Mid-term (1 to 6 months) "environmental" project in Italy

For the 5th year Verona will host international volunteers during the entire year. Verona is a very famous city (do you remember Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare?) in the North East of Italy; it is a very touristic place with a long history and culture; rich of historical monuments, first of all the famous arena (the ancient roman theatre). Even it is a great example of fortified town, in fact the walls and the surrounding area are going to become a national park. Unfortunately some parts of the area are still damaged and abandoned. In the Voluntary Centre of Legambiente Verona, volunteers participate in two different projects. Both projects are similar: the common goal being the protection of the environment, and in particular of the two most important Urban Parks in Verona.Read both projects carefully, and express in the motivation letter your preference, keeping in mind that volunteers from both projects will be in continuous contact. The local group will consider the volunteer choice and decide the place to stay according to the preference of the volunteer and the needs of each project.I. Park of the WallsDescription of the activities

30 hours a week
Verona is an exceptionally beautiful example of fortified towns. You can see evolution of a tradition through centuries. The Walls of Verona are a complex set of different types of architecture. All this area is slowly becoming a Park. Unfortunately most part of it is just a huge relict, damaged and abandoned. In this area Legambiente is deeply involved in action of restoration and re-evaluation of a great green space. The aim is to turn into a park the area comprehended among four bastions of 800 and remains of walls of 500. A great part of the work is done, but the park still needs maintenance and continuous actions to improve it and obtain the final result of a beautiful recovered green jewel.
Volunteers will be involved (along EVS volunteers) in custody of the Park (opening and closing gates), gardening, cleaning, construction, etc. They will collaborate with the local group of Legambiente in activities of the Association (like guiding tourists through the town, among others, of course in collaboration with guides of the Association). Sometimes, these four bastions host drug addicts, prostitutes or homeless people who find place to stay for some hours. It is not dangerous, and you will not work alone. There is a technician responsible for the maintenance of the Park and another person responsible for volunteers and their integration in the project and in the town.
Activities vary from season to season, due to the fact that the park has different needs as the weather changes (for example, cutting the grass in spring, watering the plants in the summer, gathering leaves during autumn, cutting wood during winter, ecc); and also due to the fact that the association is involved in different kinds of projects during the year.Accommodation
You will be hosted in a house inside the Park “Raggio di Sole”, with other international volunteers, EVS volunteers and the workcamp leader. (5 volunteers+EVS+leader).
The house is very close to the centre of town and it has two bedrooms (9 beds in total), two bathrooms, kitchen, big living room, open air area when. The cooking and cleaning in the house is shared in turns among all the volunteers.Language of the project
Volunteers are expected to speak a little bit of a latin language (French, Spanish or Italian) to make communication with locals a lot easier. English is also important for the communication between volunteers. There is a possibility for the volunteers to assist to Italian lessons (not during the summer camps).II. Villa BuriDescription of the activities

30 hours a week
Villa Buri is situated at the centre of the Adige river bend and it is a monumental palace, with a chapel, some cottages and a majestic landscape-garden, 30ha large, where a large part of it is planted with ancient and precious trees. In September 2001 the management of the villa was given to a no-profit group of associations which have created a project to use and renovate the structure.
The main goal of this project is to affirm a culture of peace, to research a bearable and solid economy, and a right relationship with the environment. To make it possible it is necessary to suggest concrete and visible stimulus, symbolical but clear in order to develop all together a cultural articulated and qualified activity related to peace, environment and an economy of justice. In the planned activities there are some educational and formative ones: meetings, expositions, training courses, the opening of the park, parties, manifestations, events where the international volunteers can take part. The final goal is to restore a part of the park inside four bastions of the XIX century and remains of walls from XVI century.
Volunteers will work on the custody of the park (opening and closing the gates), gardening (taking care of the botanical garden), cleaning, making guest passes, etc. all of which coordinated by a responsible. They will also collaborate with the local group of Legambiente in other activities.
In June 2006 Legambiente Verona achieved to obtain the direct concession of a municipal park near Villa Buri, called Bosco Buri (Woods of Buri). The volunteers will also be involved in the gardening and cleaning of this part of the park

You will be hosted in a house inside the Park “Villa Buri” (3 volunteers). The house, even if distant from Verona Centre, is very close to the main square of one of the most popular neighbourhoods in town. It is also a place that facilitates the contact with the local community and with the various realities that surround the outskirts of the city. It has one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, a little dining room and a garden(3 beds in all). The cooking and cleaning in the house is divided by turns between all the volunteers.

Volunteers are expected to speak a little bit of a latin language (French, Spanish or Italian) to make communication with locals a lot easier. English is also important for the communication between volunteers. There is a possiblity for the volunteers to assist to Italian lessons (not during the summer camps).

Motivation letter required