Fight food waste volunteering in Portugal

Project description

795 million people around the world are suffering from malnutrition - meanwhile, roughly one third of all food produced globally is going to waste each year. This project aims to reduce food waste and hunger, through collecting unwanted food and distributing it to those who need it.

Each day, volunteers visit supermarkets, cafes, bars and restaurants to collect unwanted food, or food that is about to go past its sell by date. This food is then taken to a distribution centre for preparing into meals. Once the food preparation is done, it is distributed amongst homeless people or those living below the poverty line.

About 500 homeless people in Lisbon are being fed each day thanks to these efforts.

Volunteer tasks

• Food collection from various food outlets around the city
• Unpackaging, preparing, storing and repackaging food for distribution
• Distributing food to the homeless at the centre, or delivering food to those who are unable to collect it

Project highlights

• Promote sustainability through this volunteer project
• Help to reduce the amount of food waste in the world, both on the project but also when you get home
• Help homeless people and those living below the poverty line to sustain themselves
• Live in the buzzing city of Lisbon - enjoy the stunning beaches, great food, amazing wine, ancient monasteries and city life

Accommodation and food

You will be living in possibly the most eco-friendly guest house in Lisbon. The accommodation is just 30 minutes from the city centre, in a quiet residential area. You will be sharing accommodation with other volunteers.

Important things to know about the accommodation are:

• Every effort is taken to avoid single use plastic - ranging from food packaging to toiletries packaging
• Any plastic that cannot be avoided is shredded and then reused
• Three yummy meals are served each day. Any food that is wasted will either be composted or be donated to the homeless

Free time
You will be working on the project Monday - Friday, either on a morning or afternoon shift. This working pattern means that you have plenty of time to improve your Portuguese, explore the local area and get to know your fellow volunteers. You will have weekends free to explore the local area including the beaches, Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and more.