Impactrip in Athens

ImpacTrip is a certified B Corporation—a third-party verification that the company meets high standards of social and environmental performance.

What you can do in Athens (programs & minimum durations)

ImpacTrip’s Athens opportunities cover both social and environmental causes. Current options include:

• Food Rescue — 2-week minimum; works with community kitchens and shelters to redistribute surplus food.

• Ethical Fashion — 4-week minimum; supports upcycling and distribution with local nonprofits serving refugees and survivors of trafficking.

• Unhoused Support — 1–12 weeks; field and office support for NGOs providing meals, hygiene, and basic services. F

• Migrants & Refugees Support — 4–12 weeks; engagement through sports, arts, and social-café operations.

You’ll also find Community Support, Digital for Change, and Animal Care listings for Athens; check ImpacTrip’s destination page for current details and pricing. As with any program, prices and availability can change, so confirm before you book.

Most Athens programs include: airport pickup on Sundays, shared hostel accommodation, three daily meals (with vegetarian/gluten-free options on request), arrival orientation, a guided Athens city tour, placement coordination, and 24/7 support. Not included: flights, travel insurance, local transport to projects, and private rooms (extra cost if available).

Why these projects matter in Athens

• Food insecurity & waste: Athens faces real need—recent reporting estimates roughly 10% of Greeks are not adequately fed, while surplus food still goes to waste. Food-rescue projects help bridge that gap.

• Refugee inclusion: Athens has welcomed many refugees; local centers and social enterprises rely on volunteers for arts/sport activities, social cafés, and community life. I

• Homelessness: Economic shocks and migration pressures have increased homelessness; NGOs need hands for outreach, meals, laundry stations, and admin support.

• Responsible tourism context: Athens’ visitor numbers are rising fast, bringing housing and crowding challenges; authorities have even moved to freeze new short-term rental licenses in parts of central Athens. Choosing impact-focused travel and staying with ethical providers is one way to tread lighter.

A typical week

Volunteering is generally 2–5 hours/day (morning, afternoon, or evening shifts), leaving plenty of time to explore the Acropolis, wander Plaka, or catch sunset on Lycabettus. Weekends are free.

Who it’s for (and not for)

• Great fit if you value structure, hands-on tasks, and learning from local NGOs.

• Minimum age is usually 18+; English is the working language. ImpacTrip

• Programs require flexibility: you’ll support priority tasks that week, not just a single “ideal” role.

• Do your homework: Read each program page carefully; match tasks to your skills and stamina. (E.g., Ethical Fashion can include factory-style sorting or machine sewing; Food Rescue involves lifting, sorting, and distribution.)

• Budget smart: Beyond program fees, plan for local transport, insurance, and free-time activities.

• Be a good guest: Athens is the “birthplace of democracy” and a living neighborhood city—respect residents, support small businesses, carry a refillable bottle, and avoid adding to peak-hour congestion at major sites.

https://impactrip.com/volunteering/unhoused-support-athens/

https://impactrip.com/volunteering/animal-care-3/

Internship at Impactrip in Athens

Monday 15th September, I started my internship at Impactrip in Athens. I met up with Alkisti the coordinator working on-site here. A new group of volunteers had just arrived the day before to Athens, staying as Hawks Urban Hostel in Sepolia. I met up with the new volunteers and listened to the introduction they got to Impactrip and details about their placements. After the meeting we had lunch at the hostel, greek timing meaning from 14-16 pm! In the evening I joined the group on a guided tour of Athens city center.

Tuesday 16th September, I started my day at 8.30 am meeting up Alkisti and volunteers, to introduce this person to one of their volunteering organisations Caritas (see section below on Caritas). The volunteers filled in some papers and started their shift.

Alkisti and I went to meet up with another volunteer and walk to the next placement. This was Ithaca laundry van, we saw a gathering of people, laundry bags, the van with 2 laudry machines and 2 drying machines. Today the organisation was also distributing school kits for families with children starting school. (see section below on Ithaca Laundry Van).

Afterwards we went back to the hostel for to take new volunteers to the ANIMA animal shelter. Here we got a tour of the facilities and got to see many animals at the shelter (see section below on Anima).

After the tour at ANIMA, we went back to the hostel, had lunch at 14 pm and I went home for some rest. We met up in the evening at 18 pm, where we went with new volunteers to a cat shelter. This journey took a while as we went on a bus to another part of town. Here an old lady takes care of homeless, injured, sick cats, provides them food and caring. This place receives very little support from the authorities and the lady told us a lot of the cats die due to illness.

Caritas Athens (Κάριτας Αθήνας) — Meals, Support & Volunteering in Athens

Caritas Athens (Κάριτας Αθήνας) is one of the city’s longest-running faith-based charities, part of Caritas Hellas and the global Caritas network. Their teams serve people facing homelessness, food insecurity, and displacement—offering hot meals, clothing, social services, and street outreach across central Athens.

What Caritas Athens does (core services)

• “Meal of Love” soup kitchen: Hot meals Monday–Friday for 200+ people daily.

• Clothing, bed linen & basic household goods: Semiweekly distributions for adults and children.

• Food support: Monthly food parcels or supermarket vouchers for low-income families.

• Homeless outreach: A volunteer Homeless Team supports people living around Syntagma and Omonia with food, clothing, and essentials.

• Volunteering & training: Caritas relies on local and international volunteers and provides basic training; roles include soup kitchen support, day center assistance, clothing distribution, storage, admin, translation (EN/FR/AR/FA), and pro-bono legal/medical help.

• Impact snapshot: since the refugee crisis began (Aug 2015), Caritas Athens reports serving over 1,000,000 people through its actions (to Oct 2021).

How you can help

1. Volunteer: Submit the online form to select shifts (weekday mornings) and roles—from soup kitchen to admin/translation. Read and accept the Caritas Code of Conduct when applying.

2. Donate funds: Financial gifts sustain meals, food vouchers, and emergency aid; Caritas offers online donation options.

3. In-kind donations: High-need items include clothing, bed linens, and basics; check current lists before delivering.

Who they are (the network behind the work)

Caritas Athens is a state-recognized NGO under Caritas Hellas, the Catholic Church’s charity in Greece and a member of Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis (active in 165+ countries). Their website also lists ISO 9001:2015 quality certification.

Quick FAQ

Do they serve only refugees? No. Services target anyone in need—refugees, migrants, and Greek citizens—based on vulnerability.
Can I just show up to help? No—apply first and wait for confirmation; some activities require set shifts or skills.
Is there Caritas beyond the city center? Yes—Caritas Hellas runs additional “Social Spots” and projects across Greece.

Sources

Caritas Athens — Home/Contacts, Meal of Love, Clothing Distribution, Homeless Team, Volunteering/Volunteer Form. Caritas Athens

Ithaca Laundry Van in Athens: Clean Clothes, Real Dignity

Athens has a simple, powerful idea on wheels: a mobile laundry van that offers free washing and drying to people experiencing homelessness. Run by the NGO Ithaca, the project began in 2015 and launched Europe’s first mobile laundry unit in 2016. The goal is practical and humane—clean clothes, better health, and a path back into community and work. I

How the Ithaca van works (quick facts)

• The custom van is equipped with two washing machines and two tumble dryers; services are free of charge thanks to donors and partners.

• Beyond laundry, Ithaca also creates paid transitional jobs and provides job counseling to help beneficiaries re-enter the labor market.

Where to find the van this week (Athens area)

Ithaca publishes a live Operating Schedule. As of the latest update:

• Mon: UNESCO Club of Piraeus & Islands (Piraeus) — 10:00–14:00

• Tue: Koumoundourou Square (central Athens) — 10:00–17:00

• Thu: Koumoundourou Square (central Athens) — 10:00–17:00

• Fri: Equal Society (Alikarnassou 49) on specific Fridays 10:00–13:00; UNESCO Club (Kotioron 35, Piraeus) on alternate Fridays 10:00–14:00.

• Wednesday service currently supports Korinthos (outside Athens). Schedules can change—always check Ithaca’s homepage before you go. Ithaca Laundry

Why it matters (documented impact)

• Ithaca’s hygiene services now total 9,000+ beneficiaries, 35,000+ visits, and 170+ tonnes of clean laundry returned. On a typical month they support ~100 people, completing ~300 loads (~1,400 kg). Ithaca Laundry

• During the pandemic, Ithaca also set up a fixed laundry point at the Municipality of Athens’ Multipurpose Homeless Centre to serve residents there. Ithaca Laundry

Volunteer, donate, contact

• Volunteer: Fill out Ithaca’s short online form to join shifts with the mobile unit. Ithaca Laundry

• Donate / partner: Support via Ithaca’s website; corporate partnerships help cover fuel, detergent and maintenance. Ithaca Laundry

• Contact: Chanion 2A, 112 57 Athens | +30 211 0016043 | info@ithacalaundry.gr

FAQ

Is Ithaca really the first mobile laundry in Europe?
Yes—founded in 2015, Ithaca launched Europe’s first mobile laundry unit in 2016 (inspired by similar work in Australia).

What’s inside the van? How many loads?
Two washers + two dryers; capacity varies by day and demand. (Ithaca reports ~300 loads/month citywide.)

ANIMA (Athens): Where to Call for Injured Wildlife in Greece

Athens has a dedicated wildlife first responder: ANIMA – Hellenic Wildlife Care Association. Founded in 2005, ANIMA takes in 7,000+ wild animals every year—from owls and hedgehogs to foxes and tortoises—treats them, and releases them back to nature. wild-anima.gr

What ANIMA actually does

• Rescue, treatment, rehabilitation & release of wild animals from all over Greece, including rare and protected species.

• Licensed facilities: a First Aid Station in Kallithea (Athens) and a full Wildlife Care Centre in the Municipality of Saronikos (Attica).

• Special operations: field rescues (e.g., deer near Parnitha, snake removals in urban sites), fire-response missions, and oil-spill wildlife response training for volunteers.

• Education & citizen science: school programs and “Paratiro” (Observe), a nationwide project collecting data on injured/dead wildlife to reduce threats.

• Science that informs policy: ANIMA’s long-term dataset underpins peer-reviewed research on threats and treatment outcomes in Greece (Journal for Nature Conservation, 2023).

• 2025 snapshot: ANIMA reported 1,600 admissions in May and 2,125 in June, showing both the scale of need and public trust in their services.

If you find an injured wild animal (anywhere in Greece)

1. Contain safely: Place the animal in a ventilated cardboard box lined with paper; keep quiet, dark, and temperate (warm in winter, cool in summer).

2. Do not feed or give milk/alcohol. Species-specific diets are critical; wrong food can kill. Call ANIMA immediately for guidance.

3. Chicks: Many “abandoned” chicks have parents nearby. Send ANIMA a photo and wait for instructions before intervening.

4. Tortoises with cracked shells: Move gently to a box, rinse dirt with lukewarm water if needed, cover with gauze/cloth, and contact ANIMA.

5. Other centers: ANIMA can link you with the nearest specialist (e.g., MOm for seals, ARCTUROS for bears/wolves, ARCHELON for sea turtles).

Where ANIMA is (Athens & Attica)

• First Aid Station (drop-offs): 134 Menelaou St., Kallithea 176 76 (near Tavros railway station).
  Phone: +30 210 951 0075 | Mobile: +30 697 266 4675 | Email: wildlifecare@gmail.com.

• Wildlife Care Centre: Municipality of Saronikos (licensed under decision ΕΠΕΝ/ΔΔΔ/54344/1692, 17/5/2023).

Volunteering (who it suits & what you’ll do)

• Ages: 18+ (or 13–17 with parental/guardian consent). Work is hands-on and demanding.

• Typical tasks: cleaning and feeding at the Kallithea First Aid Station; helping at outdoor rehab sites (Kalývia Thorikoú & Diomedes Botanical Garden); transport from ports/bus stations/airport; assisting at public events; field releases or habitat clean-ups.

• Training provided by ANIMA staff and vets; spring–summer needs are highest.

How to support ANIMA

• Donate: one-off gifts, annual supporter subscriptions, symbolic adoptions, or in-kind items (check current needs).

• Institutional backing: donors like the Stavros Niarchos Foundation have funded operating costs for ANIMA’s Attica facilities—another signal of credibility. (snf.org)

Partners & rehabilitation network

• Collaborations for species care and releases include Alkyoni (Paros) for large waterbirds and non-public areas at Attica Zoological Park when needed. ANIMA also coordinates with national agencies on power-line bird safety and anti-poaching seizures. (wild-anima.gr)

Quick contacts

ANIMA – Hellenic Wildlife Care Association
Menelaou 134, Kallithea 176 76 (Athens)
T: +30 210 9510 075 | M: +30 697 266 4675 | E: wildlifecare@gmail.com (wild-anima.gr)

Sources & further reading

ANIMA official site — Profile, Facilities, First Aid, Volunteer, Support pages; News (2025 admissions). (wild-anima.gr)
Scientific research: Vezyrakis A. et al. (2023), Journal for Nature Conservation — “Two decades of wildlife rehabilitation in Greece.” (wild-anima.gr)
Grantmaker profile: Stavros Niarchos Foundation donation entry for ANIMA (Attica facilities). (snf.org)