Descrizione

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Work

Volunteers will renovate the archaeological nature trail by creating a new walking path and designing informational boards. The trail passes by many fascinating natural and historical features. Additionally, volunteers will help maintain public parks to make the area more accessible and educational for visitors.

Partner

Since 1990, NiG has been bringing together socially engaged youth and dedicated volunteers to organize and run international work camps in Germany, as well as multilateral youth exchanges both at home and abroad. As part of a global network, we also connect young people with meaningful projects through our partner organizations worldwide. Over the years, thousands of participants from 42 countries have collaborated on impactful initiatives. With more than 800 work camps completed, we continue to create opportunities for cultural exchange, learning, and social engagement. In our multi-week camps, volunteers contribute to essential and much-needed projects in various fields, including: > Environmental conservation and sustainability > Working with children and youth > Arts and culture > Preservation of historical landmarks

Location

LOCATION: Lohmen is a picturesque village in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, surrounded by untouched nature and several nature parks. With around 850 inhabitants, it offers a peaceful and close-knit community atmosphere. The village is particularly charming due to its historical landmarks, which provide insights into the region’s long history, as well as various recreational opportunities—including a labyrinth, sports fields, and an archaeological nature trail. Lohmen uniquely combines nature, history, and community, making it an ideal place for those who want to experience rural life in a culturally rich environment. LEISURE: Volunteers can explore the surroundings by water or go swimming together. Excursions to other cities, such as Rostock, are also possible.

Accomodation

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be accommodated in a youth club located in a former kindergarten. The accommodation is simple and functional. Outside, there is a fire pit that invites everyone to gather in the evenings. The volunteers should bring sleeping bag and mattress pad with them, as the accommodation only provides mattresses but no blankets. FOOD: Meals will be prepared by the volunteers themselves. They can bring their own ideas and recipes, creating a diverse mix of traditional specialties, new creations, and shared culinary experiments.

Meeting point

Meeting point will be at the train station in lOHMEN.

Notes:

ATTENTION: In Germany, there are two different villages named Lohmen. You need to go to Lohmen between Güstrow and Goldberg in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

Work

Together we are going to reconstruct a traditional agricultural farm for living archaeology project of the early Middle Ages. In our attempt to make everything the traditional way, and to honor the spirit of the past by preserving its heritage, we avoid using modern tools. The only materials used will be wood, clay, reed, straw and willow rods. Concrete tasks will be: • the maintenance of gardens and green spaces • repairing walls and roofs made of clay and reeds • the construction of a simple wooden shelter At the same time, there are numerous opportunities for the participants to try out historical craft techniques and gain experience in working with natural building materials. If there are disruptions during the main work, smaller tasks can also be carried out on the grounds, for example in garden maintenance, building a clay oven or creating wattle fences.

Partner

This project is a collaboration between IBG and the “Bajuwarenhof Kirchheim”. The Bajuwarenhof is described as a ‘project for living archaeology of the early Middle Ages’ and a hands-on archaeological open-air museum that you can interact with. Since 2003, they have been reconstructing an agricultural farmstead as it would have looked in the 6th to 8th century. The basis for this is formed by archaeological finds and features from the municipal area and the surrounding area. At the centre are several residential and farm buildings and their furnishings. There is also an experimental field and various gardens in which cereals, vegetables, herbs and berries but also flax and various dye plants are cultivated. In this way they convey an impression of daily life in the early Middle Ages with the aim of making current archaeological research findings tangible and enabling the visitors to learn more about the history and archaeology of the region around Munich. Get an impression on their website: https://www.bajuwarenhof.de/

Location

The municipality of Kirchheim b. München is located in southeastern Germany (Bavaria) to the east of the state capital in the district of Munich and has excellent public transport connections to the city. Around 14,000 people currently live in the municipal districts of Kirchheim, Heimstetten and Hausen. All everyday facilities are available locally. You will find several supermarkets, restaurants, bars and bakeries nearby. When the weather is nice, you can spend the day at the Heimstettener See in the immediate vicinity of the Bajuwarenhof. Munich Central Station is only 20 minutes away by S-Bahn. Other destinations in the foothills of the Alps can be reached by train.

Accomodation

For the duration of the project, the Workcamp participants will be accommodated in a flat in the industrial zone of Kirchheim. It is a 120m² 4-room flat with a kitchen and a bathroom in each room. The rooms are each furnished with camp beds. Please bring your own sleeping bag and a pillow if needed. It is also possible to barbecue or cook over an open fire on the grounds of the open-air museum. The route from the accommodation to the open-air museum is easy to manage on foot or by bus. Food will be purchased using the camp budget, and everyone will take turns cooking and cleaning. To reduce our carbon footprint, we encourage volunteers to consume less meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Meeting point

Meeting point: Please try to arrive between 1pm and 7pm in Kirchheim bei München. From Munich, take the S2 in the direction of Erding to the Heimstetten stop (journey time from Munich main station to Heimstetten: 26 minutes). The MVV regional bus 263 takes a further 10 minutes to the center of Kirchheim, from where the apartment is just a few minutes' walk away.

Work

You will work on the "Hochtalsteig" (High Valley Trail), a 16km award-winning circular hiking trail through the heights of the Black Forest with beautiful views. There is the Neumannshütte, a hiking/shelter hut, situated at a wonderful vantage point above our valley and directly on the much-travelled ‘Hochtalsteig’ premium hiking trail. This hut needs to be renovated. On top of that, you will help to build the panoramic swing. Specific tasks include: • Replacing the wood panelling: Remove old wood panelling, cut new wood to size and seal it with protective coating. • Upgrading the barbecue area: Create new seating made of wood or natural stone. • Building the panoramic swing: Prepare the site, manufacture, assemble and secure the wooden swing and create a visual design as an ‘insta-spot’ with panoramic orientation. You will work under the professional guidance of staff from the municipal service department. But please be aware that autumn can be cold and windy in the mountains – so please be prepared for long outdoor activities.

Partner

This is the perfect project for people loving simple life and outdoor activities in the mountains. It is surrounded by beautiful nature with high moors, forests and mountain pastures. You will stay in a mountain hut and improve a hiking hut. The village attracts many tourists, hikers in summer and people doing Nordic skiing during winter. Parts of this fantastic landscape are a nature protected area. Therefore, it is very important to make it accessible to people but at the same time, it is important to make the paths attractive and guide visitors so that they don’t leave the established paths and damage the nature. Part of this experience at hiking there is being able to have spaces to rest. The Neumannshütte, that you will help renovate, is one of them. To make the experience more unique, the village has decided to build a panoramic swing to swing into the landscape and to be used on social media.

Location

Bernau is located in the highest part of the black forest. The accommodation is at an altitude of more than 1.000m. As many tourists visit the area in summer and winter, you can find many attractive places, sights and leisure time offers. But of course the nature is the highlight in itself. A perfect camp for nature lovers!

Meeting point

The place is quite isolated and approx. 3 km from the tiny village, but by chance there is a bus stop for hikers nearby called “Rotes Kreuz, Bernau im Schwarzwald”. Please check www.bahn.com for a connection from anywhere in Germany to this bus stop. There is a bus every two hours on Sunday afternoons. But the last bus of the day arrives already at 6pm. Please do your best to arrange your travel in a way that you can reach the campsite with public transport.

Work

The community of Horb is counting on your help to build a Recycling Station for kids. In addition you will help to extend and improve other parts of the town’s public infrastructure. Your specific tasks will be: - Construction of a recycling station in two municipal kindergartens - Renovation of a tool shed (woodworking tasks) - Renovation of the playground area in a kindergarten - Renovation of the care centre building in a primary school   The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. You will work 30 hours per week, between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday with a lunchbreak. You will also be divided in smaller groups throughout the days to effectively complete the different tasks.

Partner

This project is an incredible opportunity for the Horb Youth Department and IBG to collaborate for a third time! They are looking forward to working with you and improve the infrastructure of community nurseries and schools. Some spaces need a bit of attention and care, and with your help, they can be transformed into welcoming places where children and young people in the community can thrive. This year the main focus will be on building a recycling station in the kindergartens. The goal is to establish an effective recycling system but also to help raise awareness about the importance of recycling and spark the interest in children on engaging with environmental issues from an early age. You will collaborate alongside the municipality, youth welfare office and other helpers to make sustainable public spaces useful for new generations.

Location

Horb am Neckar is a beautiful town of 25.300 inhabitants, located on the banks on the Neckar River and surrounded by green hills. Horb is about 900 years old! You will feel its long history when exploring the town center. With its church overlooking the town, charming half-timbered houses, old towers, gates and narrow alleys, Horb offers many picturesque sights. On weekends make sure you explore other areas of the region! There are nearby hiking opportunities in the Black Forest. You can also easily reach cities like Tübingen (30 min) or Stuttgart (50 min) or visit Lake Constance (2 to 2.5h) by regional train. The local community is willing to provide plenty of recommendations and spend time with the group on your free time to help you discover their beautiful region.

Accomodation

You will be staying at Horb’s Culture Centre “Kloster” (Marktplatz 28, 72160 Horb) with camp beds provided for sleeping. Please make sure to bring a sleeping bag and a pillow if needed. A Kitchen is available at the Stone House (Hirschgasse 8, 72160 Horb), including a dining room. For shower facilities, you will need to walk approximately 4-5 minutes to the town’s indoor swimming pool.   The group of volunteers will be responsible for meal preparation, which includes grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning up afterward. Food will be purchased with the camp budget and tasks will be distributed during the first days to ensure everyone participates. Food will be purchased using the camp budget, and everyone will take turns cooking and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and explore other more sustainable dishes.

Meeting point

Please, you should try to arrive at Horb train station between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the 28.06.25. You can check for connections from anywhere to Horb on www.bahn.com/en or https://www.thetrainline.com/

Work

Project: "Photography" 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. Week 1: Visit the Sachsenhausen Memorial and learn about its different areas and history. Week 2: Work with photography, develop your own project for a small exhibition, and visit the Ravensbrück Memorial (a former concentration camp for women). Week 3: Discuss remembrance culture and meet a descendant of a former concentration camp prisoner. __________ 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.

Partner

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. This is an ESC Project More information: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de/en/

Location

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

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.

Requirements

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. - Interested in Photography

Meeting point

You can use googlemaps to find the hostel: Bernauer Str. 162, 16515 Oranienburg

Notes:

For this Workcamp it is necessary to have very good English skills as we will get a lot of information about the time of Second World War! ____________________________________________ This project is composed of a volunteering team, supported by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union. Compared to the usual workcamp participation scheme, some main financial and administrative differences must be underlined: For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.” ATTENTION PLEASE: This project is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (no sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project - Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal; We will organize your matching in the portal with the volunteering project. - Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of the rate of our country ------ For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.

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)

Work

Project: "Sound workshop" This is an ESC teams project. . Week 1: Explore the Sachsenhausen Memorial and learn about the history of the former concentration camp. Week 2: Participate in a music and sound workshop (bring your own instrument or music tool) and visit the Ravensbrück Memorial, the former largest concentration camp for women. Week 3: Focus on Sachsenhausen’s time as a Soviet special camp, including a talk with a surviving witness __________ 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. There will be a sound workshop so pleeae bring instruments with you. __________ Work part: Participants will perform maintenance and gardening work on the memorial grounds. No special skills are required for the simple physical work.

Partner

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/

Location

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

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.

Requirements

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).

Meeting point

With google you can easily find your way with the address of the youth hostel here: Bernauer Str. 162, 16515 Oranienburg

Notes:

We have a total of three projects at the Sachsenhausen Memorial, with a different additional project: – VJF 2.3 Sachsenhausen #1:ESC Photography (06. July. - 26. August 2025) – VJF 2.4 Sachsenhausen #2: Sound worksop (08.07.25 – 26.07.25) – VJF 2.5 Sachsenhausen #3: Comic workshop (11.08.25 – 23.08.25) For this Workcamp it is necessary to have very good English skills as we will get a lot of information about the time of Second World War! ____________________________________________ This project is composed of a volunteering team, supported by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union. Compared to the usual workcamp participation scheme, some main financial and administrative differences must be underlined: For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.” ATTENTION PLEASE: This project is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (no sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project - Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal; We will organize your matching in the portal with the volunteering project. - Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of the rate of our country ------ For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.

Work

Project: "Sound workshop" . Week 1: Explore the Sachsenhausen Memorial and learn about the history of the former concentration camp. Week 2: Participate in a music and sound workshop (bring your own instrument or music tool) and visit the Ravensbrück Memorial, the former largest concentration camp for women. Week 3: Focus on Sachsenhausen’s time as a Soviet special camp, including a talk with a surviving witness __________ 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. There will be a sound workshop so pleeae bring instruments with you. __________ Work part: Participants will perform maintenance and gardening work on the memorial grounds. No special skills are required for the simple physical work.

Partner

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/

Location

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

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.

Requirements

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.

Meeting point

With google you can easily find your way with the address of the youth hostel here: Bernauer Str. 162, 16515 Oranienburg

Notes:

We have a total of three projects at the Sachsenhausen Memorial, with a different additional project: – VJF 2.3 Sachsenhausen #1:ESC Photography (06. July. - 26. August 2025) – VJF 2.4 Sachsenhausen #2: Sound worksop (08.07.25 – 26.07.25) – VJF 2.5 Sachsenhausen #3: Comic workshop (11.08.25 – 23.08.25) For this Workcamp it is necessary to have very good English skills as we will get a lot of information about the time of Second World War! ____________________________________________ This project is composed of a volunteering team, supported by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union. Compared to the usual workcamp participation scheme, some main financial and administrative differences must be underlined: For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.” ATTENTION PLEASE: This project is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (no sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project - Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal; We will organize your matching in the portal with the volunteering project. - Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of the rate of our country ------ For Sending Organizations: “Due to high costs and the lack of additional funding, we are unable to cover a sending fee on top of the ESC travel allowance (lump sum based on travel distance) that can be allocated to the sending organization for its volunteers. Unfortunately, this is the only way we can continue to run ESC teams in the capital of Germany.

Work

Enjoy being outdoors! The main task of the project will be to improve the outdoor infrastructure so that even more people enjoy spending their leisure time outdoors and in nature. • You will be installing benches at various points along the edge of paths or forests - in some places this will first require clearing work and the construction of a foundation, while in other places existing wooden benches or picnic areas will simply be renovated. • You will renovate a wooden shelter for hikers. This includes woodwork and painting as well as wood and roof maintenance. • To motivate children in particular to spend their free time outdoors, you will maintain an existing playground in the middle of the forest and add some new play equipment. • To complete all these small tasks you will also improve the surrounding of your accommodation. This will include landscape gardening and renovation work. The group of volunteers will be split up in the two different tasks every day. You are also invited to support the local festival team during their village party.

Partner

Schwarzerden is a small village with 430 inhabitants and already experienced in welcoming international volunteers. After six successful international IBG workcamps they again invite a group of volunteers to support them to improve the local infrastructure and to enrich the village festival on July 12th to 14th. The previous camps have always been a big fun for the volunteers and the locals.

Location

The workcamp will take place in the small village Schwarzerden, which belongs to the community of Freisen. Freisen is situated in the north of Saarland in a rural area. You can find many interesting places in Freisen: a historical railway, cultural and natural sights, a small zoo, a spa bath (but only few of them in Schwarzerden). The local villagers are already looking forward to getting to know you and to welcoming you at the local village festival. We will do our best to arrange excursions with the support of locals but due to the poot public transport they will for sure be limited. The project is perfect for volunteers who enjoy being outside and in nature.

Accomodation

The accommodation provided is the former centre of the sports club of Schwarzerden. It is now in public use for bigger events in this village. All necessary facilities are a hall for sleeping, a kitchen, toilettes, showers… Camping beds are provided but please bring your sleeping bag! If the weather is fine, you have the opportunity to eat and chill outside. Attention: This place is quite isolated; the village of Schwarzerden is 1km away. Next to the accommodation you can find the sports ground, you can use it whenever you want. You will have a beautiful view over the valley; you will be surrounded by forests and meadows. Just make a campfire and enjoy nature. Please bring your own sleeping bag and pillow (if required). 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.

Meeting point

Please check www.bahn.com for a connection from anywhere in Germany to “Schwarzerden Bahnhof, Freisen”. This bus stop is only 300m from your accommodation. You will travel by train to St. Wendel and change to the bus No. 604. Please make sure to arrive in St. Wendel before 20.25 p.m. to reach the last bus of the day to Schwarzerden

Work

Bring nature back to an old gravel mine! You will support the transformation of an abandoned gravel pit into an ecologically valuable habitat and thus give back to nature what humans have taken from it. The Nellschütz gravel company is creating a habitat with a pond, deadwood, rocks and steep slopes on an area of 4 hectares, providing a new habitat for amphibians, insects and various plants. All these tasks are done in close cooperation with the local authorities for nature protection. The site will also be used for environmental education work with children and young people in the future. Specific tasks will include the construction of a circular path and a green classroom, the creation of a pond, deadwood areas, etc. You will be digging, straightening, planting, sawing and nailing. There will be a wide variety of work with different levels of difficulty. If necessary, workers from the gravel company will support you with heavy machines. A landscape gardener will provide professional guidance.

Partner

With your commitment, you will make an important contribution to the biodiversity and the transformation of former industrial brownfield sites. There are many places in the area south-west of Leipzig where gravel is extracted. This is done in open-cast mining. As soon as a site is exhausted, large desolate-looking holes are left in the landscape. In cooperation with the local nature conservation authorities and the Nellschütz gravel company, we will support the revitalisation of such a gravel pit with this volunteering project. Many people in the region are looking forward to this renaturation and to you. They will support you at work, in your free time, with food etc. and they are looking forward to meeting you. The site will also be used for environmental education by school classes and kindergartens, so a circular route through the site and an outdoor classroom will be build.

Location

Nellschütz is located in the south-west of Leipzig. The nearest larger town is Weißenfels, the meeting point on arrival. Weißenfels is worth a visit, there is a historic old town with various baroque-style buildings, a castle, but also nice shops, bars and cafés... but also many lost places due to the structural change in the region. We will try to offer various excursions. Due to the poor public transport most activities and excursions will be realised with the support of locals. They are already exited in showing you their highlights of the region.

Accomodation

The living conditions will be very basic and sustainable. You will live right next to the gravel pit, about 1km away from the small hamlet of Nellschütz. Specifically, there will be several sleeping tents with camping beds and a pavilion with tables and benches as a common room. Cooking will take place in an improvised outdoor kitchen on an open fire. Instead of a fridge, there will be a dug-out earth cellar. There is a compost toilet and solar showers. Of course there is no wifi. You can also use the showers in the public swimming pool from time to time or swim in the lake. Please bring your sleeping bag. 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.

Requirements

The project is only suitable for people who are comfortable with living and working in the simplest of conditions and want to try out this way of living for a fortnight without too many comforts.

Meeting point

Meeting point will be at Weißenfels train station. Here you will be picked up by your campleaders. We will arrange several pick-up times in the afternoon and early evening. Please arrange your journey in a way that you arrive between 3 pm and 9 pm in Weißenfels. You can check for connections from anywhere to on: www.bahn.com/en.

Notes:

The project is only suitable for people who are comfortable with living and working in the simplest of conditions and want to try out this way of living for a fortnight.