Anita in Tenerife

I started my volunteering project in Tenerife on 15 January 2026, at HECANSA in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During my six-month experience, I had the opportunity to gain insight into both the operation of the school and the day-to-day functioning of the hotel. This made the experience particularly valuable for me, as I was able to learn not only about the educational environment, but also about the practical side of the hospitality industry.

From the very beginning, the staff and students at HECANSA were incredibly kind, welcoming and attentive towards me. I always felt that I was part of a positive and supportive atmosphere. I am especially grateful to my coordinators, who provided me with all the support I needed throughout the program. We successfully managed the local registration and all the necessary administrative procedures, and I always felt that I could turn to them whenever I needed help.

The teachers at the school were flexible and open to my previous professional experience and qualifications. One of my favourite activities was giving a presentation about emotional intelligence and its importance in the hospitality industry. I particularly appreciated that the host organisation recognized my existing qualifications and professional experience as an advantage and gave me the opportunity to contribute based on my background. This made me feel valued and allowed me to share my knowledge while also learning from others.

I spent most of my time ,,working” at the reception, which became one of my favourite parts of the project. I really enjoyed ,,working” with my colleagues and interacting with guests. It was a great opportunity to develop my communication skills in real-life situations, to solve unexpected problems and to become more confident in a professional environment.

I am also very grateful for the opportunity to gain experience in Gran Canaria. This allowed us to see a broader perspective of the Canary Islands and experience different aspects of the local environment and culture. During the program, we also had the opportunity to visit hotels and a winery, which were experiences that I believe will stay with me for a lifetime. Beyond the professional and educational aspects, the program gave me so much personally. I made meaningful friendships, became more independent and, as I like to say, became a little more “Canarian”. :D

This six-month experience has been one of the most defining periods of my life. It changed me in many ways and gave me a connection to the Canary Islands that I had not expected when I arrived. Today, I can honestly say that during this experience, I found a place that feels like home.

Of course, there were occasionally questions or uncertainties among the volunteers, but I believe that these were all successfully resolved through open and honest communication. I cannot highlight any particular negative experience, as even the challenging moments ultimately contributed to my personal growth and taught me how important communication and understanding are in a multicultural environment. The food provided during the program was never a problem for me either. In fact, now that I have finished the program, I genuinely miss my usual breakfast omelette!

Hosting organisation:

HECANSA (Hoteles Escuelas de Canarias SA) is a public company of the Government of the Canary Islands (Ministry of Tourism) whose objective is to contribute to the strengthening of the competitiveness of the tourism sector in the Canary Islands, by training and promoting the professionalization of its human resources and their companies. HECANSA is a training center and a professional school that offers Dual Vocational Training, using a methodology that allows students to be trained by acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge applied from day one with real clients.