Sixty young people were praised last week by the High Sheriff of Shropshire in UK at this year’s Outstanding Young Citizen Awards, including a young man who has contributed to animal welfare efforts in Greece for an entire decade.
Public uniformed services student Mitchell Knight was one of ten Telford College students whose community work has been acknowledged in the awards.
Named overall Outstanding Young Citizen winner for Telford and Wrekin, the young volunteer was the biggest winner of the night, his college announced with pride.
UK student helps save strays on Greek island
Since 2015, Mitchell has volunteered with Healing Paws and Zante Strays in the Greek island of Zakynthos, Greece.
The two charities are devoted to rescuing dogs and cats from the streets, providing urgent medical treatment, rehabilitation, and rehoming them safely around the world.
Famous among most international tourists primarily as a party island, Zakynthos is also known for its brimming wildlife and boasts a vibrant community of animal welfare volunteers.
According to the BBC, Mitchell was introduced to the two charities by his aunt while on a family holiday on the island in 2016, and he has been visiting Zakynthos once a year ever since.
“We will either help in their shelters, cleaning up or building new ones and taking food, treats and toys over,” he says of his work as a volunteer.
Greek strays charities in need of volunteers
Besides helping at the shelters, Mitchell and his family have brought back 16 dogs to the UK, to get them rehomed. They are currently looking after eight strays from Zakynthos at their own Newport home.
Mitchell’s Telford College tutor Craig Stockman said his student is “an exceptional volunteer whose dedication, compassion, and tireless commitment to both people and animals makes him truly deserving of recognition.”
If you feel inspired by Mitchell and his peers’ story, maybe you can lend a helping hand too, either on Zakynthos or in one of many stray charities across Greece.
Cat charities on the Cycladic island of Syros, for istance, recently announced they were seeking “fit, mature, healthy, and independent” volunteers for long-term stays of at least one month.