Agricultural work
You might join a local co-operative for the harvesting season or be involved in the life of a farm. This doesn’t usually involve direct contact with animals, although tasks might include helping with general maintenance. Often projects involving agriculture have a wider social aspect, such as working with people with disabilities, raising awareness of sustainable farming, education and so on.

Arts
You could be working on a collective art project or organising workshops, from music to painting, drama, photography, filming and so on. The level of skills required varies greatly, from very basic to highly skilled. Sometimes volunteers are asked to teach children basic art skills. Other times they contribute to the organisation of an art related event with the aim of involving people in the life of the community or raising awareness on specific issues.

Archaeology
Many projects are available where volunteers help in archaeological sites – digging, filing and researching findings. Who knows what you could find!

Culture
Some projects are specifically focused on intercultural exchange between volunteers and local communities. Most activities consist of group discussions, organising workshops, events and leisure activities on a topic of intercultural importance.

Education and teaching
For example, teaching art skills, raising awareness on specific issues, teaching (mostly languages) or discussing a specific topic or subject.

Environment
A huge selection of projects, covering general conservation management in national parks and reserves, creating new walking paths, cleaning vegetation from riverbanks and beaches, creating habitats for wildlife, as well as raising awareness on environmental issues, recycling and sustainable development, amongst local communities and schools.

Family projects
Every year we have a small selection of projects open to volunteers and their children (usually aged 5-13). The project is intended to let adults and children work, while also spending quality time together. Work for children is designed not to be physically hard.

Historical theme
Usually linked with local festival or arts projects, although you can find placements specifically focused on researching or discussing historical issues related to the life of a community or area.

Local festivals
Over the summer many local communities, especially in Europe, tend to organise small festivals to celebrate events, anniversaries and local traditions. Volunteers often play key roles, setting up, welcoming visitors, and dismantling afterwards. It can be hard work with long hours, but also exciting and rewarding, with the chance to get involved in the activities, workshops and events.

Manual work, renovation, restoration and construction
Many projects in our programme involve renovating or constructing buildings and infrastructure important for the life of a community. Tasks might involve renovating an old school, helping convert old buildings into social centres, or restoring old castles or historical buildings.

Social work
Volunteers might help look after people with learning or physical disabilities, or people in later life. Or you could be organising leisure activities for children and teenagers on a summer camp; some projects are also organised in orphanages, drop in centres or schools. This area can be highly rewarding if you have a keen interest in working with people.

Senior projects
Projects where the age range is 50+.

Teenage projects
Concordia sends 16 – 17 year olds on to specially designed ‘teenager’ projects. Sometimes these projects might have older volunteers too but the focus will be suitable for teenagers. Teenager projects are only available on our East West Programme.