Listing summary: This post shares 5 grassroots groups looking for volunteers to support refugees in France, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Typical tasks include cooking, food distribution, basic services (showers, laundry), and practical support. Minimum stay varies by group, from short-term help to one month or more, so check each link before applying.
Refugee programs – Here are 5 groups that support refugees in France, Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. To continue their important work, they depend on volunteers’ support.
Tasks are often practical and hands-on: cooking, distributing food and material aid, supporting camp services (showers, clothes, washing), and sometimes healthcare plus legal or social support. Special skills are welcome but not always required, and you can often learn on the ground.
Before you go
In general, you should respect everyone, take your work seriously, and be ready for emotionally intense situations. Minimum time commitments vary from one day to four weeks depending on the group and location. If this is your first time volunteering in refugee support, it can be a good idea to start in France (for example in Calais) before going to the Balkans, where the situation can be very tense.
If you cannot join in person, many groups also need donations to keep their work going. You will also find two organizations at the end that you can support from wherever you are: Balkanbrücke and Seebrücke.
The five groups currently looking for volunteers
1) Refugee Community Kitchen (Calais, France)
A community kitchen in Calais serving warm meals and supporting people on the move. Volunteers can help with kitchen work (chopping, cooking, washing up), driving, sorting storage, and general logistics. Check the current requirements and how to apply here:
https://www.refugeecommunitykitchen.com/volunteer
Video link shared in the original post:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=155259369370961
2) Utopia56 (France)
Utopia56 runs different projects in France. Day-to-day tasks can include distributing food, clothes, sleeping bags, and supporting access to healthcare plus legal or social help. Minimum time depends on the location and project, so check their pages and get in touch directly:
3) Collective Aid (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and France)
Collective Aid supports people on the move by facilitating camp services (showers, washing services), and providing food, safe water, and essential material aid. Minimum stay is often longer-term, so read their volunteer information carefully:
https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/volunteer
4) ComPass 071 (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
ComPass 071 supports people living in or transiting through Sarajevo. They run a community centre where people can take showers, wash clothes, and get food. For details, email them with a short description of yourself:
volunteer.compass071 AT gmail DOT com
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ComPass071/
5) No Name Kitchen (Šid, Serbia and Velika Kladuša, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
No Name Kitchen works in border areas and focuses on food distribution and practical services such as washing, showers, and support activities that can include medical first aid and legal support. Because border contexts can be stressful, they often prefer volunteers with relevant experience and a longer stay. Check their contact page here:
http://www.nonamekitchen.org/contacto/
Alternative help from home 💻
Balkanbrücke
Balkanbrücke is a German-speaking organization sharing information about the situation of people on the move along the so-called Balkan route, and supporting projects on the ground.
Website: https://balkanbruecke.org/
Contact: info AT balkanbruecke DOT org
Support page shared in the original post: https://balkanbrueckesupports.org
Donation link shared in the original post: http://gf.me/u/y69kut
Seebrücke
Seebrücke is an international movement in solidarity with refugees, calling for safe routes and humane reception. One way to help is to join a local group.
https://seebruecke.org/en/local-groups/
Contact details 🔍📧
Refugee Community Kitchen: Volunteer page
Utopia56: Website
Collective Aid: Volunteer page
ComPass 071: volunteer.compass071 AT gmail DOT com | Facebook
No Name Kitchen: Contact page
Balkanbrücke: Website | info AT balkanbruecke DOT org
Seebrücke: Local groups
Please note: This post can become outdated quickly. Locations, minimum stays, and application steps may change at any time. Always confirm the current needs, safety guidance, and volunteer requirements directly with each group before traveling.
Source note: The original text credits Julia F. from our FB group, and mentions that the first picture is the property of No Name Kitchen.
Ethical volunteering reminder
Voluntouring.org promotes opportunities rooted in cultural exchange and mutual learning. Before applying, ask yourself: is this a fair exchange, or could it replace paid labour? Choose consciously, ask questions, and make sure the experience is respectful, safe, and aligned with your values. Always check visa requirements and local laws before travelling.