Greece is one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating countries. With thousands of years’ worth of rich history locked in its soil, a wealth of wildlife and archaeological sites galore, it’s a great place to head if you’re looking for a top volunteering experience. In recent months, the dire state of the Greek economy has been widely reported, with many companies struggling under the strain. While looking for paid work is unlikely to yield positive results at present, volunteering opportunities are soaring in popularity.

As a volunteer here, you would have the chance to make a real difference to the lives of those affected by the downturn. Animal shelters are in great need of willing visitors to come and help them take care of the hundreds of abandoned animals that owners can no longer afford to keep. Alternatively you could head over and teach English to young students and children whose access to these lessons has been hugely impacted by the recent cuts to the Greek education budget. Similarly, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the communities of Greece and help the disadvantaged elderly and youth groups in towns.

For a more traditional voluntary experience, you might be interested in the wildlife and conservation projects that are going on throughout the country. Marine turtles are populous in the area and there are always projects looking to take on willing volunteers to help maintain the habitats of these beautiful creatures. If you’re not into marine biology, you could look into the donkey rescue project going on over on Corfu. Additionally there are several opportunities for keen archaeologists to take part in digs free of charge all over Greece during the summer months. A quick search online will yield a number of leads to follow, and it is advisable to find a company who can help you with the process of finding a position.

Top places to volunteer include Athens, Thessaloniki and Prespes. In order to save money, you could invest in a bike while you’re there to navigate the streets for free, or use the public transport. Try to limit your spending on nights out; if you’re hoping for some holiday time, why not do that before you start your voluntary work? This is a great way to get acquainted with the country and to ease your way into the Greek lifestyle.

For UK nationals hoping to head off in search of a volunteer experience, there’s the added bonus of flights for holidays to Greece from Scotland taking between four to six hours and trips from Southern England taking around three hours without a stopover. Should friends and family want to visit, they could do so with absolute ease. And really, how could they resist the idea of popping off to this gorgeous Mediterranean haven for a week of relaxation in the sun?