By Ombretta Di Dio

Ever dreamt of swimming in the bluest of the seas in a wonderful Mediterranean island covered by green vegetation, mountains, cliffs and surrounded by an incredible light sanded coast? If you have ever considered spending your summer vacation in Greece, kissed by the sun and with a belly full of delicious gyros, feta cheese and fresh salads, then Cephalonia (Kefalonia) might be your lifetime chance to enjoy a wonderful natural environment while helping amazing sea creatures survive in their earthly habitat.

The famous Loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta used to have miles and miles of uncontaminated beaches to procreate on, the Katelios Group for the Research and Protection of Marine and Terrestrial Life monitors the population of these incredible exemplars on the main nesting site of Kefalonia: Mounda Beach.

In order to keep their 25 year activity going, this Group of Research relies on volunteers from all over the world. The minimum stay requirement is one month and the best time frame to help out is during the hottest months of May-October. The average working days lasts only 5 or 6 hours with a weekly full day off, which leaves an incredible amount of time to soak up some rays, explore the amazing island of Kefalonia and enjoy the nightlife and the finger-licking food. The majority of the job will occur during the night.

One way to apply is through the European Voluntary Service, a program that funds people between 18 and 30 years of age to volunteer for these activities. All the expenses for this trip will be fully covered (travel, accommodation, food, insurance) and whoever decides to join will even receive a small monthly allowance.

If you’re truly interested and you think Greece could be a great option for next summer, you will find everything you need to know about this project, as well as an application form, on this website.