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Youth Support Program in Lisbon

by: ImpacTrip

6 (3)Verified

Education is a fundamental human right, yet factors like poverty deprive millions of children of this right. In Portugal, many kids lack the necessary support to continue their education and reach their full potential. As a Youth Support volunteer, you work with children and teens (between 6 and 15 years old) after school or care for toddlers or babies while their parents study or work. Your goal ...

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Program Highlights

Volunteer in local non-profits helping underprivileged children.

Give children the opportunity to learn something from you.

Meet other like-minded volunteers from all over the world.

Learn Portuguese and improve your language skills.

Have fun and discover Lisbon by going on trips and excursions.

Quick Details

Locations
  • Lisbon, Portugal
Availability
Year(s) Offered2024, 2025, 2026, 2027Duration:
  • 1-2 Weeks
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
  • Summer
Cost Per Week$600-900
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • Childcare & Children
  • Community Centers
  • Community Development
  • Education
  • English Teaching
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • American
  • European
  • Canadian
  • Australian
  • South African
See all program details

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

6

Total Reviews

3

Very disappointing

by: Beth Riordan - AustraliaProgram: Youth Support Program in Lisbon
1

Overall a very disappointing experience. I did one week of youth support in Lisbon. My main issue is with the cost and ImpacTrip’s refund policy. The program is already quite costly but I thought it would be worth it due to a week of free accommodation and food plus the opportunity to volunteer which I had never done before. The cost includes an airport pickup if you arrive on the Sunday prior to your week starting. I was initially meant to arrive on Sunday but had last minute itinerary changes due to severe weather that meant I had to change my flight to a different date. My issue was not that I could not get the airport pick up. My issue was that they refused to refund me for a service I never ended up using due to circumstances out of my control. I have emailed and texted ImpacTrip several times asking for a refund or at least an explanation as to where my money is going to go. They responded once saying it is not a part of their policy and could not provide an explanation as to where my money is now going. This is about £45 and as a young backpacker this is a lot of money to me. I think it is unethical and unfair that a volunteering organisation to whom I have given my money and time is happy to keep money for a service I never used. I find it incredibly rude that they can’t even give me an explanation as to where this money has now gone nor an apology. Secondly, not an issue as such but more advice. It is advertised that volunteers have to speak English. At the after school care, neither staff or kids spoke much English. Language classes are offered during your week of volunteering. However, I had already spent £550 for this week and this was out of my price range. Also, as I thought English was the required language I did not think this would be necessary. It is also advertised that you can offer to teach English in an informal way to the kids. However, the afternoons are already organised by the teachers weeks prior. I understand the necessity for this having worked in after school care myself at home. However, it just really limited my opportunity to interact with the kids. In addition to the language barrier I really felt like an outsider. I am not blaming anyone for the language barrier or trying to suggest the school should know English. I know we are volunteering in disadvantaged areas which makes this really hard. I just wish someone had told me before that this program would be better suited to people who know Portuguese or are trying to learn Portuguese. In fact, interacting with young kids would be a great way if you are a beginner Portuguese learner ? Another frustrating experience was transporting to volunteering. I know the website states you should be expected to travel to your volunteering venue. However, I thought this would be within walking distance or a short bus/train ride. I had to take 1.5hrs worth of public transport each way and also pay for this myself. This ended up being 50€ for the week. Again, while I understand this is advertised, it was more expensive than I thought. Also, while Lisbon is safe city, it is always worries me to have to travel so far on my own as a solo female traveller at night. Some volunteers were younger than 18 and raised this with ImpacTrip who simply stated that they should have known they had to travel to and from volunteering on their own. I think that’s quite a harsh explanation to someone who’s literally a child on their own in a foreign city. Finally, the staff at the hostel were rude and unaccommodating. I did not feel welcome and was made to feel like everything was such a chore for them to do. This is with the exemption of the cleaners who do a very thorough job. The hostel is really clean which is always nice. The linen is clean and there are fresh towels for volunteers which is a bonus. In terms of food, it is advertised in the program that the food is prepared on site which it isn’t. It’s prepared in another kitchen and brought to the hostel you stay at. This doesn’t apply to me, but there were several people with severe food allergies such as coeliac disease who were often not accommodated. The hostel staff would tell them their food was prepared with the other food and that it was still fine to eat. Some days there were no GF or allergy-friendly options available and they were told to find their own meals for the day even though food is part of the cost. As said, it is a shame that this was overall a disappointing experience. I think there is a lot of potential for this to be a lot better and the positive volunteering experience people are looking for.

A madness in Portugal.

by: Noah Traill - United KingdomProgram: Youth Support Program in Lisbon
10

This was potentially the maddest experience I have had so far! Volunteering abroad is truly the best way to explore and enrich yourself in a new culture - the cliché is true. In this case, not only are you deep into the city living amongst true Portuguese people, but you are constantly in contact with them, eating their food and functioning as a local. This experience allows for a more immersive volunteering process, in which you are not only helping locals but become to operate as one. Equally, through this you are constantly supported by the diverse team in Impact House - from your impact mum to the staff, help is never far away! Living in the hostel gives you constant opportunity to communicate, socialise and meet a new variety of equally positively minded individuals. The opportunities are endless. The placements are varied, interesting and there is ample opportunity to positively impact the communities there. Youth Support was an amazing opportunity, showing how young Portuguese children speak English better than a native! All jokes aside, the experience was invaluable helping and seeing grass roots community programs with seriously positive benefits. Bairro Alto and Pink Street are pretty fun too. Thanks for a wavy time, Noah

Great people

by: Kaley Pak - United StatesProgram: Youth Support Program in Lisbon
7

Loved the people on my program and the staff. The other volunteers made the program successful and I enjoyed getting to know people from across the world. The staff support was friendly and fun to be around.

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Lisbon, Portugal

Types and Subjects

  • Causes
  • Childcare & Children
  • Community Centers
  • Community Development

Availability

Years Offered: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027

Duration:
  • 1-2 Weeks
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • American
  • European
  • Canadian
  • Australian

Cost per week

$600-900

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Some Program Activity Costs
  • Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Weekend Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Accommodation Options

  • Dormitory
  • Group living
  • Other

Qualifications & Experience

Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Application Procedures

  • Online Application

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