The volunteer carers share in the work involved in the care of primates. The tasks include collecting and preparing the food, the cleaning of the animals' sleeping areas, construction and maintenance of the installations, organizing enrichment activities, food preparation and feeding of primates and keeping ethological records about their behavior. Volunteers must available five days a week for six months. After working at the sanctuary for 2 or 3 months, volunteers have a certain degree of responsibility for the day-to-day care of the primates. Occasionally, volunteers are required for other kinds of work such as attending to visitors, gardening, administrative tasks, etc. Conditions of work The volunteers' work is guided and supervised daily by the head carer and/or expert carer. Three or four persons are required to carry out the work of caring for the primates. From all applications received, a selection is made (which is announced 2 months before the start of each period), and the selected volunteer will have one trial month from the start of his/her stay. The lengths of volunteer stay are determined according to the needs of the centre.

More Information

Work schedule

Volunteers are required to work five days a week. On some occasions they are asked to work six or even seven days a week. Days off may vary and are not always consecutive. Holidays, such as Christmas or Holy Week, are considered normal days.

The normal schedule runs from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm and from 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm. This schedule may be longer in summer and shorter in winter. The volunteers may be asked to take guard duty when an animal is under observation.

Experience

Previous experience in another recovery centre for primates or another animal care centre is very welcome but not essential for acceptance at the Fundación Mona sanctuary.

Other essential factors are: commitment to the aims and philosophy of the foundation, freedom to work five days a week for six months, high motivation to work with few resources and under adverse climatic conditions, excellent physical and psychological health, knowledge of Catalán, Spanish, English or French and ability to finance the stay at the Foundation.

Persons who have already worked with primates may opt for the possibility of three-month stays.

The MONA Foundation offers the chance for students to learn business practices at our centre, where they will receive training as carers for primates. An agreement between your institution and our centre is required for this option.

Accommodation

The volunteers must arrange their own accommodation as well as pay for their own food and transportation. The centre offers communal spaces for work, with changing rooms, showers, washing machine and a place to eat or rest with coffee, tea and water. There is a refrigerator, microwave, and internet access. Each worker must bring their own food.

Cost

The help provided by volunteers is incalculable, and it is thanks to them that the centre could be set up and operated. No wages are paid, but we value your help and encourage you to join our project as members (5 euros per month) to help make it possible for many of the projects to continue in the long term.

One month before the incorporation of a new volunteer, he or she will need to deposit a bond of 100 euros which will be refunded upon completion of their stay.
 

How to get to the Mona Foundation

How to apply for a volunteer post