will take part in Week I activities together.    Although the agenda will be flexible, based on weather and other uncontrollable factors, following is an example of how the Orientation/Introduction week may be scheduled.

Pickup from Bilbao Airport Orientation welcoming all participants to Bilbao  Spanish Classes (20 hours (4 hours/day)) 9:30am -1:30pm These classes will give you an introduction to the Spanish language or build on your current skills. You will also learn about the Spanish culture in order to make your stay in Spain more comfortable.   Activities – a sample of activities participants may experience include; River Walk to Guggenheim Museum (Contemporary and Modern Art). Artxanda Furnicular (view of the Bilbao from the mountaintop) Watch a Bilbao Athletic Club football (soccer) game. Museum of Fine Arts Wine tasting in Rioja wine areas. Theatre; watch plays, musicals or other stage productions at the beautiful Arriaga theatre. Walking tours of the Bilbao and wine and tapas in the Old Town. Accommodations: Participants will stay in their own residence room in a community of other participants. Each residence room will have its own bathroom, kitchen facilities and internet access. ~ ~ ~

Weeks 2 & 3 – Volunteer Programs   Each participant will select their choice of a volunteer program to take part in during weeks 2 & 3 independently.      Volunteering in Bilbao provides you a unique opportunity to meet and help the locals allows you to be immersed in the language and culture while making a difference in the community. Volunteers typically spend about 20 hours per week at their desired volunteer project.   Accommodation during Weeks 2 & 3 remains the same as during Week 1 – Orientation/Introduction.     Select your Volunteer Project of Interest below for further details:     Education English Teacher Monitor     Health Care Assistant to Neuromuscular Patients Assistant to Physical/Psychological/Socially Excluded Patients Assistant to Parkinsons Patients Racism Awareness     Social Work Integration of the Homeless Integration of the Emigrants     Sports & Leisure/Hospitality Management Student Service Coordinator Camp Site Assistant Restaurant Assistant Museum Cultural Assistant Animal Orphanage Bullfighting Club Assistant Beauty Salon Assistant     ~ ~ ~      Education English Teacher Monitor     Placement:  English Teacher   Organization Description: The English School Centre was created with the aim of promoting languages and carrying out extra activities among youngsters in the neighbourhood. The centre offers a wide variety of artistic and cultural workshops, games and sports. It works with children of all ages.   Placement Objective: The objective of this volunteering position is to help participants gain further experience in the field of after school education, and better familiarize participants with the language and the Spanish culture while being involved in the organization of the activities.   Placement Description: Assist monitors with organizing workshops, activities and games, plan the daily activities, look after the children and bring in new ideas. The areas covered by the activities are varied and include theatre, dance, painting, literature, board games, sports, etc.   General Requirements: Participants must enjoy working with children of all ages, including teenagers, and must be active and creative. A degree and/or experience in the field of Education is an advantage for this position, though it is not a requirement.    Language Requirements:  Beginner level of Spanish         Placement: Monitor   Organization Description: Christian movement aimed at helping young people and the poor. The organization also supports social projects in other countries of Europe and in Latin America such as unemployment assistance, work in prisons, work with ethnic minorities and immigrants, general community development and fair trade.   Placement Objective: Through this volunteer project, participants will cooperate in the overall achievement of the organization's goals, and will help marginalized children reach a higher education level and prevent school desertion.   Placement Description: Activities will be divided between administrative tasks, reception duties such as answering the phone, answering inquiries from the general public and members of the organization, cooperating with the organization's team. Participants may also be in charge of a small group of school children, helping them with their homework, giving them advice and organizing activities to increase their interest and enthusiasm.   General Requirements: Participants in this project must be interested in cooperating with social and education projects with the marginalized sectors in the city.   Language Requirements: Beginner-intermediate level of Spanish.

Health Care Assistant to Neuromuscular Patients Assistant to Physical/Psychological/Socially Excluded Patients Assistant to Parkinsons Patients Racism Awareness     Placement:  Assistant to Neuromuscular Patients   Organization Description: NGO works with patients, relatives and professionals to support and guide the affected by a neuromuscular disease such as muscular dystrophy, spinal atrophy, etc. The organization coordinates self help and support groups, and provides physiotherapy services at home.   Placement Objective: The aim of this volunteering placement is to improve the quality of life of people affected by a neuromuscular disease, providing them with more autonomy and integration into society.   Placement Description: Help people affected by a neuromuscular disease promoting their well being, working to minimize the effects of the muscular deterioration, helping them carry out daily activities, helping compensate for the dysfunctions caused by the illness, and escorting them in their daily activities such as shopping, doing exercise, etc.   General Requirements: Participants must have a great deal of enthusiasm and energy, skills necessary to communicate and interact with people, to be ready to help and become involved without interfering, and to be able to face new situations with a positive attitude.   Language Requirements: Beginner level of Spanish       Placement: Assistant to Physical/Psychological/Socially Excluded Patients   Organization Description: Non profit organization with the mission of improving general life quality and of promoting social integration of the disadvantaged sector, either for physical, psychological or social exclusion reasons. The organization has professionals with more than 20-year experience.   Placement Objective: The aim of this volunteer placement is to support the organization's professional team, communicate with the patients to provide them with support throughout their program and help them during their abstinence period through different activities.   Placement Description: Participants will be involved in different activities and will assist the Attention Centre's team in the drug addicts’ reinsertion programme and in the workshop activities. Duties will be defined according to each participants experience and preferences and may include physical activities, health care, cultural activities, games, etc.   General Requirements: Participants must be able to react positively in social risk situations, to have good adaptation skills, and to be ready to communicate with and relate to drug addicts.   Language Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Assistant to Parkinsons Patients   Organization Description: Organization with the aim of promoting the integration and avoiding the isolation of Parkinson patients through services that minimize the physical and psychological consequences and that improve the life quality of the patients and their families. The organization also provides information related to the illness, as well as medical, psychological, legal and social assistance. The patients and their families bring in their experiences through workshops, courses, and self help groups. Professionals of the Social and Health fields cooperate with the organization.   Placement Objective: The aim of this project is to assist in improving the quality of life of the patients and their families, making their daily activities easier and providing patients with emotional support.   Placement Description: Participants will be assigned patients to escort during daily activities and routines.  Participants will help them move from one place to another, establish with them an emotional bond and will support them regularly.   General Requirements: Participants must be able to cope with the patients' critical or emotional reactions, and to create a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere in which patients feel safe and comfortable. You need to have a natural predisposition to help. Having experience in Health related fields is recommended though not necessary for this position.   Language Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Racism Awareness   Organization Description: Non government organization that works to defend the basic rights and freedom of people, regardless of their origin or race. It organizes awareness campaigns, denounces racial discrimination cases, etc. The organization does not offer direct assistance to victims since it works more at a political level.   Placement Objective: Working in this organisation, your awareness and sensitivity towards racism within our society will be increased, and at the same time you will cooperate to increase public awareness of these racial problems.   Placement Description: Assist either the Administration Department or the Denunciation Department with tasks such as filing, database updating, public attention and general office work.  Occasional cooperation in social awareness campaigns.   General Requirements: Basic IT skills, awareness of discrimination issues and ability to analyse the discrimination problem from a social and political perspective. Having studies and/or experience in the Journalism, Law or Sociology fields represent an advantage for this position.   Language Requirements: Beginner level of Spanish

Social Work Integration of the Homeless Integration of the Emigrants     Placement: Integration of the Homeless   Organization Description: Non profit organization that assists and promotes the overall development of homeless people in the city. The aim of the organization is to bring long-term effects through activities that favour the reintegration of this marginal sector of society and through the recovery of self care habits which in turn lead to a higher self esteem.   Placement Objective: Help to improve the lives of homeless people in cities, become familiar with the work mechanisms of a local humanitarian organization and work with local professionals from local cities.   Placement Description: Become involved in different activities aimed at promoting the development and reintegration of homeless people through activities such as providing care and attention to the homeless, organizing workshops that promote reintegration into society, etc. Depending on your skills, you will also be able to assist in the production and updating of publications and web site.   General Requirements: Awareness of homeless issues, ability to react positively to situations generated by the daily activities of the participants within the organization, and, more importantly, commitment to the project.   Language Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish      Placement: Integration of the Emigrants   Organization Description: Non profit organization that assists and promotes the overall development of emigrants from different parts of the world who come to Spain to settle down. The aim of the organization is to bring long-term effects through activities that favour the reintegration of this sector in Spanish society.   Placement Objective: Help to improve the lives of emigrants in Bilbao, become familiar with the work mechanisms of a local humanitarian organization and work with local professionals from Bilbao.   Placement Description: Become involved in different activities aimed at promoting the development and reintegration of these people through activities such as providing care and attention to the emigrants, updating information on their rights, organizing workshops that promote their reintegration into society, etc. Depending on your skills, you will also be able to assist in the production and updating of publications and their web site.   General Requirements: Awareness of the emigration issue and policies, to be able to react positively to situations generated by the daily activities of the participants within the organization, and, more importantly, you need to commit to the project.   Language Requirements: Beginner level of Spanish

Sports & Leisure/Hospitality Management Student Service Coordinator Camp Site Assistant Restaurant Assistant Museum Cultural Assistant Animal Orphanage Bullfighting Club Assistant Beauty Salon Assistant   Placement: Student Service Coordinator   Organization Description: Private Institution offering a wide range of programs for students between 18 to 30 years old.    Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with the students to provide them with support throughout their program.   Placement Description: Assist with various administrative tasks such as: international correspondence, host family reservations, placement of new students and volunteers, and organizing activities. We are very selective when choosing people for this position.   General Requirements: Participants must be enthusiastic, optimistic and have an extrovert soul.   Language Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Camp-Site Assistant/Coordinator   Organization Description: Private company specialized in accommodation along with outdoor activities catered for families and young public.   Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with customers to provide them with support throughout their program and assist them through different activities.   Placement Description: Being approachable, well mannered, friendly and helpful are just a few of the qualities you will need as a Campsite Assistant/Coordinator, your main focus will be ensuring that customers return home having had ‘the best holiday ever’.  So how are you going to achieve this? Your duties will mainly involve cleaning the customer accommodations before their arrival, welcoming them onto the campsite and ensuring that all the customer’s needs are attended to during their stay. You will need to have initiative and be a quick thinker, able to resolve any problems that may occur on site efficiently and effectively.   General Requirements: Participants must be enthusiastic, optimistic and have an extrovert soul.   Language Requirements: Beginner- Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Restaurant Assistant   Organization Description:  Representative cuisine from the Spanish gastronomy.   Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with the customers to provide them with support throughout their program   Placement Description: This is an excellent opportunity to learn the ropes of hospitality management and Spanish cuisine. Tasks: reception, catering, housekeeping, general assistance.  Fun, friendship and learning in a healthy, natural environment.   General Requirements: You need to be enthusiastic, optimistic and full of energy. Being approachable, well mannered, friendly and helpful are just a few of the qualities you will need.   Language Requirements: Beginner- Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Museum Cultural Assistant   Organization Description: Public Museum that shows art and paintings from different centuries   Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with the clients to provide them with support throughout their program and help them through different activities.   Placement Description: One the main activities of the museum is the restoration of art pieces and the reception of artists. This is a very interesting museum where the volunteers deal with planning and designing of different shows and expositions in all stages of the process. The museum's director is very keen on receiving interns because he greatly appreciates the energy and attitude of volunteers.   General Requirements: You need to be enthusiastic, optimistic and have an extrovert soul.   Language Requirements: Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement: Animal Orphanage   Organization Description: Orphanage that takes care of neglected domestic animals.   Placement Objective:  This project provides you the unique chance to work closely with abandoned or abused domestic animals. The main aim of this wildlife sanctuary is to give care to neglected, abused or unwanted domestic animals. The sanctuaries are all over Spain and are home to about fifty-100 resident animals and gives each one the best possible environment, improvement activities, medical attention and nutrition.   Placement Description:  Become part of an important educational scheme, helping the sanctuary to teach the public about the story of each of the residents. Habitat corrals range from 500-1000 square metre in size all with natural rocky terrain, many trees, and native plants. Several enclosures even have ponds or other enrichment additions. Volunteer duties include: Walking and socializing with the animals.  Cleaning the enclosures. Feeding wolves and preparing Wolf food. Landscaping/Gardening Carrying out maintenance duties. Conducting tours. Helping with outreach programmes and events. Administrative tasks. Separating raw meat donations.  Sanitising and cleaning food and faecal buckets. Find other potential “owners” who really care of them.   General Requirements: Participants must be enthusiastic, optimistic and have an extrovert soul.   Language Requirements: Beginner level of Spanish       Placement:  Bullfighting Club Assistant   Organization Description: Bullfighting Club where newsletters, events, meetings and reunions related to bullfighting are presented.   Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with the clients to provide them with support throughout their program and assist them through different activities.   Placement Description: This is the oldest bullfighting meeting club in Spain. It has also a library, a restaurant and a conference hall.  Participants will assist with increasing the number of members through different marketing actions, as well as planning social events.   General Requirements: Participants must be enthusiastic, optimistic and have an extrovert soul.   Language Requirements: Beginner- Intermediate level of Spanish       Placement Name:  Beauty Assistant   Organization Description:  This company is a landmark in the city of Lerida, in terms of providing hair and skin care. The company also collaborates with charity organizations.   Placement Objective: Support the organization's professional team, communicate with clients to provide them with support throughout their program and assist them through different activities.   Placement Description:  Comprehensive range of services, which include the ultimate in soothing fusion therapies, facials, total body treatments, and the very latest in beauty therapy, aromatherapy, henna application, body tattooing, nail art,, skin care, personal grooming, bridal makeup, hairstyle, hair care, hair design hair streak, and hair color techniques. Participants will learn and assist in performing these treatments and techniques as well as other administrative tasks.   General Requirements: Participants must be enthusiastic, outgoing, love people around people and have some knowledge of the industry.   Language Requirements: Beginner- Intermediate level of Spanish     ~ ~ ~

Week 4 – Holiday Week  *Participants of this program must make up a group of 8-10 individuals.  Group will take part in Week 4 activities together.    Although the agenda will be flexible, based on weather and other uncontrollable factors, following is an example of how the Holiday Week may be scheduled. Transportation: Overnight train to Barcelona from Bilbao. High-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid. Bus from Madrid to Bilbao. The buses run 24 hours/day, are punctual, and have TVs where they show DVDs and you can also listen to music. By taking the train, high-speed train, and the bus it will allow you to experience the many different forms of transportation that Spain has to offer. The transportation system in Spain is efficient, clean and is used by everyone, regardless of status. Accommodations: Stay in Student Residences in Barcelona and Madrid. Barcelona Day 1 Walking Tour. Day 2 Gaudi Museum, Gaudi tour  (Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Palau Güell) Day 3 Catedral de Barcelona Barcelona Maritime Museum; National Art Museum of Catalonia at Palau Nacional, Old Harbour, Cosmocaixa science museum, free time to explore city, Magic Fountain, Olympic Village, Spanish Town, Santa Maria del Mar Madrid Walking Tour Royal Palace Prado Museum El Escorial (where the Kings of Spain are buried) Teatro Royal, archaeological museum, free time to explore Gran Vía, temple of Debod Old Town   ~ ~ ~