Did you hear about Ruski Krstur, one small village in Vojvodina? Ok… Now we will tell you a couple of words… Let’s see...our village, about 5000 citizens, is located 70 km northwest from Novi Sad the capital city of province of Vojvodina. It is inhabited by the Ruthenian national minority. Once you meet them, you simple can’t take them out of your heart. You ask why? The answer is simple - they are friendly people, with their own customs and their own language, which makes them very interesting, but they are still a little bit closed to the outside. International volunteer workcamps in Ruski Krstur have been organised by a youth organization called Pact Ruthenorum for the past two years. In this third year, the accent will be more on art than on work.
Work:
The first work theme will happen during the first week and it will be mainly based on crafting a scene for a traditional open-air festival “Vodova Fest” (www.vodovafest.org). The second week will have a different theme and a different location. On a wall around Ruskokeresturian trade center, volunteers will paint the most important moments from the history of Ruski Krstur – first families settling, building of a church, first school, all the way till the present day! Volunteers will work 5 hours a day.
Leisure:
Creative workshops (home cooking, folklore, village touring by bicycles or on carriages). On a weekend there will be a short excursion to Novi Sad and of course to the Vodova Fest.
Accommodation:
In the local school's dormitory, with bathrooms. Sleeping bags are not necessary. Food will be prepared by locals and camp volunteers.
Ba?ki Monoštor, a small village on the way to nowhere by the Danube and home to the Šokci, a Croat people group who are said to have migrated to Austro-Hungarian Vojvodina 2 or 3 centuries ago from Dalmatia. Backi Monostor is located in the very heart of Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve, internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Gornje Podunavlje is a part of the large transboundary floodplain in the middle Danube, along the route of the southern European Green Belt. It is one of the best preserved wetlands in the Danube River Basin area. The Reserve has magnificent oak trees and a herd Red deer famous for their huge antlers. Unfortunately this is an example of the forestry landlords regarding conservationists as a threat to their lucrative hunting revenue. The potential for wildlife tourism and photography safaris far exceeds the limited hunting business.
This the forth workcamp in Backi Monostor but the first one that starts a campaign that includes a bicycle caravan. The basic idea of the camp is to support the local communities development on sustainable rural tourism, as well as giving information to local people about the ways of sustainable living. Besides that we will tend to reduce the ecological footprint of the camp in overall.
Work:
The main goal is the promotion of sustainable living, sustainable transport and rural tourism as an alternative for traditional hunting tourism. Volunteers will prepare a mobile exhibition that will be transported by bicycles to different places in the area near Backi Monostor. Bicycles will be provided. Besides that, volunteers will take part in the organization and realization of Bodrog Etno Fest.
Study Part:
Workshops about sustainable lifestyle, ecological footprint, rural tourism etc. workshops on traditional product making (gypsy bread, rakija...) and local culture.
Accommodation:
In a local school. Bring your own sleeping bag! Showers and toilets are provided. Mainly vegetarian and homemade food. Volunteers will cook for themselves.
NB:
Interest in environmental issues is welcomed. Not accessible for wheelchairs.
FEST-Po is an international festival unique for its performances, circus and carnival ambient that every year welcomes artists from all over the world. It is an additional event of the town’s annually feast, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For several years the workcamp has been organized to bring an international profile to the festival and stimulate the locals to get more involved in the intercultural dialogue.
Work:
Volunteers will help in the organization of the festival by building the concert stage, collecting garbage after and during the festival, placing tents, cutting grass, working at info desks, parkings, as animators etc.
Accommodation:
in tents along the beautiful river Tisa, in a newly build camp with toilets, showers and other facilities in a nearby cottage. Food will be provided by the host.
Location:
Novi Becej is situated in the center of Vojvodina, approx. 150km from Belgrade.
« I appreciate that constructive criticism may be more useful to you than praise but I honestly have no gripes that I could possibly mention. I can only thank you for the experience that I really enjoyed and will undoubtedly follow-up in the coming year. »
