ESC European Volunteering 2026

Where: Orgiva, La Alpujarra, Granada, Spain. 

When: 59 day placement (plus 2 traveling days). January 18th to March 19th 2026. Short term placement 

What: Regenerating Sierra de Lujar 

Who: 12 motivated young people (18 to 30) who reside in program and partner countries. 4 of these places are available to volunteers on a national level (Spain) 

More information on program and partner countries can be found here: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/countries-covered_en 

Hosting Organisation: Asociación Semillistas (esc@semillistas.es ) 

DESCRIPTION of Organisation

Semillistas is a non-profit association working since 2018, located in the mountainous rural area of Granada – Las Alpujarras. The association’s aim is eco-social regeneration with their main objectives being; 

EARTH CARE: to stop desertification and climate change through reforestation and regeneration of lands eroded by fires, human action and climate change while using innovative techniques of direct sowing of native forest species.

PEOPLE CARE: holistic care and promotion of mental and physical health of the volunteers and the general population. 

COMMUNITY CARE: promote a participatory, empowered, cohesive and resilient society that take care of their environment.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: sustainable development and repopulation of

rural villages, creation of new economies, heritage conservation, cultural visibilization, maintenance and care of the land.

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN OPEN SOURCE

Roles of Volunteers

Volunteers will be part of the ongoing investigation and establishment of regeneration through direct seed sowing. Volunteers will dedicate from 30 – 38 hours weekly to the project. Free time is on the weekends and there are a few hours in between activities during the day which are mainly used for resting. The activities include: 

• Reforestation activities 4 mornings a week: sowing seeds in Sierra Lujar, harvesting seeds, building seed protectors, creating and digging swales and survival counts of previous plantings. 
• Participation in lectures and workshops once a week about sustainable lifestyle, regeneration, permaculture, deep ecology, project design…etc. 
• There will be an emphasis on self (health) care practices 3 days a week in the afternoon: yoga, qi gong…etc. In addition, once a month each volunteer will receive a body-care treatment which they can personally choose from a list of professional practitioners around Orgiva. 
• Community care. Volunteers will be guided in co-living. This includes group meetings, organisation of the week, shared responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning, logistics, emotional circles, conflict management and participating in a sustainable lifestyle, learning how to minimise the impact on our environment.
• Each volunteer will have a mentor with which they can meet one afternoon a week to discuss the wellbeing, development and learning path. 
• During the placement, the volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and practice Spanish, live the Spanish cultural norms (eating later) as well as practice their English. The OLS platform provided by the ESC will also facilitate the learning of these languages. There will be lectures and workshops in Spanish and several environments are Spanish speaking, so we encourage motivation to want to learn the language and be comfortable with language barriers. 

TRAINING DURING THE ACTIVITY 

Knowledge in regenerating landscapes, skills in direct sowing techniques, community living precepts, cultural awareness, responsible consumption, ecology, permaculture, health, self care and body care, basic vegetarian cuisine. 

ACCOMODATION, TRANSPORT, FOOD

Food and accommodation, small allowance and travel costs to and from the destination ( we encourage volunteers green travelling)  costs will be covered by the ESC

The activities will take place in Orgiva and surroundings, Sierra Lujar. Orgiva is a town with a lot of diversity of activities and culture.

Volunteers will be hosted in shared accommodation in the Albergue of Orgiva. All meals will be bought and cooked by the volunteers on a rotational basis and will be vegetarian, the expense of food is covered by the association with a weekly budget. Meals will be eaten together. 

Transport to and from the Albergue to the reforestation site will be with electric bicycles provided by the association and is an integral part of the program. You will be expected to maintain, fix and be responsible for the bike throughout your stay. 

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE 

Basic level of English and Spanish desiderable

Physically motivated – as the activities require strength and stamina to be up in the mountains on steep slopes and overgrown (prickly) areas. 

Motivation and Interest- in the topics of regeneration, eco-sustainability, environment, healthy lifestyle, personal development, interculturalism, community life.

Disposition to dialogue- among the participants, with organisations, with the mentors, with the rural area and with the host community

Flexibility, team work- willingness to participate in group dynamics for team cohesion and personal growth. 

Self- responsibility and self-organisation initiative, we provide information and resources, however it is up to the volunteer to engage in it themselves. 

In taking this short term ESC you are still compatible for long term placements. 

APPLICATION:

For more information about the project visit: www.semillistas.es, 

If you feel the call, we encourage you to read carefully all the detailed information of the project on our website.
You can sign up through filling out our inscription form: 

https://forms.gle/F2cwu27FUfrfW6NH8

Closing applications on 22nd of September