Orientation in Jerusalem (included):
Your volunteer adventure will start off with a GoEco orientation at a fantastic hostel in the center of Jerusalem. The orientation is a great way to meet fellow volunteers and travelers, and includes the following:
- Volunteer preparation and travel directions to the program
- Expert advice for traveling around Israel during and after your volunteer placement
- Walking tour of Jerusalem, including the Old City and the famous Machane Yehuda market
- Discount card to experience Jerusalem’s vibrant nightlife
- One-night dorm accommodation and breakfast (private rooms are available at an extra price)
The GoEco orientation will begin at 12:00 PM on the start date. The next morning, you will travel to your project with public transportation. Full travel details to Jerusalem and the project will be provided upon registration.
You will be an integral part of the daily activities on the farm and work side-by-side with the full-time staff. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about agriculture and the hospitality industry. The work will vary according to the needs of the farm but general duties may include:
- Preparing food and feeding the alpacas, horses, donkeys, camels and other animals (200+ animals)
- Training llamas
- Assisting with all aspects of running a B&B including guest check-ins, guest activities, cleaning guest rooms and common areas
- Milking the goats
- Educating visiting guests and school groups about the farm, agriculture objectives and sustainability
- Preparing breakfast for the guests and selling snacks
- General tidying of the guest house
- Assisting at the wool factory and learning about shearing and yarn production
- Assisting with the leadership training program
A typical day: You should be prepared to wake up early so you can start feeding the farm animals around 8am. Following this, you will have time for breakfast and then start your project for the day, which could be assisting with guest check-ins and activities or helping at the wool factory. Because of the desert heat, you will have a 2-3 hour lunch break mid-day followed by a bit more work and feeding the animals again around 4pm or 5pm depending on the season.
*Please note that volunteer activities and schedules can change at any time based on the needs of the project.
You are expected to work 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. During non-working hours, you can take advantage of horseback riding and hiking trails.
Extras: While at the farm, the owners will do their best to welcome you to the farm and make sure you get the most out of your volunteering time by offering you some extra activities including: two horseback rides or riding lessons, at least one llama picnic trip on the edge of the Ramon Crater, an evening out at a local jazz club and traditional Israeli dinner celebrations every Friday evening.
Holidays: Please note that the months of September and October contain several holidays that may affect your trip.
