Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "environmental" projects in Belgium

”La CITE s'invente” is a non profit educational organisation for sustainable development. Its mission is to raise awareness about environmental issues and to promote sustainable ways of life.

The main objective of the organisation is to build and design an eco-centre for pedagogical purposes in the hillside (coteaux) of the Citadel of Liège. An eco-centre is a multi-purpose facility dedicated to demonstration of innovations and knowledge transfers for environment protection and sustainable development. In addition to the development of the eco-centre, the organisation is carrying out numerous activities related to environment:
- Entertainment activities, particularly about compost, biodiversity, vegetable garden, eco-construction, beekeeping, deadheading of fruit trees, healthy food and (soon) permaculture with schools of the neighbourhood and adult groups.
- Film production and projections
- Fun, educational and ecological machines
- Events related to sustainable development (festival, etc)

The main objective of the workcamp will be to help improving the outdoor and indoor facilities of the eco-centre. Examples of tasks and activities to foresee during the workcamp:
- to prepare the construction of a future building whose aim is to host groups (the former sheepfold)
- to build a new hen-house and to eat fresh eggs
- to finalize the outdoor dry toilets
- to maintain vegetable gardens (weed, rebuild wood boxes,...)
- to prepare soil for planting and planting
- to dig new ponds
- to install nest boxes
- to spend one or two days in a permaculture farm in order to learn and
to harvest vegetables and fruits for volunteers' meals
- to pick wild plants
- to make bread and pizzas using the outdoor wood oven
- to take part to excursions in the area

The exact tasks to be carried out during this workcamp will depend on the progress of the works and the priorities at the time of the workcamps.

You will have to help in the multiple tasks which will allow the school to organize once again incredible summer camps.The purpose of the workcamp will mostly be about preparing, renovating and securising the wood village which hosts each year hundreds of kids. This enchanting place is the result of the work and imagination of generations of kids and leaders, and today it extends considerably (more than 20 huts over 2 hectares, a bridge, an amphitheater, a fence...).This part of the work will include for instance these tasks :- Reconstruction of the foundation of a wood bridge,- Replacement of worn or damaged boards,- Verification of roofs, walls and floors,- Various wood work.During the workcamp, we would like volunteers to share with us the everyday life of the school and the maintenance of the domain, especially by doing these tasks :- To take care of the animals (a horse, two donkeys, sheeps and chickens),- To prepare the fields and to repare the fences,- Forest maintenance (picking up, and storage of the wood) and of the 12 hectares of field (grassland, stream)- Construction of a dry stone wall.Tasks are enough diverse so that there is something to suit all tastes.

- Volunteers will live in a small cottage, with a kitchen, a bathroom and two bedrooms (2 x 4 beds), as well as in a dormitory with a bathroom. Bring your sleeping bag.- Volunteers will either take their lunch with groups during the camps or they will cook by themselves in the kitchen at their disposal.

Clerheid's School is located in a hamlet in the province of Luxembourg, in Wallonia, the french speaking part of Belgium. The field of activity is situated between 350 and 550 meters of altitude, away from major roads on a crest of the Ardennes.

The school is a place quite isolated, where there is a few public transport. The closest town, Marche-en-Famenne is at 30 minutes by car.Internet and a phone are limited access in the office of the organisation.A project-related motivation letter is required.

18-99

ÉrezÉe

English, French

BRU: Brussels Natl (Brussels, Belgium)Vegetarian food will be available

The aim of this workcamp is to renovate the "Nature Centre" which is surrounded by the natural reserve. More concretely, the work will be mainly dedicated to painting and renovation work. And if time allows it, they will carry out some work in the natural reserve, like to parks and some gardens maintenance: removing the over-grown grass...

Volunteers will sleep in a dormitory within the nature centre. Please bring a sleeping bag.Volunteers will be provided with a kitchen and they will cook their meals themselves.

This beautiful domain is located in a village called Heure, in the hollow of the green hills of Famenne. The village is located at about 10 km from Marche-en-Famenne and about 40 km of Namur, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The centre of the village is located at 1 km. There is very little access to public transportation and there isn't any store or bar in the area.

• This workcamp is designed for nature lovers who are not afraid of outdoor work in an isolated place (no wifi).• Please bring good working shoes and clothes as well as a raincoat in case of rainy weather.• A project-related motivation letter is required.

18-99

5377 heure-en-famenne

English, French

BRU: Brussels Natl (Brussels, Belgium)Vegetarian food will be available

Each day, 2 different volunteers will participate in the daily life of the centre: your ideas are welcome to organise some activities with the kids, the staff member of the centre will help you to organise these activities. The rest of the team will give a hand to clean the big green areas of the centre: cut branches, prune trees, clean the area around the pond. Depending on the weather, some indoor task as painting could be done.

work might be sometimes long and difficult. Volunteers will spend the whole day outdoor.

You will have one dormitory (so you will sleep all together) in the centre with mats and bathroom with hot shower.Be aware that there is no Internet access in the camp place. It will be a good opportunity to forget technology and to appreciate the nature and calm that surround the centre. During the camp, the cooking team of the centre will cook for you (If you like good food, then this project is for you!)

The centre is located in deep countryside. By choosing this workcamp, you decide to live in the nature. All around, there are fields, woods and small villages. Local partner will provide bicycle (you'll find some shops about 5km).

football fields and tennis or basketball playgrounds…During the weekend, it will be possible to organise cultural visits and to travel to the biggest Belgian cities. The town of Paliseul is 5 kilometres away from the Centre. From there, by train, it is very easy to reach bigger urban centres such as Namur, Brussels, Arlon, Bouillon or Liège.

18-99

Opont

English

CRL: Brussels South (Charleroi, Belgium)Vegetarian food will be available

The Volunteers crew will work outside, especially to restore the surrounding wall of the Abbey: cleaning the wall, weeding, and pruning, painting benches...

This workcamp is based on manual and outdoor tasks which might be sometimes hard.

Volunteers will stay in bedrooms for two. Shower and toilets will be available on the same floor. On the ground floor, you'll have your private living room that you can use for the evening and free time. The food will be provided by the community. During the fall time, they collect fruits to produce their own fruit juice and marmalade. Thanks to inform us in advance if you have a special diet.

Maredret (25km of bigger cities as Dinant and Namur) is a traditional village; most of the houses are built in stones of the country, extracted during decades of the local quarries. Maredret is a small jewel set in the Molignée's Valley. This region is considered for the beauty of its landscapes and its natural resources. It's very close of the touristic place of Maredsous.

There will be limited Internet access during the camp, available just from time to time. Participation to monastic life (daily mess….) is never compulsory. Obviously, volunteers will be individually free to join some public celebrations in case of wish or personal interest.While promoting this workcamp in a catholic monastery, CBB insists on its pluralist values. This project offers to the volunteers the opportunity to work on a site with high patrimonial and cultural richness. We also see it as a nice opportunity to learn and develop awareness to interfaith dialogue and understanding.It is an alcohol free camp.

18-99

Maredret

English

CRL: Brussels South (Charleroi, Belgium)Vegetarian food will be available

The volunteers will create a wooden observation platform in wetland where live few beaver's families; building a path around the platform and dismantling former fences is also scheduled.

In a lovely cottage in the middle of the domain with beds, a kitchen and a bathroom with hot shower.The food will be provided by the Domain's kitchen.Volunteers must notify beforehand about specific diet.

Le Domaine de Chevetogne is located in the countryside. By choosing this workcamp, the volunteer decides to live in the nature. All around, there are fields and woods. As the domain is also a tourist centre, there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment: outdoor swimming pool, football fields, minigolf, and tennis or basketball playgrounds…During the weekend, it will be possible to organize cultural visits and to travel to the biggest Belgian cities. The town of Ciney is 10 kilometers away from the Domain of Chevetogne.

There will be limited Internet access during the camp available just from time to time. Please take working clothes with you and "working boots". Rubber boots would be perfect!

15-17

Chevetogne

English

CRL: Brussels South (Charleroi, Belgium)Vegetarian food will be available