Work

a Public Campaigns;a Actions to combat the use and contamination through plastic, through cleaning of forest areas, beaches and forests aroundthem;a Creation of leaflets and videos on the theme for dissemination of the environmental message;a Organization of inclusive Cultural and Sporting Events;a Actions to encourage the reduction of emissions and toxic waste, with the realization of group tours in the communities of Braga district and in some communities of the network created online;a Organization of creative and recreational activities in public transport;a Creation and distribution of environmentally friendly ashtrays;a Meeting with groups of minority youth through existing SYnergia projects and partnerinstitutions;a Involvement of minority youth through traditional games,

Partner

CTI Live Nature Live Together 25 is an initiative focused on promoting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on environmental preservation and social inclusion. The project aims to involve the Braga district community in various actions that address both ecological and social issues, with a strong volunteer component.Among the main objectives of the district network, the following stand out:-Promotion and development of social inclusion activities;-Environmental awareness and combating climate change;-Distribution of ecological material and gadgets;-Increased awareness about the impact of single-use plastic on the forest and marine environment;-Creation of an international and district network of young people to guarantee impact and sustainability

Location

Camping Braga, in the North of Portugal

Accomodation

Accommodation: Braga Camping - Individual Camping Tent and shared bathrooms Food: 5 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner and coffe breaks)

Requirements

Youngsters full of energy and willing to do crafty and handy work and to step out of their comfort zone. Bring Camping blanket, comfortable clothing, shoes, boots, work clothes, pyjama, beach towels, bathing suit, shower slippers, bath towel, sporting equipment, informative material about their country (maps, flags or leaflets etc..) and traditional food and drinks

Meeting point

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Work

Do you like playing with children and would you like to help children from the district of Nordwestmecklenburg experience great holidays? Then join us and look after 20 to 30 children between the ages of six and twelve every day in the Hanseatic city of Wismar and in three or four other towns in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg as part of the holiday play activities. With your ideas and your desire for creative activities, sports games, music and dance, make sure that these days are a great experience for you and the children. With games, songs and handicraft ideas from your home countries, you can give the play weeks an international flair. On Monday 4.8. and Tuesday 5.8. you will prepare the vacation play activities and the press conference on 5.8. Afterwards, from Wednesday 6.8. to Friday 8.8. and from Monday 11.8. to Friday 15.8., you will look after the children together and with the help of the educational staff on site and implement your prepared ideas. The vacation play activities take place in the Hanseatic city of Wismar and in the youth facilities of the district of Nordwestmecklenburg. The Wismar Children's and Youth Recreation Center will provide you with bicycles for the entire time. You can also use the bikes for trips into the city and the surrounding area. For trips to other places in the district, you will be given vacation tickets to use public transport if possible, or you will be driven by the team. A good knowledge of German will make it easier for you to communicate with the children. Communication at the camp is almost exclusively in German and only in English in an emergency. Please remember to bring some game ideas and music from your home countries! Please note: The holiday offer is a voluntary open offer. Therefore, more or less children can participate on the days.

Partner

The youth service of the district of Nordwestmecklenburg supports young people in their individual and social development and contributes to maintaining or creating positive living conditions for young people and their families as well as a child- and family-friendly environment. At the DRK Children's and Youth Leisure Centre in Wismar, children and young people meet to actively organise their leisure time and take advantage of educational opportunities. The ijgd has been successfully running this workcamp with these project partners since 2009. 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

Location

The Children's and Youth Leisure Centre (KJFZ) Wismar offers you a variety of indoor leisure activities like air hockey, billiards, darts and table football as well as an outdoor skate park, a table tennis table, a basketball court and a volleyball court. Bicycles are also available for excursions to the beautiful beaches of the Baltic Sea and the city centre of Wismar. The Hanseatic city of Wismar with its old harbour and old town is one of the most beautiful old Hanseatic cities on the Baltic coast.

Accomodation

You will be staying at the Children's and Youth Leisure Centre (KJFZ) in Wismar, where most of the children's holiday activities take place. You will all sleep together in one room on air beds. There are 3 showers, 5 toilets, a kitchen, a dining and meeting room and a leisure room with air hockey, billiards, darts and table football. You can also use a skate park, a table tennis table, a basketball court and a volleyball court in the outdoor area. You will cook together. Money for food will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please state any intolerances during registration.

Requirements

You should have a good knowledge of German (at least B1 level), be able to ride a bike and an ability to work with children. Please bring some music and some ideas for games from your home country with you.

Meeting point

at the accommodation; on Saturday 02/08/2025 by 7pm at the latest From Hamburg Airport (travel time to the camp 3h20min) take the train S1 (in the direction of Wedel or Hamburg Blankenese) to Hamburger Hauptbahnhof (main train station). This train leaves every 10 minutes (travel-time 24min.) From Berlin (travel time to the camp 4h15min) From Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin main train station) take (at least at 3:10pm) the same train RE 8 in the direction of Wismar and get off at the last station Wismar (travel time around 3h17min). In Wismar At Wismar please walk to the ZOB (follow the signs). At Wismar ZOB please take the bus number 240 in the direction of “Busbahnhof Grevesmühlen” or take the bus number 15 in the direction of “Seebad Wendorf, Wismar”. Get off at “Werftstraße, Wismar” after a travel time of 5min respectively 13min. At the bus station Werftstraße walk 50m in the opposite direction and cross the traffic lights. Turn into the street "Am Köppernitztal" and after 50m turn left into Friedrich-Techen-Straße. Follow this street for 200m and then turn right into the street "Am Hofgarten". After 30m you will reach your accommodation, The Children's and Youth Leisure Centre Wismar (Kinder- und Jugendfreizeitzentrum (KJFZ)), on the left-hand side. More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com.

Notes:

You will receive more detailed information after confirming your registration with the specific info sheet for your camp.

Descrizione

Every summer, the daughters and sons of the village of Kuma-Apoti in Togo and the diaspora come together to cheerfully celebrate their Dunenyo-Za festival or development festival. These are solemn moments when the natives of the village of Kuma-Apoti, (one of the cleanest and ecological villages in Togo) meet to reflect on the future and the development of their village. For them, it is about giving new impetus to youth, promoting them in terms of education and learning and making resolutions for the local development of the village. During this period several cultural, traditional and community actions are carried out by local populations. ASTOVOT, as a partner of this small village, is launching an international cultural immersion project with solidarity during these moments of euphoria.

Work

Participation in community work with the local population and national volunteers : (public health, reforestation, maintenance of rural roads and socio-collective infrastructures, inauguration, etc); Organization of socio-educational activities with village children (games, sports, songs and dances, etc.); Immersion in families and folk groups of the village Organization and participation in walks, hikes and waterfalls in the villages and mountains surrounding the village of Kuma-Apoti; Development of venues for concerts and cultural events ; Participate in sporting events (football tournament) as part of this edition. Participate in the apotheosis festival (musical concert, traditional songs and dances, songs, sketches, etc) to highlight the stories collected and encourage oral transmission.

Partner

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Location

The village of Kuma-Apoti, one of the ten villages in the canton of Kuma (Kloto prefecture), is located northwest of the town of Kpalimé. Its relief, made up of a vast plateau and green mountains, gives the village a unique natural setting. Kuma-Apoti benefits from a particular climate, cooler and "temperate" than that of Lomé, due to its location in a humid zone. The village's economy is mainly based on agriculture, around which various economic activities revolve.

Accomodation

Housing conditions are simple and adapted to each project site. Volunteers are housed in rooms of three or four, with the mix depending on the organization of the groups. Depending on the location, dry toilets and waterless showers may be used. The association provides plastic or foam mats, and volunteers can bring their own sleeping bags if necessary. Drinking water is available on site, but access to electricity and the Internet may be limited due to power cuts and difficulties accessing the network. During the work, volunteers will prepare their own meals. An internal organization will distribute domestic tasks, including cooking, alternating between the groups. The food products used will be a mixture of local, imported and sometimes organic products. Each volunteer's diet will be considered when preparing meals. Additionally, volunteers will have access to a variety of tropical fruits, such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, papayas, etc.

Requirements

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Meeting point

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Descrizione

Nepal faces significant challenges as a developing country, with over 25% of its population living below the poverty line. Ranked 145th on the Human Development Index, the government reports a life expectancy of 70.7 years. Malnutrition affects 29% of children under the age of five, and access to health and sanitation facilities remains severely limited. In many rural and underserved communities, awareness of proper hygiene practices is minimal, with only 12% of poor households having adequate sanitation facilities. Additionally, around 5.6 million people, or 20% of the population, lack access to clean drinking water, posing serious health risks. Sanitation, hygiene, and access to safe water are essential for improving health outcomes and driving social and economic development. These elements are critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of equitable sanitation for all. Without proper sanitation, communities remain vulnerable to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related diseases, worsened by inadequate garbage disposal practices. These issues not only threaten public health but also harm the environment. There is an urgent need for education and advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and create lasting improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. Through its project, Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) aims to address these challenges by educating local communities, particularly children, on health, hygiene, and sanitation. Volunteers will raise awareness about WASH standards and prepare communities for future pandemic management. They will collaborate with youth and rural populations, employing innovative approaches and tools designed in consultation with the VIN team to ensure the project meets the specific needs of the local context.

Work

Volunteers will play a key role in educating and raising awareness among youth, children, and rural communities about water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). They are encouraged to bring innovative ideas and develop tools tailored to the local context in consultation with the VIN team. Educating communities about safe water practices and preventing waterborne diseases. Raising awareness about health, hygiene, and sanitation in schools and the community. Organizing cleanliness drives in schools and neighborhoods to promote a cleaner environment. Utilizing creative mediums such as charts, slogans, posters, banners, T-shirts, quotes, videos, films, photographs, and discussions to effectively engage and educate villagers.

Partner

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Location

Jitpurphedi community is located in Tarakeshwor Municipality, on the outskirts of Kathmandu District. It is about 10-15 km from the main ring road to Balaju, Kathmandu, surrounded by hills, fields, and woods.

Accomodation

The volunteers will stay with the host family/hostel identified by VIN. The living facilities are simple and basic. Male and female volunteers will share the same living area with separate rooms. The volunteers sleep on simple beds/mattresses. Please bring your sleeping bag

Requirements

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Meeting point

Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu

Descrizione

Working in the nursing home to have a precious time with the elders.

Work

Volunteers will help in arranging extra activities for the senior citizens, such as art, craft, painting, gardening, storytelling, music and movement activities. Other than that, volunteers could help the nursing care helpers to cook and take part in daily cleaning routines. Some of the days, bring the senior citizens for an evening walk if weather permits. Otherwise lots of, indoor activities could be conduct.

Partner

This project is actively working for SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Malaysian Organization of Volunteer Exchange (MOVE) since 2019 in this place. MOVE is a workcamp NGO founded in 2006. Bernice Home was found by a lady by the name of Bernice.She started this home for senior citizens who need quality home care services to seniors with limited mobility or dementia and hence social interaction. She started this home in 2000 and the second home in 2018. The founder belief “life shouldn’t end when you are old, it should be full of happy memories regardless of the age. The founder wants to keep the seniors active and engaged through physical, mental and social activities, all in the comfort of their home.The workcamp was revived in 2023 and in 2024, 8 volunteers from Japan and Hong Kong did great work!

Location

The home is located in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. https://goo.gl/maps/84vfEaSMEaBL2b4x8 Situation of elderly home in each country. Local SDGs (2030 goals) of Bernice Home. Visit around Kuala Lumpur city. Wednesday afternoon will be free. The volunteers joining more than 1 unit (week) can have free days in the weekend.

Accomodation

Home stay in the house of MOVE President (Siva san). Male and female will be mixed. The breakfast will be bought at the food stalls, very near to the house (walking distance). The dinner too (or they can also cook at home by themselves if they prefer). Lunch will be provided at Home. Workcampers will be able to try various of local food. Sleeping bag is necessary. They need to keep a good manner not to disturb the family life.

Requirements

Bring along your expertise, such as singing, dancing, arts and craft and most important your caring heart to engage with these old people. 700 MYR (150 EUR by the rate on 2025 Feb. 16th). If vols. join more than 1 unit (week), 350 MYR+ 50 MYR x Days meaning 1,050 MYR (225 EUR) for 2 units, 1,400 MYR (301 EUR) for 3 units, etc. 10% discount for the repeaters of MOVE workcamps or those from less expensive countries. Transportation cost for the work is not included. For the vols. joining more than one unit, the accommodation in the Saturday night and the meals from Saturday lunch to Sunday lunch are included unless they stay/ eat outside.

Meeting point

Kuala Lumpur - Volunteers will meet at the nearest train station and need to arrive at the airport by 10:00 on the first day and can leave the airport after 11:00 on the last day.

Work

The island, of Rømø, is incredibly famous for its unique and beautiful marine environment, but without proper protection and environmental awareness, it risks becoming disrupted by pollution and human alteration over time. We worry about the environment, and we know that you do too! Therefore, we need your help protecting and securing the island's important beaches and marine ecosystems. This Work Camp aims both at combatting plastic pollution and spreading awareness about the importance of keeping our oceans clean from waste. The work consists of collecting waste that is washed up from the sea and cleaning the coast on selected stretches. If the weather prevents work on the beach, the work will be more nature maintenance of meadows, heaths, and forests. This includes the cutting of trees and bushes to maintain the forest areas and other practical work. While working you can enjoy the fresh air, the beautiful nature, and the fantastic view of the beaches, thanks to your highly valued and important work! We will advise you to bring warm clothes that are fit for outdoor work and might get dirty. Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather, so it is a good idea to bring rain clothes too. Transport to work: Throughout your stay, you are going to work on selected stretches. Because of that it differs whether it is most convenient to travel by foot, bicycle, car, or public transport. We will make sure to guide you on how from day to day.

Partner

The Danish Nature Agency is an agency under the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, which manages tasks in forests, natural areas, and along the shores of Denmark. The Danish Nature Agency manages the Ministry's approximately 200,000 hectares of forests and natural areas to create the greatest possible value for society in terms of good conditions for outdoor recreation, nature protection, and efficient operation of the Agency's forests and other natural areas. The Danish Nature Agency carries out practical tasks within hunting and game management and specific outdoor and nature projects, which are often in collaboration with other authorities, organizations, and volunteers. You can read more about our organization at https://eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/

Location

Rømø is a nice and beautiful island, located on the Wadden Sea. The unique nature of the Wadden Sea is created by the tide, the waves, and the windfall. Nature is so special, that the area is on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. While participating in the Work Camp, you can do many different activities on the island. Most of these activities will be on the beautiful long beaches. For instance, you can go on guided tours to the Wadden Sea, you can go hiking, kayaking, windsurfing, or watching birds. Rømø has a unique place to look at birds. These activities will not be arranged by the Work Camp host, but within the group, you can help each other organize these fun and social activities. However, the Work Camp host will provide bikes for the groups, and a car will also be available if needed.

Accomodation

Sleeping + bathroom facilities: You will be sleeping in a cabin in two large with mattresses on the floor. You must bring your sleeping bag, pillow, etc. There are bathroom facilities available in the cabin as well. Meals + kitchen facilities: The kitchen is equipped with everything including cutlery, a coffee maker, a refrigerator, a stove, pots, and pans. There is also plenty of room for you and your co-participants to make food together. You and the group will oversee doing the grocery shopping in the local supermarket, and the Work Camp host will cover the costs of the groceries with approximately 100 DKK per person, per day. Read more about the facilities at http://romo-spejderhytte.dk/index.html

Requirements

English will be the only language spoken. All participants must be willing to speak English, even though they are from the same country or have trouble with the English language. Try your best! Unfortunately, we do not take participants with disabilities due to the outdoor terrain.

Meeting point

Nearest airport: Billund Airport Nearest Train Station: Skærbæk St. Meeting Point and Time Skærbæk Station On August 3rd between 15:00-19:00. Arrival at Billund Airport: If your flight arrives at Billund Airport, then you can take a regional train to Skærbæk Train station, which will take around three hours. To make it to your meeting point in time, your flight must arrive no later than 15:00 on the first camp day. From the airport, you take a direct bus to Esbjerg Busterminal. This trip takes around 1 hour. From there, you take a regional train directly to Skærbæk St. Total travel time from the airport to the meeting point will be approximately 3,5 hours. The travel cost from the airport to the meeting point is approx. 20€. Arrival at Copenhagen Airport: If your flight arrives at Copenhagen airport, you can take long-distance trains, and this will take approximately 5 hours. To make it to your meeting point in time, your flight must arrive no later than 12:00 on the first camp day. From the airport, you take an ICL train to Odense Station. This trip takes around 2 hours. From Odense Station, you can take an IC train to Bramming Station. This trip takes around 1 hour. From there, you can take the last regional train to Skærbæk Station, which takes around 45 min. Total travel time from the airport to the meeting point will be approximately 5-6 hours. The travel cost from the airport to the meeting point is approx. 60€. Further details on travel arrangements and purchasing of train/bus tickets will be provided in your infosheet after acceptance. If you are not able to make it in time to the meeting point, please consider arriving one day early and booking a hostel.

Descrizione

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Work

Volunteers will be in charge of ecological part of the festival. They will take care of waste separation, composting, and education of visitors about the preferable dealing with the trash. They will also learn and teach about compost toilets and biofilters for water. Also, there will be opportunities for them to be part of healing and musical events at the festival (they will not only "work", naturally, they are here to have fun, as well).

Partner

Assocition "Eko Heroj" (Eco Hero) is a non-prfit organization that has for its goal protection of the environment, then promotion of ecological topics, but also of volunteerism in general. The main activities are attempts to reach as many people as possible speaking about these important topics. So, there are always many actions of cleaning the nature, many organized workshops, but there are also workcamps now and then. For them priority is zero waste philosophy, which they explain to people whenever they have a chance. Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS) was founded in 1976. Our main aims are environmental protection and education, promotion of sustainable development, work with young people in an international context, promotion of scientific creativity and voluntarism and its values. Voluntary Service of Serbia is a volunteer exchange service center founded in 1990 as one of the sectors of YRS.

Location

The camp is located on the mountain Rtanj (pronounced-Rtany) in lower part of Eastern Serbia. It is well-known for its intact nature, rich flora and fauna, but also its legends and stories, because the shape of the mountain is the one of pyramid (to what festival owes its name; uuu, so mysterious). The best thing you can do there is ask locals to tell you some of those, so you can enjoy in the depth behind myths. Other than that, it is wonderful place, where you can hike and relax, searching for fresh air, clean water and nice locals. Of course, during the festival, volunteers will have the opportunity to access every part of it, as well as to participate in many interesting workshops on different topics. Since everything is made for people there to have great time, just bring your smile and all the rest will be for eternal memory!

Accomodation

The accommodation will be in tents (that will be provided, but you can bring your own, if you want more comfort, we will not make any problems; sleeping bags, as well, can be given by local host), there will be compost toilets (important to know) and showers. Food will be prepared by local chef who will use local healthy and seasonal products. Although there will be some cutlery (knife, fork and spoon), it is recommended that you bring your own, since that policy is something favorited by the local host.

Requirements

There are no specific requirements, but if you want to make your life easier bring sunscreen, adequate clothes and mosquito repellent as it gets hot and humid during the summer in Serbia.

Meeting point

It will be Boljevac or Sokobanja. In the Infosheet everything will be clarified.

Work

ProgramCamp program includes team projects, discussions at the round table, social and sport games, performances in the open air, actions for peace and nature protection, meetings with people, visits to museums and sightseeing as well as presentations of the countries that camp participants and volunteers represent, etc. Every day the camp will have a country presentation, a subject to learn or discuss and a related activity. Teenagers will stay in the camp activities zone from 10:00 to 17:00. There will be one day off in the camp and at least one day of travel outside Tallinn. The day off is spent either under the leadership of a member of the school staff or in the host family. Camp activities will take place in the premises of the language school that is situated in the very centre of the city. To activate teenagers and run the program, there will be a group of international volunteers and members of the local school staff. Longer camp shifts include one trip outside Tallinn.

Partner

International language camp is organized for teenagers by The Language School In Down-Town and the non-profit educational association Alternative Language Programs Satellite (ALP S) as part of their annual activities on multicultural issues for youth. The project s aim is to introduce the diversity of world cultures to the youth and provide them with good practices in intercultural communication by means of alternative English language practice which includes meetings, visits and direct contacts to young people from abroad. The project gets teens of 14 to 16 years old familiar with national traditions of the countries from all over the world, encourages them to develop their global thinking and individual initiative, tolerance and resistance to xenophobia and ethnic hatred. Camps give foreign participants a great chance to meet youngsters both from Estonia and other countries as well as to experience local life. This summer we offer you to participate in our project called KALEIDOSCOPE . We invite camp participants to discuss ideas of chaos and order, mess and harmony. Together, we will discover our own infinite potential and freedom to create new patterns of life, same way as we create patterns out of random single pieces of colourful glass twisting a kaleidoscope. We will learn how to find harmony in apparent disorder and use chaos as a tool for stress relief, how to turn imperfection into the source of true beauty and embrace uncertainty to make our life journey more successful, unique and vibrant. Camp participants will gain ideas and skills how to deal with a million of combinations of the world s reality.Meetings with local and/or international professionals in the field will take place. Thematic photo and video contests for camp participants will be organized.

Location

LocationTallinn is the capital of Estonia, country s largest city with 450 000 inhabitants and nearly as many tourists during summer. You can get a lot of information on Tallinn on www.visittallinn.ee/engLeisure timeThere are a lot of possibilities for leisure time activities since camp will take place in the Estonian capital Tallinn where one can find attractions for any taste: sightseeing, museums, festivals, concerts, etc.

Accomodation

AccommodationThere are 2 options possible (subject to availability, which will become clear by the beginning of the camp):1) In the premises of The Language School In Down-Town located on the 4th and 5th floors of a business building in the city centre. In summer time, a part of the school is reserved for the camp participants accommodation that includes several separate dormitory bedrooms, a fitted kitchen, a dining area, a large shower area and two separate toilet cabins. Apart from bedrooms, the tea-room for rest will be also organized where teenagers might watch films, read and play board games enjoying soft sofas. Bed linen, pillows and blankets will be provided, so you do NOT need to bring a sleeping bag unless you want so. For the reasons of security, minimum one school staff member and one volunteer will be staying with camp participants overnights to maintain life, catering and general order on the site. To facilitate a smooth and safe environment at school during the off-hours, the entrance to the school must be kept closed at all times. The access to the school and accommodation areas will be managed by long-term volunteers or school staff. Please be aware that you must be inside by 22:00 the latest unless supervised outside by a school staff member. Participants will have breakfasts and dinners at school, lunches i together with other camp participants.2) In the host families of some of local participants who will join this camp. The apartments of the host families may be located in Tallinn or its suburbs. Participants will stay in a separate or shared room. You do NOT need a sleeping bag. Participants will have breakfasts and dinners in their host families, lunches i together with other camp participants in the city. Travel cards will be provided, pick up service at arrival is provided upon request.Please note: it is not possible to stay at any of the camp accommodation options before or after the camp arrival and departure days. If you need a place to stay before or after the camp dates, we can help you to book a hostel in Tallinn.

Requirements

Special requirementsWe will welcome any ideas to improve the program and your active participation in it. English is the camp language. The age of international camp participants is 14 i 16. Please be aware that during the day program of the camp the participants will be asked to leave their cell phones at their accommodation site to ensure safety of the participants and their engagement with the camp activities. To assure a safe environment for all the campers, we expect all our camp participants will provide their parents letter of consent (Parental Authorization) and travel insurance certificate.Participation feeUnlike the traditional voluntary camp, there will be mostly informal educational activities and guided language practice. Camp program implementation involves costs for boarding and lodging, domestic transport, materials, excursions, visits, cultural activities and general administration. Since neither EstYES, nor its partner ALPS receive any financial support for this camp from state or municipality, to make the camp happen we have to charge a participation fee from 350 to 600 Euro depending on the duration of the camp shift. This is a separate fee that is different from your country sending organization s fee you pay at home. It has to be paid by participants upon arrival to the camp or by bank transfer prior to the start of the camp. If you prefer fee to be paid in cash on arrival please contact us.

Meeting point

TerminalAirport, bus station, harbor in Tallinn. Pick up by school or host families at the point of arrival is possible upon request.

Work

ProgramCamp program includes team projects, discussions at the round table, social and sport games, performances in the open air, actions for peace and nature protection, meetings with people, visits to museums and sightseeing as well as presentations of the countries that camp participants and volunteers represent, etc. Every day the camp will have a country presentation, a subject to learn or discuss and a related activity. Teenagers will stay in the camp activities zone from 10:00 to 17:00. There will be one day off in the camp and at least one day of travel outside Tallinn. The day off is spent either under the leadership of a member of the school staff or in the host family. Camp activities will take place in the premises of the language school that is situated in the very centre of the city. To activate teenagers and run the program, there will be a group of international volunteers and members of the local school staff. Longer camp shifts include one trip outside Tallinn.

Partner

International language camp is organized for teenagers by The Language School In Down-Town and the non-profit educational association Alternative Language Programs Satellite (ALP S) as part of their annual activities on multicultural issues for youth. The project s aim is to introduce the diversity of world cultures to the youth and provide them with good practices in intercultural communication by means of alternative English language practice which includes meetings, visits and direct contacts to young people from abroad. The project gets teens of 14 to 16 years old familiar with national traditions of the countries from all over the world, encourages them to develop their global thinking and individual initiative, tolerance and resistance to xenophobia and ethnic hatred. Camps give foreign participants a great chance to meet youngsters both from Estonia and other countries as well as to experience local life. This summer we offer you to participate in our project called KALEIDOSCOPE . We invite camp participants to discuss ideas of chaos and order, mess and harmony. Together, we will discover our own infinite potential and freedom to create new patterns of life, same way as we create patterns out of random single pieces of colourful glass twisting a kaleidoscope. We will learn how to find harmony in apparent disorder and use chaos as a tool for stress relief, how to turn imperfection into the source of true beauty and embrace uncertainty to make our life journey more successful, unique and vibrant. Camp participants will gain ideas and skills how to deal with a million of combinations of the world s reality.Meetings with local and/or international professionals in the field will take place. Thematic photo and video contests for camp participants will be organized.

Location

LocationTallinn is the capital of Estonia, country s largest city with 450 000 inhabitants and nearly as many tourists during summer. You can get a lot of information on Tallinn on www.visittallinn.ee/engLeisure timeThere are a lot of possibilities for leisure time activities since camp will take place in the Estonian capital Tallinn where one can find attractions for any taste: sightseeing, museums, festivals, concerts, etc.

Accomodation

AccommodationThere are 2 options possible (subject to availability, which will become clear by the beginning of the camp):1) In the premises of The Language School In Down-Town located on the 4th and 5th floors of a business building in the city centre. In summer time, a part of the school is reserved for the camp participants accommodation that includes several separate dormitory bedrooms, a fitted kitchen, a dining area, a large shower area and two separate toilet cabins. Apart from bedrooms, the tea-room for rest will be also organized where teenagers might watch films, read and play board games enjoying soft sofas. Bed linen, pillows and blankets will be provided, so you do NOT need to bring a sleeping bag unless you want so. For the reasons of security, minimum one school staff member and one volunteer will be staying with camp participants overnights to maintain life, catering and general order on the site. To facilitate a smooth and safe environment at school during the off-hours, the entrance to the school must be kept closed at all times. The access to the school and accommodation areas will be managed by long-term volunteers or school staff. Please be aware that you must be inside by 22:00 the latest unless supervised outside by a school staff member. Participants will have breakfasts and dinners at school, lunches i together with other camp participants.2) In the host families of some of local participants who will join this camp. The apartments of the host families may be located in Tallinn or its suburbs. Participants will stay in a separate or shared room. You do NOT need a sleeping bag. Participants will have breakfasts and dinners in their host families, lunches i together with other camp participants in the city. Travel cards will be provided, pick up service at arrival is provided upon request.Please note: it is not possible to stay at any of the camp accommodation options before or after the camp arrival and departure days. If you need a place to stay before or after the camp dates, we can help you to book a hostel in Tallinn.

Requirements

Special requirementsWe will welcome any ideas to improve the program and your active participation in it. English is the camp language. The age of international camp participants is 14 i 16. Please be aware that during the day program of the camp the participants will be asked to leave their cell phones at their accommodation site to ensure safety of the participants and their engagement with the camp activities. To assure a safe environment for all the campers, we expect all our camp participants will provide their parents letter of consent (Parental Authorization) and travel insurance certificate.Participation feeUnlike the traditional voluntary camp, there will be mostly informal educational activities and guided language practice. Camp program implementation involves costs for boarding and lodging, domestic transport, materials, excursions, visits, cultural activities and general administration. Since neither EstYES, nor its partner ALPS receive any financial support for this camp from state or municipality, to make the camp happen we have to charge a participation fee from 350 to 600 Euro depending on the duration of the camp shift. This is a separate fee that is different from your country sending organization s fee you pay at home. It has to be paid by participants upon arrival to the camp or by bank transfer prior to the start of the camp. If you prefer fee to be paid in cash on arrival please contact us.

Meeting point

TerminalAirport, bus station, harbor in Tallinn. Pick up by school or host families at the point of arrival is possible upon request.

Descrizione

Lohra Castle, with its centuries-old architecture and vast natural surroundings, is not only a site of historical significance but also a living, functioning place that requires continuous care and attention. This workcamp offers volunteers the opportunity to actively contribute to the sustainable management of the castle, ensuring that its grounds remain accessible, welcoming, and well preserved. While this workcamp does not involve hands-on heritage conservation interventions, it plays an equally essential role in the long-term care of the site, allowing future visitors and guests to experience and appreciate Lohra Castle as a harmoniously maintained historic and natural space. Beyond the practical tasks, the workcamp offers a unique and immersive experience. When the castle closes its doors to the public in the evenings, it becomes the volunteers' home, a place where they can experience the privilege of inhabiting a medieval site. In this way, they take on the role of stewards, caring for the space as if it were their own. The experience encourages a sense of responsibility, ownership, and connection to heritage, reinforcing the idea that heritage sites thrive not only through large-scale restoration projects but also through the daily care and attention given to them by those who value their existence.

Work

The volunteers will engage in seasonal maintenance tasks, including mowing and collecting overgrown grass, clearing organic material from public areas, and ensuring that the castle’s open spaces remain well-kept. These tasks are crucial for the aesthetic and functional upkeep of the historic ensemble, preserving the visual integrity of the castle and its surroundings. The work also extends to the general maintenance of communal spaces and halls, contributing to the overall experience of visitors who use the castle for cultural events, educational programmes, and retreats. The income generated from these activities is directly reinvested into the castle’s conservation and educational projects, meaning that the work of volunteers directly supports heritage preservation efforts, even if not through conservation itself.

Partner

Despite its historical significance, Lohra Castle was abandoned for several decades, leading to neglect and structural deterioration. In the 1990s, the site was rediscovered and revitalised through the efforts of Open Houses, which has since used the castle as a base for heritage conservation, cultural initiatives, and international collaboration. Today, it serves as a centre for hands-on restoration projects organised by Open Houses ́ daughter organisation European Heritage Volunteers, as well as training courses organised by partner educational institutions, and volunteer-driven maintenance efforts such as this workcamp, welcoming participants from across the world to engage with its unique built heritage.

Location

Lohra Castle, located in northern Thuringia, Germany, stands as one of the region’s most representative medieval fortifications located in the vicinity of important trade routes that connected the medieval world of central Europe. Though its present form is modest, the castle continues to command a striking position within the hilly landscape near a natural reserve. With a history spanning over a thousand years, the site reflects multiple layers of architectural evolution, shaped by shifting political, economic, and social contexts over the centuries. The architectural ensemble of Lohra Castle presents a rich assortment of historical styles, with elements dating back to the 11th century. Among its most remarkable features is a Romanesque double-floored chapel from the 12th century, an exceptional structure that highlights early medieval religious architecture. Traces of medieval fortifications and towers, as well as a Renaissance-era manor house, further illustrate the site’s transformation from a medieval defensive stronghold into a more residential and agricultural complex. The projects of Open Houses are based on sustainable principles, ensuring that Lohra Castle is maintained not just as a historical monument but as a living environment where culture and nature coexist. The castle is surrounded by a vast natural protected area, making its preservation an effort that combines aspects of cultural and natural heritage conservation. Through their contributions, volunteers help safeguard the balance between history and nature, keeping Lohra Castle a welcoming place for future generations of visitors, researchers, and heritage enthusiasts.

Accomodation

shared rooms with 2 – 5 beds in 3 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), 1 camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stoves

Meeting point

Next towns: Bleicherode (6 km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km) Region: Thuringia 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)