Volunteering in Portugal

[Harris]

I have experienced Camino in both Spain(x2) and Portugal,(x2) and have completed the Hospitaliera training (in Canada.)
How do I apply to volunteer in an Albergue in Portugal?
Is there a central office to make application to?
Many thanks.

 

[Vacajoe]

There is no central office or organization for all albergues on any route. Generally, once trained, you directly contact each one individually or make contact with organizations that manage a few of them (FICS, HosVol, Confraternity of St James, etc - please note that these are groups that mostly focus on the CF, not the CP). The organization who did your training may have a list of these contacts, so I would start there.

 

[Former member 22438]

Peregrinação – Organização de peregrinações

peregrinacao.pt

Just send this organisation an email. Can be done in English
Mind in Portugal de Caminho de Santiago is not that important as the Caminho d3 Fátima. Most Portuguese peregrinos walk to Fatima. Portuguese take the shortes way to Fatima. Sometimes they walk along motorways and N routes. They sleep in hotels, b&b’s etc.

It will be an advantage that you speak Portuguese .

When I walked my 5 caminhos from Portugal I remembered there where not much albergues in Portugal
We slept at the Bombeiros Voluntarios ( voluntairy fire brigades, ) a retraite house led by nuns , at the campus of a school and at a youth hostal.

Between Lisbon and Porto there was one commercial albergue in Sernadelo ( hostal Hilãrio)
Beyond Porto there are more albergues , municipal and privat.And they are more for peregrinos to Santiago

 

[HJPZ]

I also did my Hospitaler@ training in Canada and our training facilitator supplied us with the names and contact information of those organizations that we could apply to. There weren’t many options in Portugal but he can also put you in touch with other Canadians who have volunteered in Portugal.

 

[ArleneLaskey]

I would recommend you speak with Tom Friesen of the CCoP about that, he will have all the connections. Also you could go to https://www.santiago.ca/ and find the drop down tab for Hospitaleros.

 

[Harris]

Thank you all for these suggestions.
I now have something to work on.

 

[peregrina2000]

I have experienced Camino in both Spain(x2) and Portugal,(x2) and have completed the Hospitaliera training (in Canada.)
How do I apply to volunteer in an Albergue in Portugal?
Is there a central office to make application to?
Many thanks.

I would contact the Via Lusitana. They are a Lisbon-based organization, responsible in large part for the establishment of the pilgrims’ office in Lisbon. They maintain contacts and a loose association with the pilgrim albergues up and down the route. You can fill out a form on this link

contacto | Via Lusitana

Or just send them an email to info@vialusitana.org

All of this can be done in English.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

You do best to contact directly the albergue that interests you. I know that the municipals at Barcelos and San Pedro de Rates welcome volunteers from other lands.