Why Summer Volunteering is Perfect for Students - Collegiate

Another year at uni ticked off! Well done. Now you can enjoy a fabulous summer volunteering in Spain. Maybe you’ve tried your hand at landing an internship, or planned a trip away with friends, or maybe you just want to do something different with your summer.

If you’re looking for a way to stay productive, meet new people, and make a real impact (without the pressure of a 9-to-5), volunteering could be exactly what you need.

It’s flexible, meaningful, and a great way to explore your interests while giving back. Whether you’re staying in Madrid for the summer or just settling in as a new international student, volunteering offers a fresh way to build your skills, boost your CV, and connect with your new community.

What Is Summer Volunteering and Why Is It a Growing Trend?

Volunteering during the summer is all about giving your time and energy to a cause or community project. The world of volunteering is huge, with something for everyone.

Whether you’re helping out at a local sports club, volunteering at a summer school, or supporting a cause you care about like sustainability or education, your summer experience can be as unique as you want it to be.

More and more students are embracing volunteering because it’s flexible, fulfilling, and can fit into a short summer break without any long-term commitments. It’s also a great way to step foot into different kinds of industries.

Benefits of Summer Volunteering for International Students

Volunteering is an ideal way to spend your summer, especially if you’re settling into a new city like Madrid. Unlike internships, which can be competitive and require specific qualifications, volunteer roles are typically easier to access and offer you freedom to choose how much time and energy you want to commit.

Personal Development and Soft Skills

Just like an internship, volunteering helps you build real-world skills that employers value:

Teamwork
Time management
Leadership
Problem-solving

It shows initiative and a willingness to learn, traits that stand out on any job application. Even if your volunteer work isn’t directly related to your future career, the soft skills you develop are highly transferable.

Enhance Your CV with Meaningful Experiences

Your volunteer experience doesn’t just look good on your CV – it gives you stories to share during interviews and networking events. If you’re considering a shift into a new field or just starting out, volunteering offers hands-on experience that makes your profile stand out.

In fact, over 42% of employers said that seeing voluntary work on a CV would make them want to interview an applicant. This actually ranked higher than basic IT skills (39%) and having a degree (34%)!

This is because volunteering is more than just work experience, it’s a reflection of your values, passions, and ability to take initiative.

Let’s say for example, you decide to volunteer for Ecologistics in Action, a charity that engages in several sustainability initiatives from lobbying to litter picking. Nowadays, more and more companies are appreciating the value of sustainable business practices and are searching for like-minded individuals. With this on your CV, you won’t just be able to share the skills learnt on the projects you’ve worked on, but will also be able to demonstrate that you share the same values – and this is something that not many candidates are able to do.

Expand Your Network and Learn About New Cultures

Volunteering in a new country opens the door to meeting locals and other international students. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of Spanish culture and make connections that can lead to friendships, jobs, or future collaborations.

Volunteering in Madrid and Spain: Nearby Opportunities from Collegiate

Madrid is full of volunteer opportunities for international students. Here are a few popular areas where you can get involved:

Working with the elderly
Supporting human rights
Assisting migrants
Helping with education, tutoring, or childcare

Organizations like Serve the City Madrid and BocaTalk are great places to start. If you’re interested in language exchange or teaching, Community ESL runs programs that’s looking for helpers all the time.

How to Find and Choose a Summer Volunteer Program

Start by asking yourself what you’re passionate about. Do you love kids? Care about environmental issues? Want to improve your Spanish by teaching English?

Here’s how to begin:

Search online: browse the different kinds of opportunities out there until you find something that piques your interest.
Check university notice boards: Local universities and student groups often post volunteering opportunities.
Reach out to organizations directly: Many welcome volunteers all year-round, especially during summer when people often go on holiday and help is needed most.
Ask fellow students: Word-of-mouth can lead you to some hidden gems.

Spend Summer with us at Collegiate Madrid

At Collegiate Madrid, student accommodation is more than just a place to sleep, it’s a space designed for comfort, community, and convenience. With stylish en-suite studios, high-speed Wi-Fi, on-site gyms, and social areas, you’ll have everything you need to live and study in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities.

Whether you’re relaxing in the private cinema, hitting the study lounge, or meeting fellow students at community events, Collegiate offers a premium living experience that helps you feel right at home in Madrid from day one.