CYA offers students the opportunity to enrich their semester abroad by combining academics with meaningful hands-on experiences. We help dozens of students arrange internships, research projects, and volunteer opportunities in Athens. CYA students have done everything from shadowing doctors and assisting at research centers to serving at local soup kitchens and caring for donkeys at an animal refuge.

Participating in an internship or volunteering is a powerful way to gain professional experience, deepen cultural understanding, and build friendships and networks while in Athens. CYA is also a Bonner-Approved study abroad program, which means Bonner Leaders & Scholars can fulfill their required community service while studying abroad at CYA in Greece.

Options for internships, volunteering, and research span a wide range of fields, including: refugee aid, soup kitchens, environmental groups, animal welfare, special needs education, film and theater, writing and editing, libraries, museums, art galleries, marketing and advertising, non-profit organizations, and research centers at local universities.

Click here to read our student volunteer stories

CYA has a strong network of contacts in Athens. Below are just some of the organizations and placements with which we collaborate. Tasks vary according to each organization’s needs at the time of application.

– MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles) – Protects sea turtles and their habitats through research, policy work, public awareness, and conservation projects across Greece and the Mediterranean.

– NINE LIVES GREECE – Feed and care for stray cats in Athens.

– ELIAMEP (Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy) – Students typically assist with policy-related research or support the organization’s social media and communications work.

– WE NEED BOOKS – A multicultural library and cultural center in Kypseli whose mission is to enrich lives and empower communities by providing free and equal access to knowledge, fostering social inclusion, and promoting interculturalism. Students volunteer by teaching English to young learners in creative ways, cataloguing books in an online database, researching content warnings and genre specifications, and translating between English and Greek.

– MELISSA NETWORK – Provides supportive services to migrant and refugee women and their children. Volunteers may assist in the day-care center or support other activities.

– HERAKLEIDON MUSEUM – An interactive cultural center focusing on the achievements of the ancient Greeks. Volunteers assist English-speaking visitors, guiding them through exhibitions and providing context for the tours.

– MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF ATHENS (ATHENS CITY MUSEUM) – Housed in Greece’s first royal palace, this museum showcases Athens-related artifacts from antiquity to the 19th century. Volunteers may help digitize archives, work on research projects, or give tours in English.

– HELLENIC CHILDREN’S MUSEUM – Designed for children, parents, and teachers to explore and learn together. Volunteers set up play stations and facilitate activities such as a model supermarket, bubble station, and cookie making.

– PASTRY FAMILY – A local pastry initiative offering a great opportunity for students passionate about baking to experience the workplace culture in Athens and learn more about everyday Athenians.

– BOROUME – A non-profit organization reducing food waste and fighting malnutrition. Volunteers collect surplus produce from farmers’ markets and distribute it to people in need — a hands-on way to contribute and meet Greek peers.

– ANIMA – The largest wildlife care and rehabilitation organization in Greece. Volunteers assist at their Kallithea center with cage cleaning, food preparation, and grooming for injured animals, especially those affected by summer wildfires.

– MUSEUM OF CYCLADIC ART – A world-renowned museum dedicated to Cycladic culture and ancient Greek art. Volunteers may support exhibitions, educational programs, and visitor services.

– ENDEAVOR GREECE – Part of the global Endeavor network supporting high-impact entrepreneurship. Students may assist with research, events, or communications, gaining insight into the Greek start-up ecosystem.

…and many more! For a full list of current opportunities, including placements at university research centers, please contact Angela Kouvara, Student Affairs Advisor at CYA.