In the last workcamp with the help of a local artist benches of encounter have been designed and a big mural has been created on the wall of a construction site trailer in the local kindergarden. This year we are invited to be even more creative: In the entrance of the local church, there is a picture as memorial in remembrance of the killed German soldiers of 1st World War. We will be asked: How can arise a perspective for peace and reconciliation out of the past? We will discuss the militaristic and nationalistic approach of this memorial. The artist Ulrike Speckmann will help us to create another picture as a reflection and the result will be shown also in the entrance of the church. For information about the artist please visit http://ulrike-speckmann.de/. In addition to this artistic activities it is foreseen to plant a herb garden with the help of an experienced gardener. To contact the different social groups of the parish, from children to the older generation, is wished for, and part of the workcamp. Study part: How to tackle the subject peace artistically, local history as starting point of an international movement.
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation: The participants will be accommodated in the modern community center of Datteln Etienne-Bach-Haus . Please bring sleeping bag. Camp beds and pillows will be provided.
Location & leisure:
Leisure time: Excursions to local places of interest, like the crossing of 4 channels and other sites. Region: The town Datteln is part of the mining region in the north of the Ruhr area with approx. 35 000 inhabitants in the federal state Nordrhein-Westfalen. Four waterways for shipping traffic are crossing in Datteln. The river Lippe and the region Munsterland are nearby. Next bigger towns are Recklinghausen, Dortmund and the very nice and famous students town Munster.
We are invited to help in the care and preservation of this ancient monument. We will work 5 hours daily, to do painting and cleaning inside or to maintain the garden around the castle. In the garden kind of work depends to the season, usually it is harvesting fruits, cutting trees, bushes and hedges.Every year Bedheim castle is part of the nationwide event called day of the open monument . The castle will be opened in the weekend for guests and we can support with doing some service and show an artistic performance. In the last years volunteers showed a dance and played piano music. There will be the possibility to take on day of during the week as compensation.Study: We may learn more about the following topics: natural beauty of the environment. We can make excursions to places of cultural and historical interest (e.g. Weimar, the city of Goethe and the concentration camp Buchenwald). We can have discussions and lectures about German history, society, culture and politics (the German East-West border was only 9 km away from Bedheim). There will be the possibility to encounter with young people of the region and getting to know more about the countries of the participants.
Accomodation & food:
Bedheim castle offers a simple group accommodation. Meals will be prepared by us (less meat but a lot of very good vegetables and fruits from the nursery). Warm water is provided from solar collector.
Location & leisure:
Bedheim castle is located in the west of Thuringia, close to the Bavarian border. Next bigger town is Coburg (28km away). Bedheim is surrounded by the extraordinary beautiful Franconian landscape.
Requirements:
Some basic knowledge of German or English is recommended. Please bring rain and working clothes (rubber boots) as well as swim suits. Please bring a sleeping bag, slippers, towels and warm pullovers with you. You can also bring a map, pictures or special food items from your country.
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »
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