volontariato internazionale, antirazzismo, pace, diritti
Code:IBG 19
Where:Bopfingen
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18+
The town of Bopfingen invites an international Workcamp for the seventh time this year! International Workcamps have helped with building the complex almost every year. A couple years back, researchers found archaeological evidence from the Celtic people that used to live here thousands of years ago in the Iron Age. The town’s project for the next years is to rebuild some of the houses in Celtic style to show tourists how the Celts may have lived in this area.
We invite 12 international volunteers to help continue the construction of the Celtic housing complex in Bopfingen. So far, six workcamp groups, local volunteers of the community of Bopfingen and a team of professional craftsmen have been working on the three houses of the Celtic housing complex. Your task will be to continue the work there by finishing the walls and floors. The working place is set on the top of the hill “Ipf”, so you will be working outside a lot with a wonderful view over the region. All the materials you work with are natural materials like clay, wood, and stone. The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. Expect manual work! You will work around 30 hours per week, somewhere between 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday with a 1-2 hour lunchbreak.
Bopfingen is a small town in southern Germany. It has a beautiful centre with a lot of houses in old German style. What makes Bopfingen special is the hill next to the town which is called “Ipf” with its flat plateau on the top. The “Ipf” has an important historical meaning in this area. In former times, the Celts lived there and until today a lot of archaeologists and historians come to explore the region. It is surrounded by beautiful nature where you can go for a walk or hike. Around Bopfingen, you will find various museums, the romantic historic city of Nördlingen, and the Ries (a large circular meteor impact crater with a diameter of 24 km). If you would like to visit a bigger city, Ulm is not far away with its famous cathedral and the highest church tower in the world.
You will be staying at a local gym hall at about 10 minutes walking distance from the city centre and 15 minutes from the train station. You will all sleep in the very big main room of the gym hall. Camp beds are provided but please bring your own sleeping bag! In the gym hall there is also a kitchen which you can use for cooking, tables and chairs, different toilets which can be separated by gender and one bathroom with one shower. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.
Please, try and arrive at Bopfingen train station between 1pm and 7pm on July 12th. Find the best connection on the German railway company's website: https://www.bahn.com/en
Code:IBG 11
Where:Lauterbach
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18+
Help the community of Lauterbach take care of its beautiful forest and of its wildlife-rich open land! Lauterbach has many nature conservation areas to offer and your valuable help is needed for various conservation tasks. During this workcamp you will be working in the forest open land and you will help the municipality by maintaining a wet meadow as a habitat for rare species of flora and fauna. This involves removing mown material from the meadow by hand. Since many years, the municipality is in charge of maintaining a hiking trail with sanding, cutting or paving paths, renewing steps and painting hiking trail bridges.
It is the 15th time that the community of Lauterbach and a local Landscape Development Association invite an international workcamp! Above all, the local hosts are very happy to be supported by a workcamp at different environmental construction tasks in a nature protected area! Not only is your help valuable to them but they are also very happy to share their knowledge about forest preservation to foreign volunteers. By volunteering in this project, you are actively protecting nature and biodiversity (UN SDG 15).
Lauterbach is a village with 3000 inhabitants on the edge of the Black Forest nature park. You will find a lot of green around Lauterbach, Just step out the door and find yourself surrounded by beautiful landscapes! This village has so many point of view to enjoy the countryside. You will have many possibilities to hike and experience nature first hand. In your free time, you will have the possibility to visit cities like Rottweil, Schramberg or the student city of Freiburg.
You will stay at the nice community house in the middle of the forest, called ‘’Mosenmättle Guest House’’. There, you will find sanitary facilities, showers a common room with sofas, tables and also a well equipped kitchen for you to use. You will sleep in 4 multi bed rooms (with bunkbeds). As the house is located in a very rural area, the internet access and mobile phone coverage will most probably be limited. Just be prepared to spend two wonderful, adventurous weeks away from your busy and usual life.
On July 15, there will be pickups from Hausach train station in the afternoon. The exact times of the pickups will be given in the specific infosheet. Find the best connection to Hausach on the German railway company’s website: https://www.bahn.com/en
Be prepared for hard physical work! Due to working in swampy (boggy) and steep areas, sturdy boots are required for effective work! The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. You will work around 30 hours per week, somewhere between 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday with a lunchbreak.
Code:IJGD 24336
Where:Traben-Trarbach, Rhineland-Palatinate; Trier 60 km
Number of volunteers:14
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
As a nature-loving young person, are you interested in a work camp in the forest with like-minded people? Then our project will give you the opportunity to experience and shape nature in a variety of ways and you will gain an insight into the work of foresters. You will actively help with the care of young tree crops, i.e. you will cut trees so that other trees have light and space to grow and you will renovate a forest hut. You will also nail fences to protect forest crops and help with various jobs in the community.
The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps Social Media Project Partner: https://www.instagram.com/landesforsten.rlp/?hl=de , https://www.traben-trarbach.de/de/
You will be staying in the middle of the art nouveau town of Traben-Trarbach, where you will have the opportunity to experience various leisure activities. Both indoor and outdoor pools are right next to where you will be staying. You can reach Trier, the oldest town in Germany, by train (around 60km away), as well as Luxembourg City (around 90km away) and Koblenz (around 60km away). You can also get involved in the goings on of the association, which has a strong presence in the local area Highlights: super central accommodation, wine underground tour, canoe tour, excursions to historic cities such as Luxembourg City and Trier camp location: Traben-Trarbach, Rhineland-Palatinate; Trier 60 km
You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering. You will be staying in the community hall in the town centre.
work is physically demanding. Only for volunteers who really loves to do exhausting work in the nature.
You will meet directly at the accomodation at the latest 18 h Directions to Meeting Point : From the terminal Traben-Trarbach you can walk in 10 minutes to the community hall.
Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp.
Code:ICJA2404
Where:Elenburg
Number of volunteers:15
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Like in the workcamps of the previous years, volunteers are welcome to support some renovation and maintenance of social institutions of the town: Right next to our site is the school garden of a school for children with learning disabilities. Volunteers are invited to help building new wooden benches and tables. In addition, hedges and trees need to be cut and a fence needs to be replaced. The aim is to create a living, green fence. Volunteers will learn how to handle and work with a scythe in a workshop. At the same time, the volunteers will support the renovation work on the open air square and in the concert hall in the cellar of the youth centre. The work will consist of painting walls and renewing a bar counter. In general, it is manual work, sometimes physically demanding. Please bring suitable clothing for gardening and painting. Study part: Volunteers will learn about different types of youth culture in Germany. The workcamp is a good opportunity to improve your German language skills as you will be able to be in touch with German native speakers.
The municipality of Eilenburg has been offering successful workcamps for more than 13 years now. The workcamp host was always the youth club House 6 CLOUD which is located in former barracks. In the same building, you can find some more social, sportive and cultural projects, for example a skate park. For former information, please visit https://www.haus6.org/ Eilenburg is a small town with approx.16,000 inhabitants, on the edge of the Dübener Heide and about 25 km from the trade fair city of Leipzig. Due to its rich history of over a thousand years, Eilenburg may call itself one of the cradles and birthplaces of Saxony. The uninterrupted rule of the Wettin dynasty, beginning with the Count of Ilburg in the 11th century, continued until 1918 and Eilenburg is still part of the federal state of Saxony today. In the Middle Ages and during industrialisation, Eilenburg was a wealthy town. In Martin Luther's time the main business was brewing, and in the 19th century it was a national centre of the textile industry. But Eilenburg has also been devastated several times in its history. In April 1945 at the end of the Second World War, Eilenburg was almost completely destroyed. The only remaining evidence of the early historical period is the "Sorbenturm", a remaining part of the Ilburg. It was probably built in the 12th century on the highest part of the 220m x 150m castle plateau. A circular path outside the castle wall connects the Sorben Tower with the Amtshaus, the former district court. This path was renovated with the help of volunteers in previous work camps.
The leisure time programme is organised together with local Eilenburg youth groups and clubs. The focus is on meeting and exchanging ideas with local young people. There will also be sports activities such as football, volleyball, swimming and others. These are the highlights: At the weekend there will be a volleyball tournament in which the workcamp group can take part with its own team. A day trip to the nearby metropolis of Leipzig is planned with some surprises. You can learn about the rich history of the town of Eilenburg through guided tours in the town museum and in the historic mountain cellars, which are located on the hill in the centre of the town.
Volunteers will stay at the local youth center called „House VI“. The group can cook for itself in a modern kitchen.
You should bring sleeping bags and camping mats (some camp mats can be provided from the local project- we need to communicate about)). It is necessary to bring work clothes, raingear and sturdy shoes.
infosheet will be provided
You should bring sleeping bags and camping mats (some camp mats can be provided from the local project- we need to communicate about)). It is necessary to bring work clothes, raingear and sturdy shoes.
Code:IJGD 14015
Where:Wildemann, Where: Lower Saxony, 100km from Hanover
Number of volunteers:10
Language:German
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
ijgd celebrates 75 years of international workcamps and together with the State Forest of Lower Saxony we are celebrating 75 years of cooperation. Of course we will also celebrate with you! For more than 30 years, our work camp groups have been supporting the Lautenthal forestry district in maintenance measures and ecological tasks in the forest areas in the Upper Harz. As large, contiguous forest areas, they are important for climate protection. You will help with nature conservation and environmental protection work and, through your efforts, contribute to preserving habitats for (rare) plants and animals and to restoring the balance in nature. The care of young deciduous trees, the nature-oriented design of waters, the repair of benches, shelters and hiking signs, but also the construction of hunting facilities, are among the tasks of your group. You will work in changing small groups and get an insight into the ecological, economic and social tasks of a forestry office.
The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps external project partner: Forestry Office Seesen
the Harz Mountains with its mountains, dripstone caves, mining museums and forests is a popular excursion and recreation area. The forester organizes a hike for the group to the Brocken, the legendary highest mountain in the region. Wildemann itself is a small mountain town with just under 1000 inhabitants. The town has an outdoor swimming pool, a glowgolf course and minigolf. Wildemann is surrounded by a variety of hiking trails and you can visit the former mine, the "19-Lachter-Stollen". On weekends, a trip to Goslar is worthwhile. The historic old town and the visitor mine in Rammelsberg are Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Wanderheim Wildemann, youth hostel with shared rooms, kitchen, outdoor nature trail and campfire area. You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering. Since there is only a small store in Wildemann itself, you have the possibility to have groceries delivered. The forester will gladly take your shopping list. Deliveries are made twice a week.
Working time 7.5 hrs four days a week. Fridays will be free. You need fitness for physically demanding work. German language skills are also required. You need fitness for physically demanding work. Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp.
At 18:00 h or 20:00 h at the train station in Goslar. A member of the forestry will drive you to the accommodation in Wildemann. Directions to Meeting Point From Hanover airport you should take the S5 S-Bahn train until you reach Hanover Hauptbahnhof (main train station). From Hanover Hauptbahnhof you should take the erx RE10 regional express train in the direction of Bad Harzburg until you reach Goslar.
Please note: International participants which are under 18 have to pay an andditional teenage fee of 150€ You will receive more detailed information after confirming your registration with the specific info sheet for your camp.
Code:ICJA2403
Where:Datteln
Number of volunteers:14
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
In the last workcamps with the help of the local artist Ms. Ulrike Speckmann, volunteers created colorful messages of peace, which were shown in public places. For example, they designed „benches of encounter“, a “table of peace and reconciliation” also a big mural in the local kindergarden. And again, the artist is happy to help you to get in a creative process of painting and designing. For information about the artist, please visit http://ulrike-speckmann.de/.This year there will be offered a graphic art project in the first week. It will be based on the short story "Nachts schlafen die Ratten doch" (English title "Rats Sleep at Night") by Wolfgang Borchert, written in 1947 right after Second World War. It is considered as "Rubble literature" and shows how a future perspective can emerge for the traumatised boy in the midst of a destroyed environment when two strangers meet. and talk together. Volunteers are to translate the short story into picture ideas, which can then be graphically designed using the linocut technique. The result will be a graphic novel in book form, which we can be printed in a small edition. In the second week, the volunteers are invited to renovate and beautify the outside area of a social centre. Either in a kindergarten or an institution for adults with mental disabilities Members of the parish will be happy if volunteers are ready to contact the different social groups of the town, especially the children and the older generation.
Commemorating as a way towards peace! The Evangelical parish of Datteln is the origin of a Christian Peace Movement, which builds up a European network for international encounters and voluntary service as a contribution to peace. The Parish of Datteln aims to remember a historical event, which took place after World War I during the French occupation of the Ruhr area. It happened on Good Friday in 1923 in Lutherhaus (former parish center): the French lieutenant Etienne Bach and the German official Karl Wille found the strength for reconciliation. Following their example, representatives of many nations, which could see each other only as enemies for generations, found a good way to communicate. The root of the movement “Youth Action for Peace, YAP“ lies in this international encounter that took place more than 90 years ago. Lots of volunteers have learned that reconciliation is possible, even if contradictions seem to be unbridgeable.
Excursions to local places of interest, like crossing 4 channels and other sites.
The participants will be accommodated in the modern community center of Datteln „Etienne-Bach-Haus“. Please bring with you a sleeping bag. Camp beds and pillows will be provided.
Volunteers with interest in creative arts and social work are very welcome. After confirmation of placement in this camp, you will have to sign a self-commitment statement in terms of legal protection for children and vulnerable persons. Please bring a sleeping bag.
Code:IJGD 74110
Where:Buckow-Märkische Schweiz, Brandenburg (ca. 50km from Berlin)
Number of volunteers:10
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
The Märkische Schweiz Nature Park 40 km east of Berlin offers a unique natural and cultural landscape as well as the backdrop for our project in and around the "Drei Eichen" environmental education centre. By cooperating with the nature park administration, we will not only get to know the nature park and its surroundings, but also actively help to shape it. We are offering this work camp because it is fun to have young people from all over the world with us and because we simply need many hands for some of the work! People and pets live on the grounds of the Drei Eichen environmental education centre - and there are almost always lots of guests: children, families, seminar groups. At the moment, we also want to reintroduce wild honey bees, which originally lived in caves in old trees, to our nature park. To do this, we are building hollows in tree trunks. You help us with this. You will learn about the types of beehives and how the bees are observed and cared for. This ancient art of beekeeping is called Zeidlerei. For activities in between, Drei Eichen with its grounds offers many opportunities to learn about plants and animals, nature conservation and alternative ways of life and to actively participate. On some days, you will "give something back" to Drei Eichen by helping out on the farm - because sometimes we need many hands: e.g. for wood protection paint on the playground, repair work, clearing the small pond of plant debris and cleaning up the garden. At various locations in the Märkische Schweiz Nature Park, we will spend a few days helping to carry out various landscape conservation tasks in different natural areas. The aim is to protect or promote either dry or wet sites, their soil and the native plants that grow there. Historically, these sites were created and maintained through a lot of manual labour - seasonal mowing and grazing by sheep and goats. Today, we help with this. There are many lakes that invite you to take a refreshing dip after work! All work, whether in landscape conservation, manual labour or creative design, takes place outdoors. We plan together on site, depending on the current weather conditions, on which days we do which work and which days we take off.
The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps Project Partner: www.dreichen.de
For activities in between, Drei Eichen with its terrain offers many opportunities to learn about plants and animals, nature conservation and alternative ways of life and to actively participate. There are many great options for spending your free time. Among them are GPS tour(s) in the nature park, guided hikes on biodiversity, a visit to the bat museum, trips to surrounding lakes, going to the movies, visiting the pub "lokal." in Buckow, making a campfire; going to an artificial climbing forest or doing a canoe tour in the area. Those who long for more urban hustle and bustle on the weekend can also take a day trip to Berlin or even go to Poland, which is not that far away. We plan together on site, depending on the current weather conditions, among other things, on which days we do what work and on which days we take off.
You will stay at the Drei Eichen environmental education centre, located in the middle of the forest, 4km from Buckow (www.dreichen.de). As a group, you will have a flat with kitchen, bathroom, toilet, lounge-kitchen, large balcony and 3 simple multi-bed rooms. We can also provide tents on request. You cook together. Money for shopping will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.
It helps if you have an interest in physical work and some strength. Please bring weatherproof work clothes/long sleeves and pants, the work takes place outdoors. Mosquito repellent, sunscreen are also essential. Shoes that can withstand water are good - outdoor sandals or similar.
On site in Drei Eichen or bus stop Buckow "Markt". From there we organize a shuttle, probably at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm. Take the train to Müncheberg (Mark); continue by bus to the stop Buckow, "Markt" Please remember to go to the correct Buckow with the post code 15377 when planning your trip. More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com.
Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp. You will receive more detailed information with the specific information sheet for your camp after your enrolment has been confirmed.
Code:VJF24 2.3
Where:Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen Straße der Nationen 22 D-16515 Oranienburg
Number of volunteers:13
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Project: "Comic Workshop" Together we will discuss how we remember internationally and how we want to commemorate today. You will learn to draw your own comics under the guidance of an artist and thus express your perspective. You will creatively explore the role of music and languages in the concentration camp. Together with the other participants, you will go in search of songs, voices and sounds - in the historical concentration camp and in today's memorial site. Under the guidance of an artist, you will develop your own sound snippets, record voices and sounds, and write song lyrics and music. Together you will discuss how history should be remembered today. In a joint performance you will present your international perspectives on commemoration. __________ Study part: The history of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and the Soviet Special Camp are the focus of this part of the study. You will learn about the life stories of former prisoners who were interned here from all over Europe. Why were they persecuted? What was their daily life in the camp like and how did they try to survive? Visits to exhibitions, memorials and museums in Oranienburg and Berlin as well as discussions with experts are also part of the program. __________ Work part: Participants will perform maintenance and gardening work on the memorial grounds. No special skills are required for the simple physical work.
The Sachsenhausen Memorial was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany and was built in 1936 near Berlin. More than 200,000 people from all over Europe were imprisoned here by the Nazi SS. The prisoners were forced to perform inhumane labor, and thousands died or were murdered. After the liberation in 1945, the Soviet secret service established Special Camp No.7/No.1 on the site for the internment of former Nazi functionaries and political opponents. Today the memorial is a place of remembrance, learning and research. More information: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de/en/
Area: Sachsenhausen is a part of Oranienburg, ca. 33 km to the north of Berlin. Sachsenhausen was one of the earliest concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936. For example, German people who were in opposition to Nazi policy, homosexuals, so-called asocials, criminals, Jews, and during the war especially people from occupied countries were imprisoned, forced to work and a lot of them were murdered. Between 1945 and 1950 a part of this area was used as a so-called Special Camp of the Soviet Secret Service Leisure: Volunteers have to be able to ride a bike, as several shorter and longer bike rides are planned. Bicycles are provided, but helmets are not required. In the free time it's possible to go to Berlin or Potsdam. The volunteers will find many forests and lakes to walk, cycle or just relax. However, the free time activities will mainly depend on participants' ideas.
Accomodation: You will be accommodated in a youth hostel. The building is on the grounds of historical Sachsenhausen concentration camp complex and was built in 1938 as the official residence of the Concentration Camp Inspector, 2 km away from the memorial centre. It is not necessary to bring a sleeping bag. Bed sheets and linen will be provided. You will sleep in shared rooms with a lot of space. It is possible to use the washing machine and the dryer for a small fee. More information: https://www.jugendherbergen-berlin-brandenburg.de/en/youth-hostels/sachsenhausen-686/portrait/ Food: In the hostel there is a big 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. Please bring easy recipes from your home country.
Studypart: - You should bring an interest in the history of Germany and Europe in the 1930s and 1940s and commemoration. - You should have a desire to discuss these topics in an international group. Project related: - Enjoyment of making music and/or experimenting with sounds and a willingness to participate in the performance are important. - Please bring a sound, music or object that you associate with the theme of history and remembrance. In general: - You should be able to perform simple physical tasks. - A good knowledge of English is a prerequisite for participation. - Since many shorter and longer bike rides are planned, volunteers should also be able to ride a bike. Please be fully vaccinated (2 to 3 shots of one of the following vaccines: BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson&Johnson) or recovered (date of infection must be min. 28 days old and max. 90 days old).
Code:VJF/ESC24 3.10
Where:Berlin - the place to be
Number of volunteers:14
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-30
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, most people had to face discrimination in their life. We would like to invite participants who identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and allies who are interested in the topic of this camp to join our Queer Camp in Berlin 2023. We will give you great insights of the queer culture of the city, show you exhibitions and places of historical value, look into the history and current situation of the LGBTQ+ in Germany and get empowered by our workshops: how to tackle homophobia. This workcamp has the goal to empower the participants and pave the way for participation in democratic societies. Never done drag? There is your opportunity, we will give a special workshop about the drag culture where you can become a drag queen/king for a day with a show. We plan to visit a former concentration camp, where especially queer people were kept. We will also visit different organizations to see behind the curtains how empowerment and their association tackle discrimination, The participants will go to different events on the topic of sexual minorities living in a heteronormative society and plan to have a dialogue with the German governmental representative for the LGBTQ+ community. And there is much more to come. We cooperate with many different organization to make this an unique experience. The Queeeeeer Camp will happen right after the CSD 2023 here in Berlin. Berlin is a great place when identifying as queer, sign up for this unique experience and get your suitcase packed, The rainbow city Berlin is calling you.
Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger e.V.
the participants can organize their leisure time and enjoy the many opportunities the capital of Germany has to offer.
You will live at TIB Wassersportzentrum Berlin (Bruno-Bürgel-Weg 127/131, 12439 Berlin). The centre is used as accommodation for different groups of young people and a sort of holiday resort for school classes and groups. You will sleep in shared bedrooms. You don’t need to bring a sleeping bag with you, bed linen will be provided. There is no washing machine and only limited internet access. You will have the chance to prepare your own meals in a small kitchen at the centre. Please bring your own recipes for our international evenings.
Code:VJF/ESC24 2.4
Where:Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen Straße der Nationen 22 D-16515 Oranienburg
Number of volunteers:13
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Project: "Relics and Storage" This is an ESC teams project. Work- und Studycamp at the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen July 16 to August 5, 2024 History of National Socialism, Second World War and its Aftermath, Everyday life in the Concentration Camp / Workshop objects and relics from the Concentration Camp / Gardening Work, work in the collections of the Memorial __________ Study part: The history of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and the Soviet Special Camp are the focus of this part of the study. You will learn about the life stories of former prisoners who were interned here from all over Europe. Why were they persecuted? What was their daily life in the camp like and how did they try to survive? Visits to exhibitions, memorials and museums in Oranienburg and Berlin as well as discussions with experts are also part of the program. __________ Work part: Participants will perform maintenance and gardening work on the memorial grounds. No special skills are required for the simple physical work.
The Sachsenhausen Memorial was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany and was built in 1936 near Berlin. More than 200,000 people from all over Europe were imprisoned here by the Nazi SS. The prisoners were forced to perform inhumane labor, and thousands died or were murdered. After the liberation in 1945, the Soviet secret service established Special Camp No.7/No.1 on the site for the internment of former Nazi functionaries and political opponents. Today the memorial is a place of remembrance, learning and research. More information: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de/en/
Area: Sachsenhausen is a part of Oranienburg, ca. 33 km to the north of Berlin. Sachsenhausen was one of the earliest concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936. For example, German people who were in opposition to Nazi policy, homosexuals, so-called asocials, criminals, Jews, and during the war especially people from occupied countries were imprisoned, forced to work and a lot of them were murdered. Between 1945 and 1950 a part of this area was used as a so-called Special Camp of the Soviet Secret Service Leisure: Volunteers have to be able to ride a bike, as several shorter and longer bike rides are planned. Bicycles are provided, but helmets are not required. In the free time it's possible to go to Berlin or Potsdam. The volunteers will find many forests and lakes to walk, cycle or just relax. However, the free time activities will mainly depend on participants' ideas.
Accomodation: You will be accommodated in a youth hostel. The building is on the grounds of historical Sachsenhausen concentration camp complex and was built in 1938 as the official residence of the Concentration Camp Inspector, 2 km away from the memorial centre. It is not necessary to bring a sleeping bag. Bed sheets and linen will be provided. You will sleep in shared rooms with a lot of space. It is possible to use the washing machine and the dryer for a small fee. More information: https://www.jugendherbergen-berlin-brandenburg.de/en/youth-hostels/sachsenhausen-686/portrait/ Food: In the hostel there is a big 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. Please bring easy recipes from your home country.
Studypart: - You should bring an interest in the history of Germany and Europe in the 1930s and 1940s and commemoration. - You should have a desire to discuss these topics in an international group. Project related: - You should be interested in drawing comics. In general: - You should be able to perform simple physical tasks. - A good knowledge of English is a prerequisite for participation. - Since many shorter and longer bike rides are planned, volunteers should also be able to ride a bike. Please be fully vaccinated (2 to 3 shots of one of the following vaccines: BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson&Johnson) or recovered (date of infection must be min. 28 days old and max. 90 days old).
We have a total of three projects at the Sachsenhausen Memorial, with a different additional project: – VJF 2.3 Sachsenhausen #1: Comic Workshop (14. July. - 3. August 2024) – VJF 2.4 Sachsenhausen #2: Relics and storage (16.07.24 – 05.08.24) – VJF 2.5 Sachsenhausen #3: Development of tool for visitors (12.08.24 – 01.09.24)
Code:IJGD 14022
Where:Bremen, 120 km west of Hamburg
Number of volunteers:10
Language:English
Extra-Fee:195 EUR
Age:18-26
-
Shoot a short film together and beautify a circus space with art and crafts! - You can try this out at this international art camp. "Learning by doing" is the order of the day, so you can collect ideas and try things out in small groups. In the first week, you will show off your craft and artistic skills and improve the site of the Jokes Circus School, a children's and youth project with a real circus tent. In addition to the tent, there are mainly shipping containers on the site, which serve as offices, toilets, storage rooms, dining and meeting rooms and will also be used by you during the camp. You will carry out various craft and gardening activities to beautify the circus site. For example, as you can see in the photos, you will build a roof construction between two containers and pave new paths on our circus site. In between, there will also be some juggling, acrobatics or aerial artistry. More information about Jokes Die Circusschule (Jokes – The circus school) can be found here: https://www.circusjokes.de/ (unfortunately only in German) In the second week, you will learn how to create short films - from the initial idea to completion. After an introduction to the technology, you will develop a storyline and start filming. Whether it's a short feature film with you as the actors or a short documentary film - you can tell your own little story. There are no limits to your imagination. In addition to the many different filming techniques, you will also learn how to edit and add sound to your films (probably using the freely available video editing programme CapCut). Previous knowledge is not required, but would be appreciated. You will be guided by an experienced film and photo journalist. The film workshop will take place from Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August from approx. 9am to 5pm. You can find some films from the last camps here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1xBVom-lk8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5vcVpV2I4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZQaPuy4L-g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIN6k_QkKVM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGHE-Z2kZGc
Jokes die Circusschule (Jokes the circus school) In 1998, young circus enthusiasts founded their own circus school together with artists and teachers. Since then, young and young-at-heart artists from 4 to 99 years have been able to help shape the circus school. In 2020, after a long period of planning, the school was finally able to move to its own space and set up its own circus tent, where shows are performed regularly. In addition, the Circus School has a hall for training. Almost 260 children and young people use these halls every week to do circus together. In addition, there are more than 300 children and young people who are looked after at schools on a weekly basis. https://www.circusjokes.de/ (only in German) The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps
Your accommodation is close to Bremen's city centre in a lively district. From there you can explore the 1,200-year-old Hanseatic city of Bremen (www.bremen.de) on foot or by bus, with its many sights, cultural offerings, nightlife scene and many shopping opportunities. On the days off, excursions to the North Sea coast (e.g. Bremerhaven), to Hamburg or other cities are possible.
You sleep on air beds in two rooms of a container school right next to the circus square where you work. Toilets are available both at the school and at the circus site. The kitchen, shower and table and chairs for eating and discussing are located on the circus field. There is also a nearby youth space where you can eat and stay. You will cook together. Money for food will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please state any intolerances during registration.
good English knowledge; Interest in filming, technology and editing; please bring along three topics you would like to make a film about; no previous film experience is necessary
at accommodation until 6pm on Saturday 20-07-2024 From Bremen airport please take the tram line 6 (direction "Universität") to the stop "Gastfeldstraße” (travel time approx. 6min). There you change one of the following busses: 101 (direction “Bassum, Bahnhof”) 102 (direction “Syke, Bahnhof”) 120 (direction “Kirchweyhe, Bahnhof Ost”) 121 (direction “Kirchweyhe, Bahnhof Ost”) Please take one of the busses for 2 stops (6min) to the stop "Huckelriede". From Bremen main train station you can take four different busses: 101 (direction “Bassum, Bahnhof”) 102 (direction “Syke, Bahnhof”) 120 (direction “Kirchweyhe, Bahnhof Ost”) 121 (direction “Kirchweyhe, Bahnhof Ost”) Please take one of the busses for 9 stops (25/26min) to the stop "Huckelriede". From bus station “Huckelriede” to the camp From the bus stop "Huckelriede", walk against the direction of travel into "Kornstr." and follow this road for approx. 350 metres exactly the same way as the bus did before. Then turn left onto the footpath "Huckelsrieder Friedensweg". After 200m you will reach circus square. More Information about tram connections: www.bahn.com or https://www.vbn.de/en/ We would like to invite you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. If you have the option to go by train, bus, carsharing or bicycle that can be a great first step for you to become a climate steward.
There is 195,-€ additional fee for the media study part for everybody + 150€ extra teenage fee but ONLY for international Teenagers who apply for this camp (under 18) You will receive more detailed information after confirming your registration with the specific info sheet for your camp.
Code:ICJA2407
Where:Neuendorf
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Your support is needed to improve facilities of the community: The estate is to become a place where people can discuss, learn and spend time together all year round. Up to now, the art, culture and political education events have mainly taken place in summer and outside - also because there is not yet a heatable roofed room for them. Together with the work camp, a room in a former stable building is to be renovated so that meetings and events are also possible in the colder months. Secondly, we would like the group to help in the build up of the actual highlight: From July 26 to July 28 there will be an international festival. We will offer a number of workshops on the topics of promoting democracy, combating anti-Semitism and racism. The festival will address current issues in the region relating to anti-democratic structures, as well as the current situation in Israel and Gaza. It is all about exchange and networking.The study part is about the history of the estate, a history of Jewish self-organisation under the pressure of National Socialist persecution. How can culture of remembrance function in rural areas? What is the significance of remembering the past at all for our societies today? What are the challenges? Theoretical aspects of democracy and the possibilities of developing a place for meeting and learning in orphaned rural areas are the focus. If desired, excursions to other sites can also be organised.
In the project "Gutshof Neuendorf im Sande", the history of the site is documented and made accessible to the public. In the 1930s, the estate was a hachshara site, an agricultural training estate where the increasingly persecuted Jews were to be enabled to leave Nazi Germany through agricultural training. From 1941, the estate became a forced labour camp, and in April 1943 the last Jewish residents were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where many were killed. In GDR times, the farm was a state-owned property. The project offers workshops on history and political topics, organises concerts, readings, film evenings and theatre performances and wants to become a meeting place for the region. We see the project as a place where a shared vision of a solidary and democratic society without racist exclusion can be developed. For more info, please visit: https://www.zusane.org/ and https://geschichte-hat-zukunft.org/
In Fürstenwalde there are shopping facilities, a swimming pool, cultural and leisure activities. There is a public bathing area at Lake Trebus about 15 minutes away by bike. From Fürstenwalde train station it takes about 30 minutes by train to the centre of Berlin. Bicycles are provided by the project. The Neuendorf im Sande estate is run by a collective of people from a wide variety of backgrounds who organise cultural, art and educational events or work the estate's land agriculturally. There are often evenings together around the campfire and a lot of desire to meet and exchange with international guests. Visits to other, similar community projects in the region can also be offered.
Accommodation is in tents on the farm and some rooms. The tents are provided by the project. There are indoor and outdoor cooking facilities.
An interest in Jewish history and remembrance work, a willingness to do light manual work indoors and outdoors and a desire to get to know the project and its people are desirable. Motivation letter is needed. You should be able to ride a bike so that the group is mobile in the countryside.
An interest in Jewish history and remembrance work, a willingness to do light manual work indoors and outdoors and a desire to get to know the project and its people are desirable. Motivation letter is needed. You should be able to ride a bike so that the group is mobile in the countryside.
Code:IJGD 14014
Where:Wolfsburg, Where: Lower Saxony; 75lm from Hannover, 30km from Braunschweig, 230km from Berlin
Number of volunteers:10
Language:German
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
ijgd celebrates 75 years of international work camps and together with the State Forest of Lower Saxony we are celebrating 75 years of cooperation. Our workcamp groups have been actively involved in nature conservation and forest maintenance work in Wolfsburg's city forest for 14 years now! Of course we will be celebrating with you! The city forest is a habitat for many (rare) plant and animal species and a recreational area for people who jog, bike, hike or simply enjoy nature there. Due to climate change, many plants and animals are now endangered and the task of the forestry team is to protect the forest and preserve the flora and fauna for the future. You will support the forest rangers in a variety of activities in the areas of nature conservation, forest maintenance and the preservation of recreational areas for forest visitors. These tasks include the removal of non-native plants, the care of young trees and the clearing of watercourses and forest paths. You will also gain an insight into the diverse tasks of a forest ranger's office and the forest ecosystem.
Project host is the City Forestry Office of Wolfsburg The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps
Internationally renowned sights in Wolfsburg are the castle and the art museum, the “Autostadt” with its Volkswagen museum and the “Phaeno” science museum. The Allerpark is a big recreation area with a bathing lake, beach and high rope course.
The group will be staying in the youth rooms in the parish hall of the Stephanus Church. There are two large rooms available for you as sleeping space, a large common room and a kitchen. You will be sleeping on camping beds. The parish hall is located by the marketplace with several supermarkets and shops. You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering.
Working time 7.5 hrs four days a week. Fridays will be free. You need fitness for physically demanding work. German language skills are also required.
The group will meet inside the accommodation, the local parish hall. Please try to arrive by 18:00. Directions to Meeting Point: Take the number 202 bus (in the direction of Detmerode), which leaves from stand 3, until you reach the “Detmeroder Markt” stop. From here you need to walk back a little bit and then go up the steps. At the top of the steps, continue straight ahead and you should see the church and the parish hall on your right.
Please note: International participants which are under 18 have to pay an andditional teenage fee of 150€ You will receive more detailed information after confirming your registration with the specific info sheet for your camp.
Code:PRO-W1
Where:-
Number of volunteers:24
Language:German
Extra-Fee:200 EUR
Age:18-26
Typical tasks are gardening and some help in the sport arena and other places in the community as planting on a playground. Working time will be about 2-5 hours daily, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.
Host organisation is the community of Weingarten/Pfalz and the sports club: Sportverein Weingarten 2007 e.V. near Germersheim. It is a workcamp including German language training. The lectures will be daily, two hours per day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays, when the group will go on excursions). The basis of the lecture will be first: communication; and second: grammar. The teachers will be speakers from University of Mainz. The language courses of 2016-2019 and 2023 have all shown very good results.The volunteers are assigned to 3 language courses. Therefore, indicate your language skill in your CV.A) Beginner knowledge required, so that they can communicate in German with the other group members. Improvement of the existing skills is one of the goals of this course.B) Good German knowledge required (B2/C1) - German for Engineers as specialty. This Is a rare course - you don t find it elsewhere.C) Very good German knowledge required (C1). Improvement of the very good skills is one of the goals of this course.For all participants a training for writing and presenting applications at companies and universities is included.
The Arena in Weingarten is close to Germersheim and Speyer, 50 km southwest of Heidelberg. It has 20.000 inhabitants, including 3.000 students. There is also the study center for Digital Engineering of the university of applied science Kaiserslautern. Weingarten itself has a nice Arena with sports facilities. One of our goals is that the volunteers participate in sport activities of the SV Weingarten. The camp is located approx. 10 km away from the city centre of Speyer and Germersheim. Please look at the map, there are about 15 Weingartens in Germany. Please travel to Weingarten in Pfalz Terminal: bus station Weingarten/Pfalz and train station Lingenfeld; next airports: Karlsruhe/Baden, Frankfurt/Main, Stuttgart, Strasbourg/Alsace. The German federal and state governments have agreed on a way to fund the 49-euro Deutschlandticket for 2024. This means that this summer it is very cheap to travel all over Germany. In 2023 this has been used by almost all participants to save money while traveling in July and August in Germany. It is also possible to arrive one or 2 days earlier so that you can reduce your travel costs.One goal is that the volunteers participate in sports activities. We plan sports activities, which consist for example of football training, swimming, gymnastics and tennis. These sports courses are open for all participants. Therefore, bring your preferred sports equipment e.g. swimming, football, tennis, gymnastics etc. with you Travelling and sightseeing tours will be mostly in the region Rhein/Neckar.
Accommodation will be in the main building of the Arena with several bedrooms (6-13 beds in each), kitchen, separated bathrooms and showers. Cooking, cleaning, shopping etc. will be done by the group itself. Like in each workcamp, accommodation, food and travel-costs for excursions are free, as well as materials/copies needed for the lectures.
There is an extra fee including language course and most activities: 200 Euro to be paid upon arrival (or to be transferred in advance).With your application please also send your CV in the Europass Format to your sending organisation https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/de/cv/compose
bus stop Weingarten
Code:IBG 12
Where:Heilsbronn
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18+
The municipality of Heilsbronn is counting on the help of international volunteers to maintain and renovate parts of the town’s infrastructure. For this year, two projects are in discussion: • Maintain a fitness trail in the forest, called ‘’Vita Parcours’. To keep the fitness trail practicable for visitors, you will clear the trail of over-grow plants along the paths and on different stations. You will also help to clean the signs and stations, as well as help to pick up left-over trash along the way. • Renovate a ‘’barefoot path’’. A barefoot path is a short way, where people can walk on barefoot, to experience different sensations. One part of it is made with pebbles, another with moss, another one with pine cones… etc. The barefoot paths in Heilsbronn are loved by kids and families and they need to be renovated regularly. You will help emptying and refilling the different parts of the path. Others projects might also be added. In case, you should expect working outside with municipal workers, doing renovation or construction works. The work will be led by a professional instructor from the builder’s yard, so no previous experience is needed. You will work 30 hours per week, somewhere between 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday with lunchbreak on site.
The town of Heilsbronn has been hosting workcamps for 13 years already and is looking forward to welcoming another international group of volunteers this summer. The local community is a big fan of workcamps and international volunteering and has introduced other neighbouring cities to the workcamp idea as well. This year, your support will help the community maintain, renovate and extend its infrastructure (UN SDG 11 sustainable communities).
Heilsbronn is a town of 9,300 inhabitants, located in the idyllic Bavarian region called Franken (Franconia). Because Heilsbronn is situated on one of the paths leading to the famous pilgrimage city Santiago de Compostela in Spain, it is frequently visited by tourists as well as pilgrims. But Heilsbronn city centre also has a lot to offer! Supermarkets, different shops, pubs, youth centre, a barbecue area, and other infrastructure. There, you will find traditional half-timbered houses and some unique sites, such as ‘’Heilsbronn ABBEY’’, a cistercian monastery and local cathedral, both built in the 12th century. A guided tour might be organised for you if you are interested. Besides, the town can arrange free entrance to the outdoor swimming pool for your group. Nature-lovers can find several hiking trails in the beautiful surrounding landscape. The worth-seing cities of Nuremberg, Bamberg and Rothenburg are not too far away and might be visited on weekends, using public transportation.
You will be accommodated in the local youth club called ‘’JUZ’’, there are two big rooms and one small room where you will sleep on camp beds or on mattresses on the floor. Please bring a sleeping bag! There is a small kitchen, a common room with sofas and games for you to chill, two toilets and one bathroom. In addition in the house, there is a washing machine and Wifi connection. The local youth who usually visit the club are looking forward to welcoming you and getting to know international volunteers. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.
Please, try and arrive at Heilsbronn train station between 1pm and 7pm on July 21. Find the best connection on the German railway company’s website: https://www.bahn.com/en
Code:OH-W04
Where:Lohra Castle, Northern Thuringia
Number of volunteers:14
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-30
-
The tasks will be mowing andcollecting the grass. Additionally, the participants of the project will support the work on renovations on the Castle grounds. The hilly massive around Lohra Castle is listed as National Nature Reserve. Open Houses supports the Reserve since several years with volunteering activities. In a forest near the Castle the participants will remove trees and bushes which are not corresponding with the protection aims in order to clean the paths and make them enjoyable again. They will also will collect the wood remaining after maintenance works, load it on a truck, unload it at the castle and split and stack it for wintertime or for the fireplace. Besides that, the volunteers will continue the maintenance of the green area at the castle. In addition, in the later part of the summer, they will support the recollection, assortment, splitting and storage of wood to prepare the castle for the harsh winter months. PARTICIPATION TERMS Participants have to take part for the whole time of the project. The working part consists in six hours per day. Be informed, that during all projects the work will take place also on rainy and cold days and be prepared for that.
Open Houses – not empty buildings, but places with visible and invisible traces of history, places which have grown and decayed over the centuries, places which were shaped by those people who lived there long ago as well those who left only yesterday – places which will be shaped by those who live there or who come as a guest. Open Houses – rooms which want to be filled with dreams and ideas, with meetings and exchange, by people of different backgrounds, different cultures, different generations and different ideas and visions. The history of Open Houses Network dates back to the mid-1980s, when a group of young people started to restore village churches in East Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay. The engagement for these buildings united people who enjoyed the freedom these activities provided and who filled these rooms with life again in ways which by far exceed the craftsmen's work done – through exhibitions, concerts, making music together or just sitting by the camp fire. Meanwhile, rooms free of political and ideological pressure are no longer urgently required; however, places have become rare where people can meet without commercial pressure, free of bureaucracy and institutionalism, free of nepotism and the exclusion which it produces. What should be easy – to go somewhere in order to meet people and to work together – has become difficult. The tightrope walk between, on the one hand, public activities in a monetary and functional sense, and the retreat into private life on the other, is very difficult, and it requires a lot of power and permanent efforts to tackle red tape and financial restrictions. Free spaces are less and less understood as common property, and are permanently being cut back. The idea of public property seems to have gone out of fashion, and places of common responsible work have become rare. Open Houses Network tries to create and protect such spaces. In this process, we do not want to be the doers, but be people who have a vision, who want to initiate something, but who also are aware of depending on the co-operation of others. We understand our projects and events as offers – as offers to create space for commitment, for changes, for meetings.
LOCATION: Next towns: Bleicherode (6 km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km) Region: Thuringia Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a natural reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, the history of castle Lohra begins in the Middle Ages. Its architectural styles which have been preserved in the structures of the ensemble attest to a prolonged period of occupation and historical evolution up until today. The castle is more than thousand years old, and it is a relic of German medieval past that is still standing at the heart of a region through which the story of the German nation has been written. Today, it includes twenty buildings from different time periods, showcasing this historical evolution to the enchantment of visitors and heritage enthusiasts: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a Romanesque double-floored chapel, a manor house from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th and the early 20th centuries. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. LEISURE TIME The camp places are mostly situated in small villages in rural areas, so the participants should not expect busy places and normal city activities for the leisure time during the working days. Small trips in walking distance are possible in the afternoon. On the weekends it is possible to organise an excursion to nearby cities or to have other leisure activities.
ACCOMMODATION: shared rooms with 2 – 5 beds in 3 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), 1 camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stoves FOOD: The meals will be prepared together as they are part of the community life, what means that every participant will be responsible for the meal at least once during its stay. So, it would be very nice if the participants could bring typical recipes from home in order to introduce each other to the preparation of food from all over the world.
WHAT TO BRING Usually, average temperatures in Germany during the summer time are about 20o C to 30o C; during the night it will get colder. It is possible that there may be two weeks of non-stop sunshine, but every day rain is not impossible either. In September and October, it's about 8o C to 18o C. Passport Insurance Certificates (EU-members should bring their European Health Insurance Card; those which have an individual travel insurance should bring the certificate) sleeping bag stable work boots, really appropriate for practical work appropriate clothes, waterproof coat mosquito protection lotion dictionary typical recipes, sweets, music, instruments and games from the participants' home country for group activities
TERMINAL: Next bus station: Großlohra, Friedrichslohra/Wartehalle Next railway stations: Gebra/Hainleite (5 km), Wolkramshausen (12 km). Next airports: Leipzig/Halle (LEJ, 155 km), Frankfurt/Main (FRA, 280 km), Berlin (BER, 300 km)
Open Houses does not provide internet access or phone at the sites. So, it will be not possible for the participants to check emails or to make phone calls from the project place. The next public phones are at most of the places far away and there are no internet cafes nearby. In the case that participants will need access to internet or phone they should prepare themselves in advance. Furthermore, washing machines are not available at the camp places.
Code:VJF24 2.6
Where:Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Ravensbrück Straße der Nationen, 16798 Fürstenberg/Havel
Number of volunteers:13
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Re:nember them! In this workcamp you can get involved in the preservation of the former Nazi women's concentration camp Ravensbrück. Study part: Join us for the first week to get to know the Ravensbrück Memorial and its history. We will deal intensively and artistically with biographies of imprisoned women and survivors who were imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp and afterwards in the subcamp Waldbaulager, which is part of the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Work part: Various maintenance works in the exterior of the memorial and the collections.
The former women's concentration camp Ravensbrück was built in 1939 near the small town of Fürstenberg/Havel. Until its liberation in April 1945, over 120,000 women and children, 20,000 men and 1,000 underage young women from the so-called "Uckermark Youth Protection Camp" were imprisoned there. The prisoners came from more than 40 nations. They had to perform forced labor in various sectors, e.g. for SS factories or the Siemens company. Their daily lives were marked by hunger, mistreatment and poor hygienic conditions. Tens of thousands of prisoners were killed. Today, the Ravensbrück Memorial preserves traces and records, promotes remembering and research, and creates a place for active learning and encounters. Every year, international work camps are organized in cooperation with the memorial. www.ravensbrueck-sbg.de
Brandenburg small town in lake and river landscape, possibility of canoeing, cycling and swimming, by train in one hour in Berlin and train connection to the Baltic Sea.
You will live in a shared rooms in the youth hostel on the grounds of the memorial in the former houses of the concentration camp wardens. Full board, simple meals. Please indicate food allergies, etc. when registering.
Please be fully vaccinated (2 to 3 shots of one of the following vaccines: BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson&Johnson) or recovered (date of infection must be min. 28 days old and max. 90 days old).
Code:IJGD 24309
Where:Veitshöchheim
Number of volunteers:12
Language:German
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
The Holznagelhausen adventure playground is a vacation program run by the municipality of Veitshöchheim. Together with other volunteers, you will look after 200 children aged 6 to 12 for two weeks on a large site in 14 groups. You will build wooden huts, offer sports and workshops (from soccer to baseball, from baking pizzas in your own clay oven to handicrafts and educational games). There will be lots of fun together. You can contribute your ideas and skills, learn how to run a youth project, experience working in a large team, learn new languages and make lots of new friends.
The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps
In Veitshöchheim there is a very nice outdoor pool, boat trips on the Main and lots of nice people to meet. In 10 minutes by train, you can be in Würzburg with its beautiful sights (e.g. castle, Käppele, Residenz) as well as shopping, cinemas, cafés and nightlife. The surrounding area has a climbing garden, a leisure park, a go-kart track, youth clubs of all kinds, recreational areas, bicycle and skating paths. You can also visit the big cities of Nuremberg or Frankfurt at the weekend. So just come and have a look!
You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering. Shared rooms in the Friends-of-Nature House "Am Kalten Brunnen" in Veitshöchheim.
A good knowledge of German and enjoyment of working with children are essential. Please bring ideas for games and crafts from your country! Songs or any sports you know are also very welcome and an enrichment for the vacation program.
By train to Würzburg main station. In Würzburg, take the regional train (RB) in the direction of Karlstadt. Get off at Veitshöchheim station. From Veitshöchheim station you will be picked up at the main entrance at 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm by the group leaders in a minibus.
Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp. You get more informtion with the specific inforsheet after your confirming registration.
Code:IBG 24
Where:Stuttgart
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18-26
Become part of a festival crew and support the organization of a non-profit, free music festival in Stuttgart! Your international group will work with many other local volunteers. The main tasks will be the setting up of the stage, stalls and tents on the site of the festival, as well as the disassembly at the end. While the festival is running, your group of volunteers will assist in different areas: bar, stage, organisation, catering etc. You will also have time to enjoy the festival yourself! Volunteers should be flexible enough to work long and unusual hours – and enjoy music! Speaking or understanding basic German will be a plus. Your group might be asked to give a short presentation of the Workcamp on stage!
In summer, Stuttgart hosts a variety of music festivals and events. One of those festivals – called “Umsonst & Draussen” (German for "free of charge & outdoors") – will take place in the middle of Vaihingen, an outer city student- district of Stuttgart. The festival will run for three days, from 2nd to 4th of August (www.ud-stuttgart.de). “Umsonst & Draussen” is organized in a participative way, where everyone can come and take part. It is the biggest non-commercial music-politics-culture festival in Stuttgart. It has been running in that unique and quite anarchic way for over 40 years now! Since 2013, the festival has been hosting Workcamps and the international volunteers have become an important part in the festival organisation.
With 600,000 inhabitants, Stuttgart is the state-capital of Baden-Württemberg. From museums, to castles and parks, to an afternoon spent shopping, this city offers something for everyone to see! Within a short train ride, you can also enjoy the variety of nature around Stuttgart. The city is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and hills. You could also visit some of the other interesting towns in the area, like Tübingen (approximately 1 hour away) and Ludwigsburg (approximately 30 minutes away), both accessible by public transportation.
In the first two days, you will be hosted in a cultural centre in Stuttgart, where there is a kitchen and sanitary facilities. You will be sleeping in the building’s hall, where a stage is. We advise sightseeing in the first two days (Monday and Tuesday). On the third day, you will move to the site of the festival. There you will be camping in a big tent, all together. Please bring your own camping mat and sleeping bag. We encourage you to bring your own tent, if possible! Food will be available through the food stands, until the end of the camp, so you will not have to cook for yourselves. Sanitary facilities are given, but be aware of very basic festival standards: You will most likely be able to use the showers in the youth centre nearby (has to be confirmed) otherwise only cold, outdoor showers available and there is limited privacy compared to “regular” accommodations!
We ask for a motivation letter to be sent with the application!
Code:IBG 13
Where:Weil der Stadt
Number of volunteers:12
Language:English
Extra-Fee:0
Age:18+
Come to Weil der Stadt to support summer free-time program for children aged 6-12 years old, together with a group of German caregivers! In the first two weeks of summer holidays, the children who participate to the summer free-time program get picked up in the morning; they spend their day at holiday house and return in the afternoon at 5pm. On Fridays, there’s in overnight-stay and a common breakfast with the children. Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free. Childcare, leading workshop and providing general support for the camp are expected. The summer camp is located next to a forest and a sportsground which allow for many outdoor adventures for children, such as building hunts or playing sports. But there will also be many opportunities for creative workshops. You are welcome to bring your own games, songs and ideas!
The ‘’Children and Youth Centre’‘ of Weil der Stadt organizes a summer-camp for kids every year. Each summer, about 95 Children participate to this project. They may join for one or two weeks. This initiative will give every kid the chance to have a fun vacation time while at the same time, supporting working parents during the first part of school summer break, which lasts for 6 weeks in total. International volunteers have been supporting the summer activities and the local communities for threes year already (UN SDG 11 sustainable communities).
Weil der Stadt is a town with almost 20.000 inhabitans. It has a very nice historical centre and is located at the outskirts of the Black Forest – perfect for hiking, if you are up to it! Also public transportation is good, so you can easily reach the regional capital Stuttgart, as well as Karlsruhe or Pforzheim. The team in Weil der Stadt can support you in organizing weekend trips or activities.
You will stay directly in the ‘’Children and Youth Centre’’ in Weil der Stadt. In the building, there is a big room where you will sleep. Camp beds are provided but please, bring your own sleeping! Inside the building you will find sanitary facilities and a kitchen. During the week, you will eat your lunch with children and don’t need to cook. At night and during weekends, you will take turn for cooking, wash the dishes and cleaning. Your group will be responsible to doing the groceries, which will be covered by the camp budget.
It is not necessary to speak German in order to to participate, however it is a big help for sure! The children usually don’t speak English but some of the kids have a international background so you might be able to communicate with some of them in your mother tongue. NOTE: Please attach a Motivation Letter with your application! We would like to know your motivation to work with children, if you have any experience in this field, and if you speak (a bit of) German. In addition, since you will be working with children, you will be required to provide a certificate of good conduct before the start of the camp.
Lunaria - Associazione di Promozione Sociale
Via Buonarroti 51, 00185 - ROMA
+39 06 88 41 880
+39 06 84 24 2 487
+39 06 88 41 859
CF 96192500583
P.Iva 06139821000
Lunaria ha ottenuto nel 2021 i label di organizzazione accreditata nell'ambito dei programmi Erasmus+ e Corpo Europeo di Solidarietà. E' stata premiata come Best Practice europea nel 2015 e nel 2017 per i progetti di Capacity Building con paesi partner. Né la Commissione Europea né le le sue Agenzie sono responsabili del contenuto del sito dell'associazione.