Volunteer in Turkey
There are currently no openings for short-term projects in Turkey. New volunteer projects will be announced here when available. To get an idea of what kind of programs are expected, you can check some of the past projects below.


Social development workshops in Bergama
Bergama

Volunteer project: The project participants will support a local workshop and experiential association that works to improve production, development, sharing and social benefits. It was created to stand as a model in Turkey that aims to formulate and set up intellectual and practical workshops to benefit Bergama's local people, students, civil society, academics and working-class groups. The association's new workshop unit construction is going to be carried out in the city center of Bergama. It will include 3 units: production selling, workshop areas and a kitchen. There will be workshop designs when the workshop is finished. The volunteers will work both in the construction and in the finalized workshop units.

Volunteers will take part in the construction of the workshop place. They will also support the daily operation of the association, helping with statistical information studies, website, workshop films and photo editing, poster designs, new workshop social designs, attending local meetings as volunteers, informing local people about what the association does via social media and face to face in English and also volunteering in the various workshops according to your expertise. Volunteers who have an expertise or a strong interest in that field can lead workshops.

Language: English

Accommodation: Housing will be provided either in the city center or in a nearby village.

Location: Pergamon (Bergama) is 2400 years old ancient city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The city has a population of 50.000. It is about 20 minutes drive from the Aegean Sea and forested highlands. There are 114 villages nearby with an additional population of 50.000. All villages have distinctive culture, environment and local cuisine.

Nearest terminal: Bergama

Nearest airport: Izmir

Age range: 18 and over


Organizing activities and practicing English with kindergarten children in Duzce
Duzce


Volunteer project: In this project, we cooperate with a local women's association which is running a kindergarten for the kids of the working mothers of Duzce city. In order to raise funds, they also organize different activities related to their jobs. Producing home made food like jam, tomato sauce, powder soup and selling them is a source of income for the association.

We need female volunteers for playing games, organizing activities and practicing English with the kids. Also some manual help is needed such as gardening and wall painting. You are welcome to play some music to the kids, or teach them games or handicrafts if you can.

Special requirements: This is a female only project.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the kindergarten. Sleeping bag and mat are not necessary.

Location: Duzce is a big city in the north-west of Turkey. The project site is in the suburb of the city.

Nearest terminal: Duzce

Nearest airport: Istanbul

Age range: 18 and over


Permaculture farming program
Çatalca

Volunteer project: There is a Children's center in Catalca, where kids from poor families receive shelter, care and support from pre-school level until they graduate from university. A farm was established in order to provide healthy food for the children living in the Center. The farm is run according to the principles of permaculture.

Volunteers will be involved in manual farm work which may vary from day to day. Some examples are: taking care of farm animals; cleaning coops and barns; preparing homemade food for chickens; making different types of composts like cold/hot compost or bokashi, as one of the major steps of permaculture is to create our own self-sufficient soil; establishing raised garden beds and filling them; making our own lactobacillus serums; general cleaning of the farm area; finding or in some cases making new tools. The work will be physically demanding at times. If the weather is bad, indoor work will be offered.

Special requirements: A motivation letter is required.

Language: English

Accommodation: There is a volunteer house for 8 people, with a kitchen. Please bring your sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in Catalca, in a green area, 2.5 hours from Istanbul city center. Here you can have nature walks, paragliding, and cycling.

Nearest terminal: Çatalca

Nearest airport: Istanbul

Age range: 18 and over


Making dreams come true for disadvantaged children
Yeni Sakran, Izmir


Volunteer project: “Children's dreams come true” is the motto of this special project, designed for disadvantaged children. The volunteers will be counseling a group of children aged between 10-14 years old, leading different activities for them, swimming being one of the main ones. You will share the responsibilities of the leading team to take care of a group of kids from the beginning till the end of the camp, including field trips and all kinds of activities.

Please, note that you will be dealing with the kids through the given & intensive program all day long. You will spend most of your time with the kids in the camp area with a limited private life. Thus contact with the locals is very limited; however, you will have contact with the people working in the campsite. Volunteers may have fun together only after the kids go to bed and the team covers the daily late staff meeting in the camp. Leaving the camp area is not allowed due to unexpected emergency cases. Teamwork is essential.

We are looking for communicative, talkative, active volunteers who are at least 20 years old with some skills in teaching basic English, sports (like basketball, volleyball, swimming, football, table tennis, chess), arts & crafts, music, dance, drama, in & outdoor group games. Ability to swim is essential and ability to teach swimming is preferable.

Special requirements: A motivation letter with a pass size photo and Skype ID should complete your application.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the Youth Centre, in 2-3 bedded rooms with toilet and shower. Sleeping bag and mat are not necessary. The counselors will eat together with the group of children they are responsible for.

Location: Yeni Sakran is by the Aegean Sea, in the west of Turkey. The next city is Izmir.

Terminal: Izmir Airport

Age range: 20 and over


Assisting the kitchen team in Math Village education center
Sirince, Izmir


Volunteer project: The Math Village in Sirince needs small groups of up to five international volunteers for different daily tasks during the summer. This project will give you a chance to meet Turkish students and young people who will be participating in mathematics courses in the center between June 1st and September 15th.

The volunteers will be mostly helping the kitchen team of the education center. Their tasks include cutting, washing, slicing vegetables, cooking meals, preparing salads, setting up tables and serving food to the students, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, etc. Some outdoor work is also possible on some days.

Math Village was created by a university professor aiming to endear math to young people. The village is over 10 years old. It is a small village of about 13.5 acres, approximately 7.5 of which consist of olive groves, located 1 km away from the village of Sirince (tied to the Selçuk district of Izmir). Perched on a hillside and overflowing with greenery, it is a place where young and old learn, teach, and think about mathematics in peaceful remoteness. Unpretentious and unostentatious, the houses made out of rock, straw and clay give off a simple welcoming air. Apart from the crickets, any factors which could prevent concentration and deep thought are kept away, there is no television, no music is publicly broadcasted. But traces of civilization such as electricity, warm water and wireless internet are nonetheless present. From teaching at the primary school level to the most advanced research, mathematical activities of any level can take place simultaneously at the village.

Language: English

Accommodation: Under the supplied tents. Sleeping bag and mat are necessary. If you prefer privacy, you can bring your own tent.

Location: Sirince is a small village in the west of Turkey. The center is only a 15-minute walk from the village. Please be aware that the place is a bit isolated - no night life or TV at the center, but there is Internet connection. Sirince is a very attractive village and is famous for its homemade wines and its traditional architecture. The nearest town Selcuk is the home of the world famous Ephessus open-air museum. The nearest city Izmir is one hour away by bus.

Terminal: Izmir

Age range: 18 and over


Family project: Water sports for disabled children
Seferihisar, Izmir


Volunteer project: The volunteer project will support a local NGO aiming to socialize disabled people of the area through water sports. They rent a camping site where they teach swimming, canoeing and diving to disabled people.

This is a special volunteer project for families. The volunteers will help with landscaping, cleaning the garbage on the beach, and organizing water sports and activities with disabled kids of the centre.

Language: English

Accommodation: Basic, in camping tents or in huts. Sleeping bag and mat are necessary.

Location: Seferihisar is the first slow city (Citta Slow) of Turkey, located in Izmir Province in the west of the country. The project site is by the sea. Art workshops for children and parents will be available.

Terminal: Izmir Airport

Extra fee: 160 Euros for adults; 50 Euros for 0-12 years old kids


Let's make a film
Yeni Sakran, Izmir


Volunteer project: This is an international thematic camp for the age group 14-16. Teenagers from different countries will create a group film in a youth center by the seaside. The majority of the group will be Turkish teens, but the camp language is English.

The volunteers will make a short film using hand cameras and computers. They will use their creativity and express their ideas to write the scenario, act, shoot and direct their own film in this project. Besides filming, the daily program of the project will also include other activities like sports, arts & crafts, creative drama, music, etc. Turkish and international volunteers will be leading or assisting the daily activities.

The Youth center is a place where various voluntary and youth camps are hosted. The project site is safe and secure, and participants will not be allowed to leave the campsite on their own.

Language: English

Accommodation: At the Youth center, in 2-3 bedded rooms with showers and toilets. Sleeping bag and mat are not necessary. Food will be served in the center.

Location: Yeni Sakran is in the west of Turkey. The center is by the seaside. The nearest city is Izmir.

Terminal: Istanbul or Izmir

Age range: 14 - 16 years old

Extra fee: 300 Euro


Counseling and leading activities for children in a summer camp
Yeni Sakran, Izmir


Volunteer project: A summer camp for children will be organized in a youth center by the seaside. The camp will host Turkish and international teenagers aged 14-16 whose families are financially supporting this holiday. The main theme of this camp will be shooting a short film.

The volunteers will be counseling a group of teens and leading several activities for them. The volunteers will share the responsibilities of the leading team to take care of a group of teens including field trips and all kinds of activities.

Please, note that you will be dealing with the teens through the given and intensive program all day long. You will spend most of your time with them in the camp area with a limited private life. Thus contact with the locals is very limited; however, you will have contact with the people working in the campsite. Volunteers may have fun together only after the kids go to bed and the team covers the daily late staff meeting. Leaving the camp area is not allowed due to unexpected emergency cases. Teamwork is essential.

We are looking for communicative, talkative, active volunteers to organize activities for teens and to assist them during the activities. The teen group will create a short film in the camp with the help of volunteers. Experience in short film making, as well as skills in any sport (like basketball, volleyball, swimming, football, table tennis, chess), arts and crafts, music, dance, drama, in and outdoor group games is preferable.

Special requirements: A motivation letter and Skype ID should complete your application.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the Youth Centre, in 2-3 bedded rooms with toilet and shower. Sleeping bag and mat are not necessary. The counselors will eat together with the group of teens they are responsible for.

Location: Yeni Sakran is by the Aegean Sea, in the west of Turkey. The next city is Izmir.

Terminal: Izmir

Age range: 20 and over


English language camp for youth
Seferihisar, Izmir


Volunteer project: The volunteer project will support a local NGO aiming to socialize disabled people of the area through water sports. They rent a camping site where they teach swimming, canoeing and diving to disabled people. To raise funds to cover the cost of the camping site, they also run an English language camp. English speakers are invited to spend 10 days with a group of international youngsters who wish to improve their English in such a camp.

The volunteers will be practicing English through daily activities, games and manual work. They will be organizing and running the daily activities with local and international youngsters. Volunteers must be minimum 20 years old and agree to share responsibilities together with the group leader. Practicing English is the main aim of this camp. Thus, creative volunteers with some experience in teaching, outdoor or table games, music, drama, sport, will be preferred.

Special requirements: A motivation letter including Skype ID should be sent along with the application form.

Language: English

Accommodation: Basic, in camping tents or in huts. Sleeping bag and mat are necessary.

Location: Seferihisar is the first slow city (Citta Slow) of Turkey, located in Izmir Province in the west of the country. The project site is by the sea.

Terminal: Izmir Airport

Age range: 20 and over


Long-term projects in Turkey