Gap Year & Voluntary Work in Spain, Gibraltar & Andorra

Academic Studies Abroad
Study abroad programmes in Madrid, Barcelona, Salamanca and Seville. Volunteer work is available with some programmes.
www.academicstudies.com

Accent
An international education organisation that works with over 50 American colleges and universities to provide study abroad programmes in several European cities including Madrid.
www.accentintl.com

Adelante Abroad
Internships in several towns and cities around Spain including Madrid and Barcelona. A semester and summer study in Seville are also available.
www.adelanteabroad.com

Adventureworks
Seven to 14 day multi activity expeditions, which include day treks and overnight expeditions to the Spanish Pyrenees, Picos de Europa or Costa Blanca. Previous groups have taken part in activities such as climbing, caving, canyoning and mountain biking.
www.adventureworks.co.uk

AIDE Abroad
Combined Spanish courses and Internships in either Vejer and San Sebastian. AIDE also offer a Teach Spain programme where you live with a Spanish family and teach your native language, English, German, French, Italian or Mandarin Chinese (American passport holders only). Applicants should be 18 to 30 and able to get a tourist visa for Spain.
www.aideabroad.org

American Institute for Foreign Study Foundation
A four week high school summer programme to Granada, staying with Spanish family for total immersion in Spanish language and culture. Scholarships may be available.
www.academicyear.org

Amerispan
Those wanting to improve their language skills can join Spanish courses around the country, many of which are combined with other activities such as wine, cooking, art history, flamenco, sailing, tennis and horse riding. Teenagers, aged 13 to 18 can take part in summer camps in Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella, Salamanca and Valencia. Internships also available.
www.amerispan.com

Atlantic Whale Foundation
Volunteers work as research guides on whale watching boatsin Tenerife for three or so days per week and spend the rest of the time in the research room assisting where their skills lend best.
www.whalenation.org

AYUSA International
Academic year, Semester and summer high school study programmes for US citizens or residents. Applicants should be 15 to 18 years of age have two years of Spanish language study behind them.
www.ayusa.org

Base Camp Group
Sky diving and paramotoring qualifications can be earned in Figueres, the birth place of Salvador Dali.
www.basecampgroup.com

British Council English Language Assistant Programme
Approximately 2000 English language assistants go abroad every year under this programme administered by the British Council. They are usually either undergraduates required to spend the third year of their language degree course abroad or recent graduates in languages or other disciplines. They spend an academic year teaching in a school, working either with the class teacher or on their own with smaller groups. Exact duties vary from post to post, but their main role is to develop their students' confidence and competence in understanding and speaking English.
www.teachingenglish.org.uk/language-assistant

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
BTCV works with partners in Spain to provide conservation working holidays.
www.btcv.org.uk

Cactus Worldwide
Many Spanish courses available around Spain that can be combined with other activities such as dance.
www.cactusenglish.com

Caledonia Languages Abroad
Several locations in which to improve your Spanish language skills. Courses can be combined with other activities including surfing and work experience.
www.caledonialanguages.co.uk

CDS International
CDS International's programme in Spain is an three month internship available to 19 to 25 year old US and Canadian students. Internships are available in a variety of fields, including, but not limited to, business/finance, engineering, tourism, IT, media/communications, international relations, the nonprofit sector, Spanish studies, and economics. All internships are unpaid; however, participants are invited to apply for funding through the CDS International Scholarship Fund. The programme runs from the end of May to mid August.
www.cdsintl.org

CIEE
A gap year programme for US students to Seville, living with a Spanish host family, that includes an intensive language programme and five to ten hours of volunteer work a week. The Spanish gap programme can be combined with Chile or the Dominican Republic. Younger students, aged 15 to 18, can take part in a study abroad programme.
www.ciee.org.uk

Cultural Embrace
Work placements and internships to Spain. On the work programme, non EU nationals receive room and board, EU nationals receive an additional wage of 300 Euros a month. Applicants should be aged 18 to 30 or 35 with an Intermediate or advanced level of Spanish. The three month internship programme includes four weeks of intensive Spanish language classes and an eight weeks internship.
www.culturalembrace.com

Don Quijote
Spanish courses, summer camps and academic year in Spain. Spanish courses can be combined with tango, scuba diving and other activities, or with a voluntary or internship programme. DQ also offer a Study & Work in Spanish Hotels programme for those that want to finance their stay abroad. This offers an opportunity to improve your Spanish, earning between €200 and €400 per month, plus meals and accommodation, while gaining work experience in Spain’s hospitality industry. This programme is available for students of many nationalities.
www.donquijote.org

English Language Teaching Assistant Program
ELTAP offers individuals, who are fluent in spoken English and willing to help people in another country learn English, the opportunity to volunteer as an English language teaching assistant in Spain.
www.eltap.org

Eurolingua
Learn Spanish in Spain.
www.eurolingua.com

Euro Practice Corps
Internships and language study in Spain.
www.euro-practice.com

Global Choices
Global Choices have two programmes in Spain on offer. The first is a teaching placement that enables students to travel to Spain to teach English, German or French within the home of a host family. Placements are for a minimum of three months (up to 12 months), and are suitable for undergraduates, graduates and gap year students. A three to 12 month Work and Travel Spain programme is also available. Participants can earn 800 to 1200 Euros per month in restaurants and hotels with possibility of promotion. Applicants must be European Union passport holders, over 18 years old, with an intermediate level of Spanish. Previous experience in the hotel and catering industry is a plus.
www.globalchoices.co.uk

Global Vision International
Volunteers can either undertake whale and dolphin research in the straights of Gibraltar (though based in Spain) or help integrate the bearded vulture in Andalucia.
www.gvi.co.uk

InterExchange
Au pair and teaching placements to Spain for Americans.
www.interexchange.org

Interspeak
Internship placements in a variety of industries.
www.interspeak.co.uk

Involvement Volunteers
An Australian organisation that places volunteers around the world including to Spain. Non Australians welcome to apply.
www.volunteering.org.au

International Conference Volunteers
Long term volunteer opportunities in ICV's offices in Spain.
www.icvolunteers.org

Languages Courses Abroad
Spanish courses across Spain with options for those under 16 too. A Spanish and work placement programme may also be available through LCA's partner organisation, Apple Languages.
www.languagesabroad.co.uk

Mast International
The MAST Experience Abroad programme, from the University of Minnesota provides qualified individuals the opportunity to travel to Spain to gain practical hands on experience in agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness, forestry or related areas. This cross cultural experience living and working in another country helps young people develop a global perspective and a broader understanding of the world. Over 6000 trainees from more than 65 countries have participated in the MAST International programme. Applicants should be aged 18 to 30.
mast.cfans.umn.edu

Operation Mobilisation
A Christian organisation, Operation Mobilisation works in more than 100 countries, motivating and equipping people to share God’s love with people all over the world.
www.uk.om.org

Paws-Patas
Animal shelter that offers work placements and volunteer work in Almeria.
www.paws-patas.org

Placement Finders
Source and select quality work experience positions in Spain for European undergraduates.
www.placementfinders.com

Proyecto Oasis
Internships in Spain without organisation fees. They help students and universities to find opportunities in Spain in the fields of tourism, social work, administration, marketing and communication.
www.aulapolis.com/oasis

Pueblo Ingles
Volunteer work at an English speaking village in Spain. Volunteers help create an intense immersion programme for Spanish language students by promising never to speak Spanish during their seven day stay in the village. In return, volunteers receive free accommodation, food, and a bus ticket to and from Madrid.
www.puebloingles.com

Retreat Holidays
Alternative workshop holidays in a stunning mountain location in southern Spain. Includes a short working holiday option, called 'Work and Play' where participants stay for a discounted price in exchange for 2 and a half hours work per day.
www.retreat.es

Serlac
Paid jobs, au pair work and internships in Spain.
www.serlacexperience.com

Sunseed Desert Technology
At Sunseed research, education and ecological living are uniquely combined. Take part in research into appropriate technology, semi-arid land management and organic gardening, learn about sustainable living and become part of a vibrant community for as long as you want. Either pay to take a working holiday in an idyllic Spanish village or apply to become part of the staff and receive a small weekly allowance.
www.sunseed.org.uk

Twin Training & Travel
Twin has a working holiday designed for European Union residents looking to further their Spanish language skills in the Spanish hospitality industry. The programme is available year round for between two and six months. Jobs are in hotels, guesthouses, campsites, restaurants and bars and applicants should have an intermediate knowledge of Spanish. Native English speakers, including from outside the EU, also have the chance to stay with a Spanish family and swap language skills through the Language Assistant programme.
www.twinuk.com

UNA Exchange
UNA Exchange promotes and supports international understanding, cultural exchange and community development whilst at the same time enabling volunteers’ personal growth and development.
www.unaexchange.org

Volunteer Action for Peace
A UK based charity organisation which works towards creating and preserving international peace, justice and human solidarity for people and their communities. Typically the work will involve either social work with the elderly, disabled or teenagers or renovation work.
www.vap.org.uk

Volunteers for Peace
An American international volunteer organisation that sometimes has placements to Spain.
www.vfp.org

WWOOF Spain
The Spanish branch of the global organic farm volunteer movement.
www.wwoof.se

YMCA International
The YMCA's Go Global programme places Americans at YMCAs around the world. In Spain, the YMCA is looking for camp counselors/English teachers. The volunteers will live in a YMCA hostel and work in a day camp programme providing supervision service for young children between the ages of eight and 13. Basic skills in Spanish are required. An estimated stipend of US$75 per week is provided. Staff training and orientation are provided at the site.
www.ymcainternational.org

>>Full List of Gap Years by Country
>>Live, Work & Travel in Spain