Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "construction" projects in France

You will help in the rehabilitation of the walking trails of the park: weeding, bush clearing.You will also build outdoor furniture creating welcoming spaces in the outside for an area dedicated for the local youth that will be joining the project.

You will be housed in tents with a collective room available for cooking and different activities. The estate will provide you open air living rooms to enjoy your free time out in the sun. http://www.domaine-de-la-frayse.fr/

The Frayse's estate is located 15km away from Bordeaux in Fargues-Saint-Hilaire, just next to Entre-Deux-Mers region. This area is well-known for its vineyards between Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Not too far south are Marmande and Langon, to the West Bordeaux, Libourne in the North, and Bergerac in the East. You will be charmed by the ancient cities, the mills and castles around.

Please bring a good sleeping bag, working clothes, sport shoes, warm and rain clothes, a flashlight, a swimsuit and sun cream. Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

17-99

Fargues-saint-hilaire

English

BOD: Merignac (Bordeaux, France)This project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

This workcamp is the ideal place if you wish to be introduced to the dry stone technique. Built without cement and from local stones, the construction of this Keyhole garden will then be filled with soil to accommodate varied plantations. The site will be prepared by our partner, who will host its first international voluntary workcamp. During these tasks, it will be necessary to carry stones which may be heavy. Think about bringing closed shoes.

Indoor accommodation in the communal lodging situated in the Castle of Castrevieille, below the Maison du Parc. Think about bringing your own sleeping bag. You will share the different collective tasks and will prepare the meals together. A budget will be allocated to the camp leaders and you will participate in the shopping and preparation of meals, privileging healthy and local products.

Jaujac (1,200 inhabitants) is situated in the department of Ardèche in the region of Auvergne Rhône Alpes, 15km away from Aubenas and 40 km from Privas. It's a touristic and typical municipality of Ardèche, built on the slopes of an old volcano which is today covered with chestnut trees. It is traversed by the river Le Lignon. Numerous hiking routes are accessible from the municipality and its surroundings.

Think about bringing gloves, as well as clothes and shoes which you don't mind getting dirty. Don't forget your sleeping bag! Bring also suitable clothes for rainy weather and for hiking (sweaters, jumpers, raincoats…). Hiking shoes will be useful to discover the region. Don't forget sun protection (caps, sunglasses, sun-cream…) and a swimming suit. Convivial times will be programmed in collaboration with your camp leaders and according to your wishes. If you want to share your own culture (food recipes, traditional stories, peculiar objects, music…), don't hesitate to take a small piece of your country with you!

18-99

Jaujac

EnglishThis project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

You will rehabilitate part of a municipal square to promote its beautification. You will work on the pavement and build a low wall in order to redevelop the square. Work in the heart of the village, in a beautiful setting.

You will be accommodated in tents. You will have access to showers and toilets. The group will share the cleaning tasks and prepare meals together. You will prepare the meals in shifts and participate in the organization of the collective life (planning, cleaning, shopping, etc.). We will encourage the purchase of local and seasonal products.

Luz Saint Sauveur is in the Hautes-Pyrenees County, south-west of France near the pilgrimage city of Lourdes. It is close to the most beautiful natural sites of the Pyrenees Mountains: the Midi Peak, the Gavarnie circus, the Bridge of Spain, the Neouvielle natural park, and many lakes of the Pyrenees national park. The beauty and diversity of this county presents a great historical, architectural and environmental interest.

Bring working clothes, gloves, and closed shoes. Bring a warm sleeping bag, as nights might be cold due to the altitude and we may also sleep in the mountains. To enjoy the mountains, bring your trekking shoes. For the brave ones who want to take a dip in the river, bring your swimming suit. Do not hesitate to bring activities from home such as photos, games, musical instruments, etc.Foreigners from the European Union must bring their personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and all participants must bring their insurance certificate. If health issues arise during the program, volunteers will need to cover all costs; they will be reimbursed upon their return to their home country.

18-99

Luz-saint-sauveur

EnglishThis project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

Your assignment will include clearing the marshes from vegetation and cleaning the south-western part of the marsh. You will help to develop the peninsula at the entrance of the marsh and to create a new pathway from there to the "Moulin de la Voiselle". You will also build wooden birdhouses.

You will be staying at the local camp site in two-person tents (bring your sleeping bag and sleeping mat), the group activities and meals will take place under a marquee. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate in the preparation of dishes with good products from the market and local producers. You will also get some fresh products from local vegetable production from the marsh.

Bourges is the third biggest city in the Centre-Val de Loire region, located in the department of Cher (18). This city of Art and History is rich in historical heritage and listed natural areas. You will discover lots of monuments in the city-center: the Saint-Etienne Cathedral (registered UNESCO World Heritage), the Jacques Coeur Palace, the timber frame houses and other particular buildings. You will also discover natural areas, parks and gardens, water areas with particular birds.

open mic nights and concerts, visits and exhibitions around local medieval heritage…Leisure activities, like boat trips for example, will be planned during the workcamp.

Please bring gardening gloves, working shoes and working clothes. Remember to bring a sleeping-mat, a warm sleeping bag and warm clothes, as nights can be quite cold. Don't forget to bring clothes for rainy weather as well as sunscreen, mosquito repellant and your swimming suit (no board short for boys). You can also bring board games, musical instruments or any other object you want to share with the group. Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

18-99

Bourges

EnglishThis project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

With the support of technical staff, you will work on 3 projects appointed to you by the municipality:•Preparation for re-plastering an indoor wall of the Tremblay church;•Creation of 2 book-huts built from pine pallets;•Construction of wooden gardening containers according to the project « Incroyables Comestibles » (French branch of the international network, Incredible Edible).

You will be accommodated in tents in front of the Halle des Sport Didier Parpillon at the Raoul Villot stadium just next to the city center. Bring a warm sleeping bag as nights can be chilly. The kitchen, toilets, showers and the living space are indoors at the Halle des Sports where you will also have indoor shelter in case of bad weather. You will participate in the preparation of meals using products that will be purchased on site. We will promote local products as well as short transportation routes. Tastings of local specialties may also be organized with local producers.

La Motte-Servolex (11,500 inhabitants) is a town located in the department of Savoie, in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It is attached to the agglomeration of Chambery less than 10km away. Thanks to the motorway network, Lyon and Geneva are respectively 1h20 and 1h from La Motte-Servolex. You will have access to many leisure activities (outdoor cinema, swimming at Lake Bourget, bike ride ...) in both urban and mountainous landscapes.

The municipality will provide you with gloves, reflective vests and safety goggles for work. Remember to take closed clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. Bicycles will also be available for daily trips. It is necessary to know how to ride to fully enjoy your stay. Nights can be cold, so remember to bring a warm sleeping bag and possibly an additional floor mat for your comfort. Social activities are already programmed! If you want to share your culture (recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects ...), do not hesitate to take a small piece of your country in your backpack!Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen during the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

18-99

La motte-servolex

EnglishThis project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

During the workcamp, international, French, and local volunteers will take part in different works. On the pedagogical farm, you will learn how to renovate some old farm machinery. You will also build some eco-friendly installations in the hosting centre of the association: systems to collect rainwater and dry toilets, for example. You will practice wooding and construction.

You will sleep in collective tents on the campsite of the association. Please bring along a sleeping bag with you. The campsite has bathrooms and showers, as well as a kitchen place. Food will be provided and cooked by the volunteers in turns.

Location: La Ferté Alais is approximately 50 km south of Paris, in the region of Essonne.

You will have the chance to enjoy the association's campsite and discover the cultural and natural heritage of the region, alongside its natural park. You will also be given the opportunity to mingle with local young people. Other leisure activities will be organised collectively depending on the wishes of the group and the available budget.

15-17

La ferté-alais

English, French

CDG: Charles De Gaulle (Paris, France)

In the process of reconstructing the church's wall, you will first deconstruct and then rebuild the parts of the northern wall that are the most damaged. You will clean the stones that are in good condition.

You will be accommodated in 2-person tents, boys and girls separately (bring your own sleeping bag). You will have access to cooking facilities. Volunteers will share the different collective tasks and will prepare the meals together. A budget will be allocated to the group leaders; volunteers will participate in the grocery shopping and in the preparation of meals, using healthy and local products when possible.

Sames is a small commune in the north-west of the department of Pyrénées Atlantiques, 35 km away from Bayonne. Although its origins and history are Gascon, Sames is now considered to be a part of the Basque Country. The commune is therefore special in this part of the Southwest: it is part of a "pivotal" country located on the borders of the Basque Country, Béarn and Gascony. You can enjoy the water park of Sames or you can take part in fun sports activities such as paddling, water ski, water slides and many more!

Bring a warm sleeping bag, work clothes, comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing and rain gear, a flashlight, a swimsuit and sunscreen.If you wish, you can bring musical instruments, recipes, games and/or specialties from your region or country.

18-99

Sames

EnglishThis project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

The objective of this project will be to clear the site and wall as well as strengthen it,in accordance with the historical importance of this site. To do so, you will help getting rid of unnecessary vegetation and get to protect and reconstruct the wall.

You will be accommodated in tents in pairs (please bring your own sleeping bag). Boys and girl will be separate. The local football club will be at your disposal for cooking facilities and everyday life. Volunteers will share the different collective tasks and cook together. A budget will be allocated to the group leaders; volunteers will participate in doing the grocery shopping and in the preparation of meals, using healthy and local products when possible.

Located on a rocky peak overlooking the Charente, the village of Taillebourg has a rich historical and architectural heritage (it is the location of a former medieval fortress with a strategic river port) and has a well-preserved natural environment. The landscape is made of plateaus and valleys with many farmlands, forests and marshes.

its panoramic terrace, park, moats, church, medieval alleys, the remains of the castle, the gardens below the ramparts and a Roman roadway. You can also enjoy local sports and leisure activities: hiking, horse riding, cycling, fishing, different water activities, petanque, and football. Located half an hour away from the Atlantic Ocean, the summer weather should allow going to the beach during free time!

18-99

Taillebourg

English

BOD: Merignac (Bordeaux, France)This project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available