Natural reserve and museum site Divnogorye is one of the most attractive places for visiting in the Central black Earth region of Russia, 500 km to the south from Moscow. It is a small village, translated as “Wonder Mountains”, which is famous for its unique landscapes and biotops. Artists, ornithologists, archeologists and just nature lovers would always find something interesting for them in this area. It keeps their untouched face since many centuries. First 10 days of the project volunteers will spend in a village of natural reserve. The last 4 days of the project volunteers will spend in the city Voronezh and they can enjoy one of the biggest and most important state holidays in Russia – Day of Victory, the 9th of May.
Work:
Group of international volunteers will clean the territory of the museum, such as cutting bushes, weeds, cleaning the area from rubbish, digging holes in the ground, maintain the terrace of the area. They will participate on the excursions on the local area of the natural reserve and in the city Voronezh and they will get knowledge of local ethnography and history.
Location:
50 km away from the city Liski (30 min by train) and 140 km from the city Voronezh (1 mio inhabitants, 3 hours by train). The transfer of volunteers will be organized from Liski (has a direct train connection to Moscow). A representative of the host organization will also meet volunteers in Moscow and help them to find their way to Liski.
Accommodation:
1st part of the project - in the village house. There is no running water in the house. The water will be taken from the dwell and there will be used bottled water for meals and drinking. Hot water will be heated by electrical heater. Shower and toilets are outside the house. Cooking facilities are present. Volunteers will cook for themselves their favourite dishes. Internet is not available in the village. 2nd part of the project – in a flat in the city Voronezh.
NB! We strongly recommend you to take vaccination against tick encephalitis. Motivation Letter required!
VISA REQUIREMENTS:
Participants from UK, Denmark, Switzerland and from non-EU countries should apply min 8 weeks before a project starts or carry all risks concerning their visa on their own.
The project is organised in cooperation with National park Taganay. The main aim of the project is the organisation of the annual festival of author’s song “Black mountain” on the territory of the National park. Preparation of the site for the festival; repairing works on the ecological path “Taganay in 5000 steps” (cleaning up, preparation of fire sites); cleaning up the territory.
Accommodation:
in wooden houses or in tents (if you want). Volunteers will cook themselves. There is banya (sauna). The station is in Zlatoust town. Second half of the camp volunteers will live in tents in the forest. The food will be cooked on the fire. Banya – Russian sauna.
Location:
National Park Taganay, Zlatoust city. Ural mountains.
Languages:
English
Terminal:
Meeting point in Moscow 09.06. Taking a train all together to Zlatoust (32 h).
AYA in co-operation with local activists organises a project at Baikal lake to restore and repair a house, to turn it into a non-profit place for local initiatives, to engage local community in the development of ecological agricultural tourism.
Minor repairs and decorating of the old village house (take off old wallpapers, whitewashing the ceiling and walls etc). Maintenance of the area around the house (cleaning, zoning of the territory). Taking apart old and decrepit buildings. Organising clean ups with locals.
Accommodation:
In the village house with a local family. You will be living in the common room and sleep on the floor or outside in tents. Toilet and cold water inside. Russian banya (sauna). Equipped kitchen – electrical cooker, plumbing, dishes. Volunteers will cook themselves.
National park Kenozero is strictly protected area which represents the model of historical human habitat, the place that managed to preserve the centuries-old history and culture of the Russian North. The high level of the conservation of the cultural landscapes and their valuable elements make the national park Kenozero the unique region with no analogues in Russia or worldwide. In 2004 the park was given the status of UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Construction of an ecological path “Ancestors’ Path”. This is the water-pedestrian route of fishermen, hunters, hermits, pilgrims, and travelers which connects the village with the forest lake Naglimozero. This ecopath will be unique because of the eco-landscape exposition which will consist of the info centre, network of art-objects, information stands and other elements. Together with the workers of the park volunteers will be engaged in the creating the elements of the infrastructure (floorings, information stands, observation towers and sites etc).
Accommodation:
Forest station and tents at the banks of the lake Naglimozero in the pinery. There is no electricity, but there is the opportunity to charge mobile phones at the offices of the park. 2-3 times a week – Russian banya (sauna). The food will be prepared at the fireplace or oven by the volunteers. Vegetarian food is possible.
Location:
National park Kenozero. 5 km from the village Morschikhinskaya, Arkhangelsk Region.
Language:
English
Terminal:
meeting point in Moscow, night train to Nyandoma, bus transfer to the National park.
Introduction It’s project of AYA Russia in cooperation with the Kurilsky nature reserve. www.kurilskiy.ru Kunashir is the southernmost island of the Kuril Islands. Kunashir is strikingly beautiful and is regarded as one of the most interesting islands in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Work:
Marking and cleaning the trail from the shelter till sea of Okhotsk (11 km) - Preparing camping places near to Crater of Volcano Golovin - Some reparation work for the shelter in the Crater of Volcano Golovin - Marking and cleaning the trail around the Crater of Volcano Golovin
Study Theme:
Various hike with the guide of the protected area.
Accommodation:
In a shelter by the ocean with electricity generator - first week. In tents and shelters by the Crater of Volcano Golovin. Cooking in turns on fire.
Location:
Kunashir island, Sakhalin region.
Languages:
English/Japanese/Russian.
Age:
20+
Terminal:
meeting point in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a ferry to Kunashir island (return ticket for the ferry 200 Euro) with arrival on the 19th.
« I think our work has really opened the eyes of the youth there. I think that, because of our presence, some local youths got the chance to learn about other cultures which they wouldn't have otherwise. »
