HOSPITALEROS VOLUNTARIOS

What are hospitaleros voluntarios?
They are ex-pilgrims who return to Spain or France, to volunteer to care for pilgrims in the traditional, donativo (for a donation) pilgrim shelters.

Do they pay their own way?
Yes - they are volunteers and as such, pay their own fares to Spain and transport to the place where they will serve.  They will be given a bed and some board.

Is the hospitalera given meals?
In towns and villages where the hospitalera provides meals, she is a part of the pilgrims and has all meals in the albergue.  In some places, where she doesn't cook, she might be offered meals at a particular café-bar or restaurant.
In Portugal - at Alpriate - you stay in the labergue but pay for your own meals.

How long do they serve for?
The normal length of time is 15 days - either for the first 15 days of the month or the last 15 days.  One day includes handing over. 

What do the hospitaleros do?
It depends on which 'albergue' you are assigned to and where it is.  If it is in a large village or town with facilities like shops, bars, cafes or restaurants, the hospitalera doesn't do any cooking.  Some albergues in remote areas are quite small.  eg: Eunate which only sleeps 7 pilgrims and here the hospitalera is responsible for the running of the albergue.  She will shop and cook meals for the pilgrims and provide breakfast. She will also keep the albergue clean, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing toilets, kitchen and sweeping yards. 
Some albergues can sleep up to 200 pilgrims (eg: Ponferrada) and here a team of hospitaleros will register the pilgrims, assign beds, show them where to do their laundry, oversee the use of the kitchen, advise on church services etc.
All hospitaleros are trained to welcome pilgrims with caring, compassion, tolerance, and kindness.  Pilgrims are almost never turned away (excepting if the insurance cover only allows for a specific number of people) and all are accepted as equal.  In most of the donativo albergue pilgrims cannot book beds ahead and it is first-come-first-served.

How can I become a volunteer?
All volunteers need to have walked at least one Camino pilgrimage, and they must do a short course, devised by HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) which is a part of the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago.  HOSVOL only trains and provides volunteers to the donativo hostels, not to any private hostels or hostels that charge pilgrims for staying in their shelters.

Where do I train?
This year (2014) training courses are being held in different countries:

Spain:  contact hosvol@caminosantiago.org or anahosvol@caminosantiago.org
Zaragoza  7, 8 and 9 March
Logroño   4, 5 and 6 April
Córdoba   25, 26 and 27 April
Bilbao      9, 10 and 11 May
Cercedilla 30 and 31 May and 1 June

Canada:  contact tomfriesen@hotmail.com
Blog:  http://canadianhospitaleros.blogspot.com
Calgary ( Alberta ) 14, 15 and 16 March
Toronto ( Ontario ) 21, 22 and 23 March
Victoria ( C. B. Canada) 11, 12 and 13 April
Toronto  14, 15 and 16 May
Italy: contact anahosvol@caminosantiago.org or  hosvolitalia@caminosantiago.org
Sarzana  14, 15 and 16 March . Full
Troia  11, 12 and 13 April
Valpromaro  2, 3 and 5 May
Germany: contact  kuni.bahnen@gmx.de 
Limburg (Germany ) 21, 22 and 23 March
France: contact herve.haller@gmail.com  
Montréal du Gers (France ) 28 , 29 and 30 March

South Africa: nilsens@mweb.co.za 
Cape Town, 1st and 2nd March

United States: contact hospitalerotraining@americanpilgrims.com
www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/hospitaleros.html
Belleville, Illinois, Tuesday, April 1 - Thursday, April 3

United Kingdom:
The Confraternity of St James run two albergues in Spain and do training for their members wanting to serve in those albergues.
Contact them here for more info:  http://www.csj.org.uk/gaucelmo.htm

How do we find a post?
Once you have done a short training course you will be given a HOSVOL application form.  You can request a particular albergue that you like, or one in a location that suits you, or leave it to HOSVOL to place you where they need you most. 

Modern or traditional albergues?
The most up-market, modern albergue with all mod-cons can be an empty pilgrim experience if the hospitaleros are not kind, welcoming, compassionate and caring.
The most basic albergues, some with no beds, electricity or even running water but served by the most compassionate, welcoming and caring hospitaleros, will remain in the pilgrim's memory for ever.  You have the opportunity to impact on the pilgrims' experience by making memories for them simply by following the ancient Benedictine Rule of welcome and hospitality. 

Giving back can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do on the Camino.  You are still a part of the peregrino stream but you are the rock that the pilgrims find to rest and restore before they move on. 

All courses for new hospitaleros are posted on the website of the Spanish Federation of Amigos of Camino de Santiago http://caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/hospitaleros/cursos.asp