The volunteers will support the new roofing of the historic wooden shingle roof of the shaft and administration building of the Alte Elisabeth mine. They will produce a kind of handmade shingles that are traditionally used in the Ore Mountains region. Volunteers will split of the shingles from logs (spruce or larch), will provide them with a groove. The participants will be qualified to produce wooden shingles and get familiar with the typical regional roofing. In addition, the volunteers will support the roofing works that are carried out in the same time. The works will be lead by a carpenter who is specialised in traditional wooden shingle roofing. At Lichtloch VII the participants will restore the capping of the wheel chamber with gneiss stones. The capping of the wall remains have suffered from weathering and several stones are missing; the arches of the openings are not preserved.The participants will sort and square the rubbles stones for the walls, prepare the surrounding area, reconstruct the arches and complement missing parts. The stones will be embedded in mortar and the recessing joints will be filled in using small stones to supplement the walls of the wheel chamber up to twenty centimetres and grout the capstones for the brick wall's top edge.
Accomodation & food:
shared rooms with beds, warm showers, toilets,The meals will be prepared together as they are part of the community life, what means that everybody will be responsible for the meal at least once during its stay. So it would be very nice if you could bring typical recipes from home in order to introduce each other to the preparation of food from all over the world.
Location & leisure:
In 1168, the first discovery of silver ore in Freiberg had a profound and lasting effect on the development of the region. Located in a Central European mountain range the region has played a major role at certain times in the output of tin, silver, cobalt, caolin and uranium in a global context. The rich ore deposits gave the region its name Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). Mining was for centuries the key industry forming an exceptional transboundary mining cultural landscape with all its typical surface and underground installations, mining towns and natural features as well as the associated intangible values. The mine Alte Elisabeth in Freiberg is part of the Himmelfahrt Fundgrube mining system, the largest ore mine in the Freiberg area and the most productive mine in the history of the Ore Mountains. The Alte Elisabeth mine's surface buildings are located on a large waste heap mesa tiered since the early 16thcentury overlooking Freiberg town. In 1848, the shaft was given a steam gin system, which has been preserved along with most of the equipment, including the historic steam engine. The building complex covers the hoisting house, machine house and power house, the chimney with smoke flue, the sorting house added to the hoisting house, which was since 1856 used as a prayer room, and the mining forge building. In 1936 a separate building was erected to house the Schwarzenberggebläse, a blowing engine, from 1831, a masterpiece of mechanical engineering built in gothic style. The heritage-listed underground workings of the Alte Elisabeth, with its important water wheel chamber, are connected to the headings at other shaft complexes at various levels. Soon after mining ceased in 1913, the Alte Elisabeth shaft complex including selected underground areas was taken over by the Freiberg Mining Academy for teaching purposes.The Rothschönberger Stolln (Rothschönberg drainage gallery) is regarded worldwide as the final point of the technological development of trans-regional water-adits. Constructed from 1844 on, it is the most important and deepest lying adit system of the Freiberg mining district still in operation today. Eleven Lichtlöcher (shafts) were deepened to advance the gallery. Located on a large heap, the Lichtloch VII is a well-preserved example of these shafts including the hoisting house with adjacent wheelhouse, the mine forge and the powder house. Today, a local mining club carefully maintains the site and presents it to the public.
Requirements:
Motivation letter related to the project and CV + photo required
Age:
18-35
Location:
Freiberg
Language(s):
English, German
Airport:
DRS: Dresden (Dresden, Germany)Vegetarian food will be available
Support the work of a youth educational centre by improving their outdoor facilities! You will mainly work in the green areas around the centre. You will cut grass and bushes and clean the ground of the centre. Additionally, you will construct a bread-oven, which will be used for different educational activities with youngsters.
Accomodation & food:
You will stay in several wooden tepees for five persons each. Mats are provided. In the centre you will have your own kitchen and living room and sanitary facilities. There are perfect conditions to spend your free time: billiard, plenty of outdoor facilities (barbecue and campfire, basketball, a rope course, football, volleyball…). The public swimming pool is just nearby.
Location & leisure:
Kell am See is a village 30 km from Trier in a beautiful landscape. The area is well known for cycling, walking and other ways of outdoor activities. The local holiday resort offers more than 200 holiday bungalows next to a lake (close to the educational centre). But also people from the area come here for cycling (there is a 45 km cycling path on a former railway roadbed) or to spend a nice day outside. The region also offers plenty of historic sites (castles, museums….). You will also get the opportunity to come in contact with local associations as e.g. the local voluntary fire brigade. Be aware though that public transport is poor during the weekend, so the number of excursions will be limited. However, you will be able to visit the city Trier for sure, which is famous for its Roman sites, the cathedral and the birth place of Karl-Marx.
International volunteers are invited to improve the grounds of a nice leisure centre. Tasks are likely to include construction and renovation works. One of the most important works will be renovating the animal enclosures. Another task will be finishing the work of last year's workcamp, designing the recreation room with pool, darts and so one. Other environmental and construction works outside and inside are possible, please be open for any other work. Interest in artisanship and creativity are welcome!
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation:You will live in the guesthouse. Up to 5 volunteers will share a room, bed linen will be provided. The group will have its own common room.
Food:
In the guesthouse there is a kitchen for the group. Please be prepared not only to cook there, but also to clean up afterwards! This will be done by the kitchen team of your group. Volunteers have to cook the meals for themselves, the food will be provided by the guesthouse. Ideas for cooking are welcome. Please bring anything for cooking (special spices, receipts or food) with you.
Location & leisure:
If you are interested in history you will have the chance to learn a lot about the region and the fortress. You can travel to Weimar, which was the well known working place of Goethe and Schiller. Another nice city is Erfurt, the capital of the federal state Thuringia. You could go for a boat trip on the river Saale or just enjoy the natural environment while walking around the area.Please be aware that you will be in a very rural area from where it is quite difficult to get away (for shopping etc.). But there are very nice people in the village who are interested in meeting you.
Setting up a permaculture garden. You will contribute to the local strategy of keeping the village alive by setting up a permaculture garden. Permaculture is a system of agricultural principles centred on simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. This garden will be used as a community garden and an educational garden for children. A team of professionals is planning the exact outline of the garden in spring. Tasks of the workcamp will be to prepare the ground, to remodel the terrain, build small paths and maybe a pond, set up compost heap and a bench, plant trees and bushes and much more. The permaculture garden will be part of the local leisure area about 500m from the village centre.
Accomodation & food:
You will be hosted in the village's community centre. There is enough space for the group to sleep, as well as a kitchen and toilets. Showers are nearby. The accommodation is right in the middle of the village next to the church and the local pub (with its own brewery!).
Location & leisure:
Mannebach is a very small village of 350 inhabitants not far from Trier, close to the border of Germany and Luxembourg. The surrounding area is quite touristic. In Saarburg (6km) you can find all the infrastructure you need, such as shops and many attractions (swimming pool, ruins of a castle, waterfall, historic city centre, a summer toboggan run, a chairlift…). There is also a holiday resort with 150 holiday bungalows. Mannebach is surrounded by a beautiful landscape, perfect for hiking and other outdoor activities. The number of excursions will be limited, but for sure Trier with the famous Roman sites, the cathedral and the birthplace of Karl Marx can be visited.
« The most beautiful thing about volunteering obviously is the people you meet… the helpfulness the understanding…there is always someone who puts a plate of food in front of you if you say you are not hungry and not in the mood, or gives you a pep talk or simply a hug. »
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