The borough of Béthisy wishes to promote the full involvement of young people in the town’s life. A youth council is in operation in the town, a youth service organises a variety of activities and so on. This third international workcamp in a row will be a wonderful opportunity to develop more exchanges and participation between young people from France and the international volunteers. The town is eager for the arrival of the volunteers.
Work:
In the inner part of the town stands a dungeon in ruins, erected on a hill. The main goal is to make the dungeon accessible to the general public by undertaking light masonry work in order to reinforce the ruins.
Location:
Béthisy Saint Pierre is located in the surroundings of the Forest of Compiègne, in the charming “Vallée de l’Automne” (Autumn Valley).
Accommodation:
Camping in tents at a campsite.
Meeting point : Crépy en Valois train station (SNCF).
Project: Montendre is a village of 3000 residents which hosts international volunteer workcamps every year and which serves as the location of the international hosting center of the Poitou-Charentes region: La Maison des Bateleurs. This village is the home of several volunteer associations looking to increase the number of partners they work with. La Maison des Bateleurs also works in this capacity and regularly collaborates with hosting structures for children in difficult social situations, either in terms of their family situations or in terms of physical handicaps. These exchanges are regularly organized along with young people from an IMP (Medical and Pedagogical Institute)--over the course of the workcamp or activity. Work: The project consists of repainting the metal grilles of the surrounding wall of la Maison des Bateleurs as well as those of the neighboring golf course. The golf course and la Maison des Bateleurs regularly participate in exchanges. Volunteers will begin by cleaning, polishing, and then repainting the grilles. Certain grilles will have to be replaced entirely, a task which would require the straitening, cutting, and welding of metal. The iron work will be completed by the volunteers. Leisure activities: It will be possible to organize different excursions and discoveries of the region; to visit Bordeaux, the ocean, and experience local culture and sports, occasionally in activities organized by the young people of an IMP. Accommodation: collective, under tents at la Maison des Bateleurs Situation: Montendre, Charente Maritime, 75 km from the sea between Bordeaux and Angoulme Nearest train station: Montendre Participation fees: 150 for international volunteers and 300 for French volunteers.
Project: This project is a collaboration between the association Vir'Volt and the town council of Roissy-en-Brie, who want to engage their community, particularly its younger members, in international volunteering and exchange. As such, the council has decided to construct a graffiti park, a specially designed area in which graffiti artists can legally practise their craft. The work will take place in the town's park, Le Parc des Sources, which is located in the centre of the community, and there will be at least four local young French people taking part in the camp as full-time volunteers. Work: The central focus of this work camp will be to construct the walls on which people will later be able to practise their graffiti. The walls will be made from breeze blocks and the work will be supervised by a technical leader. When the graffiti park is completed it is possible that the volunteers will be part of the first group to tag the walls which they have built. Leisure activities : Volunteers will be able to take advantage of the skate park which is right next to the proposed location for the graffiti park, as well as the 'Roissy Beach' which is constructed in the park every summer to bring a taste of the seaside to the town. Otherwise, volunteers will be given the opportunity to meet and socialise with local people and to explore the surrounding area. Accommodation: Volunteers will sleep in separate dormitories in a gymnasium (on camp-beds); please bring a sleeping bag. Location: The town of Roissy-en-Brie, 25km east of Paris, in the Seine-et-Marne region. Closest train station: Roissy en Brie RER Note: This project should not be seen as a sightseeing trip to Paris. If participants wish to visit Paris, they should arrive some days before or leave some days after the dates of the summer camp. As this is a camp for adolescents, there will be three camp leaders instead of the usual two. Participation fees: 150 for international volunteers and 300 for French volunteers.
The village of Lestiac-sur-Garonne is situated by the river Garonne. In another time Lestiac had two docks for the transport and the fishing boats and there was a lot of activity in this river. Today, some friends, in love with the river, have decided to rehabilitate the dock for the respect of its history, with the support of the municipality. A huge work (but always with good spirit) has been started by the volunteers of the association « La Cale » (the dry dock). Everything is set by them so that everyone can have active participation in the renovation of the dry dock and create strong links with the river Garonne heritage. The project created by Concordia with the community of villages of Vallon d'Artolie, Lestiac and the association « La Cale » will enable the renovation of local heritage and motivate the exchanges between local population and international volunteers. Several exchanges will be organised between local youth and the workcamp.
WORK:
You will participate in the restoration of a dry dock of the river Garonne. Traditional masonry work.
ACCOMMODATION:
You will sleep in tents on a carpet, with an access to bathrooms and kitchen. The collective living conditions are simple and the temperature may fall during the night, so be sure to bring a warm sleeping bag.
LANGUAGE:
English and French.
LOCATION:
Lestiac is located 33 km from Bordeaux.
TERMINAL:
Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station.
SPECIAL REMARKS:
Bring a warm sleeping bag, work shoes, rubber boots (your feet will be in water very often) sport shoes and warm clothes. Small rural town, no public transport: you have to love nature and walking to join this camp. http://www.lestiac.com/
Bassens is part of the urban community of Bordeaux but with vineyards and so much green areas that you don't feel so close to a big city! Bassens has a rich and ancient history which you can recognise by the built heritage. The Domaine de Beauval has a castle from the 18th century with a chapel, a farm, a windmill, a wash house, etc. The city hall bought this Domaine to create in the future a cultural centre.
For the 1st year, the project developed with Concordia will help restoring the retaining wall of the church and encourage the exchanges between local people, young and international volunteers.
WORK:
You will participate in the renovation of a wall at the beautiful Domaine de Beauval. Traditional masonry work is waiting for you.
ACCOMMODATION:
Sleeping in tents on floor mats, access to bathrooms and kitchen. The collective living conditions are simple and the temperature may fall during the night, so be sure to bring a warm sleeping bag.
LANGUAGE:
English and French.
LOCATION:
Bassens is located at 12 km of Bordeaux.
TERMINAL:
Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station.
SPECIAL REMARKS:
Bring a warm sleeping bag, work shoes, sport shoes and warm clothes. You have to like nature and walking to join this camp. http://www.ville-bassens.fr/
The city and the district planning authority (Pays Saint-Pourçinois) will welcome you in the castle of La Motte, for its first international workcamp. The outbuildings of the castle, located in the middle of the park, are now welcoming a day camp, for children from 3 to 10 years old. Behind the dining hall, an empty grass space will be developed as a wooden camp place, where animations and "campfire nights" will be held. You will also take part in the day camp activities and discover the surroundings.
WORK:
You will construct and lay « rondavelles », which are big picnic tables who will be covered to protect them from the sun and heat. These tables will be built in wood and the work be done manually. For this you will learn carpentry techniques. In addition, to the first project, you will be offered to plan animations and games from around the world for the city's children.
ACCOMMODATION:
In two-person tents (boys and girls separated), collective life in the outbuildings of the « Château de la Motte »,, at your disposal an educational kitchen. On the weekends, tent camps (boy and girls separated) will be organized in Chantelle.
LANGUAGE:
English.
LOCATION:
The castle of « la Motte » is located a few kilometers away from Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, in the district of Allier, heart of the Bourbonnais region. Small town of 5 000 residents, Saint-Pourçain spreads along the river Sioule in a lovely countryside landscape. You will be able to practice several nature activities. The Saint-Pourcinois, the inhabitants of Saint-Pourçain, are well-known for their conviviality and their sense of hospitality!
TERMINAL:
Vichy train station. Airport: Paris or Lyon.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Bring working gloves, clothes and shoes, plus hiking shoes, a mat, a backpack and your swimsuit.
SPECIAL REMARKS:
For more information have a look at: http://www.payssaintpourcinois.fr/ http://www.allier-auvergne-tourisme.com
The Municipality of Saint-Cyr-Favières offers the renovation of an old wash-house that has been used until 1970 and the work will be carried out over two years (2014 and 2015). This year the group of volunteers will participate in this mission, acting in the field of the environment. The project also aims at providing awareness of local youth to participate in the development and enhancement of the village's heritage.
WORK:
The volunteers will start the restoration works of the wash-house nearby the village, cutting weeds, removing some parts of the ground to make the old masonry reappear, removing and classifying stones.
ACCOMMODATION:
In tents.
LANGUAGE:
English and French.
LOCATION:
The village of Saint-Cyr-de-Favières is a rural village in the Loire region, located at 9 km from Roanne and 80 km from Lyon, in a hilly and greenery landscape that has several points of views on the plain of Roanne.
TERMINAL:
Roanne train station.
SPECIAL REMARKS:
Bring working gloves, good walking shoes, warm clothes, a good sleeping-bag and a backpack.
This year again, we will have a workcamp in Nailloux. This environmental workcamp will be a great opportunity for international volunteers to organise numerous meetings with local youth and with youth from local inclusion projects. Web address www.nailloux.org
Work:
The work is not yet defined. Remember to take low price safety shoes with you.
Accomodation & food:
You will install, with the support of the leadership team, a camp for everyday life, with a big tent for the kitchen, and your sleeping space with tents. On each one of our workcamp in South West France, we provide a base of organic products. The food products are bought locally. We choose them for their quality and they respect the health of the participants and the environment. This choice supports local economic development, by activity of small producers, market-gardeners, cheesemongers, stockbreeders. It will be the opportunity of educational visits valorising the artisanal production, at human size! The meals will be cooked in teams, each day different. Bring your recipes! We will ask for the active participation of all for both the dish washing and cleaning.
Location & leisure:
On your arrival, leaders will propose several activities; your ideas are welcomed and everything can be discussed. So be imaginative, the workcamp is a place for having fun! We dont expect you to do activities on your own, you will live an experience in a group ! This workcamp is centered on volunteering and educational leisures. Education to citizenship, intercultural education through meeting and participation in local festive events.
Requirements:
Bring gastronomic specialties from your country and cultural items (flags, photos, music ... etc). You will present your country and these features when you organize intercultural evening for the farewell party.
« The outside world did not interfere, because it seemed so distant, and so we spent our spare time getting to know each other and learning about each other countries', languages and cultures. Everyone was completely relaxed. This simply would not have been possible on any other type of holiday. VAP enabled me to have a truly memorable experience. »