Spain – Barcelona Food Rescue & Community Empowerment – Images

Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, is the vibrant heart of Catalonia, celebrated for its Renaissance art and Gaudi architecture. Neighborhoods like Gràcia, Gótico, and Born showcase the city’s rich history through their narrow, history-laden streets. Famous for Mediterranean tapas and a high quality of life, Barcelona enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, making its beaches like Bogatell, Mar Bella, and Barceloneta popular spots.

The Food Bank volunteer program operates in El Turó de la Peira, in Barcelona’s Nou Barris district. It is a culturally diverse neighborhood with residents from 97 nationalities, primarily from South America and the Caribbean. Despite its rich diversity, it’s one of Barcelona’s poorest areas, with 25% of its 18,000 residents facing vulnerability or exclusion.

Nestled in the heart of the Collserola mountain range, the eco hostel offers a serene escape into one of Barcelona’s most distinctive natural parks. Collserola is home to a rich variety of Mediterranean flora and fauna, making it a vital green space and a biodiversity hotspot. Often referred to as the “lungs” of the metropolitan area, the park stretches between Barcelonès and Vallès, flanked by the Besòs and Llobregat rivers.

Reflecting the belief that stronger communities begin with developing each volunteer’s skills, mindset and wellbeing, this program combines hands-on volunteering with personal growth through training, wellness sessions and team workshops. As a volunteer, you will work with a registered NGO and participate in projects delivered alongside community members and partner organizations across Barcelona.

About the organization is a social NGO in Barcelona. They assist families and individuals in vulnerable situations and promote social projects to improve the community. Their primary method is to support communities and solidarity networks through volunteering and providing professional training.

As a volunteer, you will work three days a week helping reduce food waste and hunger. Volunteer shifts include collecting food from local supermarkets, preparing portions, and distributing meals to families, as well as participating in community workshops.

Examples of Volunteer Tasks

• Preparing and disinfecting the food-bank area
• Checking inventory and organizing food supplies
• Distributing food to local families
• Preparing supplies for the baby food bank
• Supporting activities at a residence for older adults
• Helping distribute food to people experiencing homelessness
• Working at the community garden and permaculture farm
• Guiding local volunteers and assigning daily tasks
• Participating in required training and workshops
• Helping prepare shared lunches and community spaces
• Volunteer tasks are combined with daily personal growth through training, wellness sessions and team workshops.

Training: Across the week, volunteers receive 2 hours of training on topics like cross-cultural volunteerism, NGO management, and food regulations.

Important note: From June 26th to September 1st, activities center in the summer school, Casal de Verano. Most tasks involve engaging with kids, which might affect some workshops and training sessions.

Internet: Wi-Fi is not provided in the volunteer apartments. Volunteers should arrange their own mobile data.

Laundry: There are laundry facilities available.

Accommodations: Volunteers share rooms in an apartment in the city, organized by the program. There are several apartments within a 20 to 30-minute walk to the NGO center. These rooms typically have 1 or 2 bunk beds, accommodating 2 or 4 volunteers. If you prefer a single room, upgrades are available for an additional fee, subject to availability and the duration of your stay. Some apartments are mixed gender, and some are single gender. Accommodation at an eco-hostel in Vallvidrera is provided if the apartments are fully booked. These include shared rooms with 3-5 bunk beds. Living arrangements with a local host family may also be provided upon request for an additional fee. Please notify GoEco at the time of your application if you have a preference for the type of accommodation.

• • Note: Minors will be placed either in the eco-hostel or an apartment based on the program’s recommendations and the number of volunteers. However, they will always be accommodated in a single-gender room.

Food: Groceries are provided for volunteers to prepare their own breakfast and dinner at the apartment, while a cooked lunch is shared at the program site. Vegetarian options are standard, with occasional meat dishes. Volunteers with dietary restrictions should notify the program in advance.

• Age 16-30 years – Older volunteers are encouraged to sign up to our Barcelona Youth Empowerment program instead.
• Solo volunteers 16 & 17 need parental consent and an interview with their parents and our team.
• A Schengen tourism visa is required. We don’t provide Visa support.
• Volunteers must arrive on Sunday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM to receive the included airport pickup.
• Volunteers must participate in required training and workshops.
• Good level of English is required. Spanish is highly valued; other languages are a plus
• High level of independence, responsibility, and flexibility
• Adaptability and appreciation for diversity, as we work with people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures.

Volunteers have weekends off to visit all the attractions that Barcelona offers, such as the stunning Sagrada Familia, the colorful Park Guell, the historic Gothic Quarter, and the vibrant La Rambla. Explore neighborhoods like Gràcia, Gótico, and Born, known for their historic streets and vibrant atmosphere. Weekly city excursions are also self-organized by the volunteers themselves. In addition, during long weekends, they organize group outings to the towns and beaches closest to the city, such as Costa Brava. Barcelona also has many national and local festivals during which the city organizes concerts and celebrations in the streets and plazas.

Access to the program activities and events, including Open Mic, Cacao Ceremony, eco-climbing or hiking excursions, snorkeling (in summer) are free.