The work will be mainly manual and physically hard. This year we are going to continue working at the former Municipal river bath and its surroundings, which was revived during the workcamp in 2014 and 2015 but there is still a lot to improve. One week you are probably going to work elsewhere in Pilsen i the places to be improved during the workcamp are chosen from the proposals of local people in March. Your work will probably consist of cleaning up the nature/city street, cultivating green and city spaces, making wooden furniture and similar activities. Be ready to work in all kinds of weather. For illustration, pictures from 2015 are on http://on.fb.me/1OJepKM. At both places we are going to celebrate the effort - by throwing a concert or a neighbours party.
Accomodation & food:
In a scout clubhouse. There is a kitchen, hot and cold water, 3 toilets and 1 shower. Please bring a sleeping bag. The clubhouse is located near the River bath and 40 min from the springs in Roudna. Walking distance to the city centre is 2.1 km and to the nearest tram stop 650 m. Warm lunches (vegetarian meals possible) will be provided at the worksite. You will prepare your own breakfast and dinner.
Location & leisure:
City of Pilsen (www.pilsen.eu) is the capital of West Bohemia. With 170 000 inhabitants and 15 000 university students it is a significant cultural, business and industrial centre, internationally famous mostly due to the products of Pilsner Urquell and koda factory.Study part: You will have an opportunity to go for an excursion to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and for a trip to a spectacular town in Pilsen region. You will also help with the organization of an evening or afternoon event for the public at the work site and you can be actively involved in the program (these events are usually on weekends so please be ready to help a couple of hours, too i it will be great experience and fun).Leisure time: See some interesting Pilsen sights i medieval city centre, historical underground, Techmania Science Centre and do other activities such as visiting festivals, cinemas, sports facilities, restaurants, typical local pubs, cafes, tearooms and clubs, galleries, museums and ZOO, woods and lakes around the city.
Requirements:
: A short motivation letter is required Your work will be mostly hard manual work. But don t worry - it will be worth it We look for people who believe in improving the city by their own hands, who find fun and pleasure in doing so and who can also spice it up: if you cook, sing or can amuse others, it will be useful for the evenings-We certainly do not want any moaners :) The workcamp is suitable also for parents with children.
The work will be manual and outdoor. The tasks will include reparation of fences for animals and gardens, reparation of traditional houses and parts of play structures for children, general maintenance of the surrounding area, decorating. These tasks will vary according to the current needs. For the event Ethnosalas (the last Sunday of the camp), you will help with organization and will prepare activities for the local kids. If the weather conditions allow, you will also collect herbs in the surrounding meadows and in the nearby forest, herbs which will be used for the production of organic teas. Please note that the weather can be sometimes very hot and that you may have to work in the sun. Bring protective creams and a hat.
Accomodation & food:
In the attic of a building in the very centre of the village. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Two small bathrooms are available. Please be prepared for basic living conditions as the house is very small. You will prepare your meals together i a small kitchen is available in the living area. Bring your national recipes.
Location & leisure:
Tvarozna Lhota (bus stop in the village, next train stop Straznice). The nearby bigger cities are Straznice (5 km distance) and Uherske Hradiste (30 km). The region is famous for its folk traditions and beautiful countryside. The meeting time is usually in the afternoon. Please note it takes at least 1 hour to get there from Prague. The exact info will be provided in the infosheet.Study part: A guided tour along the nature-trail Oskeruse (traditional regional fruit). Learn more about local products, organic farming, the history and natural potential of the region. Workshops on batik with traditional colours are planned. You can take part in some folkloric events that will be organized in the village and try on traditional folkloric dresses.Leisure time: Trips to various sights of the regional cities of Straznice, Uherske Hradiste and Skalice, trip to Bata canal, games and activities in the outdoor adventure park in the cottage Travicna and trips to the close-by countryside and sights; swimming in the lake.
You will work in a several socially excluded neighbourhoods of Usti nad Labem. The main work will be the preparation and realization of creative leisure activities for children and teenagers from the area that have very limited opportunities during summer holidays. The program for children will include trips and outdoor games. Please bring ideas or equipment for games and activities with you. Apart from the activities mentioned, you will do some maintenance works in and around the premises of the PiN or in public space. Additionally you will help with the preparation and organisation of a music festival for a wider public that will take place during the workcamp. Please bring also some working clothes and shoes that can get dirty.
Accomodation & food:
At the newly reconstructed building of PiN. There are several rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen available. Please bring your own sleeping bag and a mat. You will get money to buy food and cook meals on your own.
Location & leisure:
Usti nad Labem (city of 100 000 people), Northern Bohemia i in particular three locations of Predlice, Krasne Brezno and Mojzir (areas of the city that have high percentage of socially disadvantaged people)Study part: Lecture about social exclusion in the Czech Republic, the system of social care and the activities of the hosting NGO PiN. There will be a guided tour around different workplaces of PiN in Usti nad Labem organized for you at the beginning of the workcamp.Leisure time: Trips to the surrounding countryside (nature-parks, castles, close-by mountains and historical cities). It will be possible to go swimming or enjoy other activities, such as bowling, etc. In the middle of the workcamp a two-day trip will be organized for you. Bring good boots for hiking.
Requirements:
A motivation letter sent with the application form is strictly required The workcamp is suitable for volunteers who are interested in the topic of social exclusion and are happy to spend time with children and teenagers. Creativity, organizational skills and good attitude to teamwork are an advantage. The wokcamp is also open to participants with children.
Organizational and manual work. Volunteers will for example help with construction of a stage, painting, gardening, adjusting green areas, moving exhibits to the museum etc. Most of the work will be done in any kinds of weather so we recommend you to bring waterproof clothes and shoes, preferably also raincoats. Within the programme of the cultural event Woodcarving you will also have a space for a little creative performance (e.g. presentation of your regions/towns through food, projecting of photos or a short film-). Please bring traditional recipes and other material.
Accomodation & food:
On the first floor of a family guesthouse (three rooms, common room, kitchen, two bathrooms, outdoor fireplace). Bring your own sleeping bags Attention, the family of the owner lives on the ground floor, smoking is not allowed in the whole building Volunteers will prepare their own meals.
Location & leisure:
Harrachov town (about 1600 citizens) in the north-east of the Czech Republic. The town is a border crossing to Poland. It is located in beautiful mountain scenery of Giant Mountains.Study part: You will see how a big cultural event is organized, you will find out more about Giant Mountains (lecture, visit of a museum and local glassworks) and about history of skiing in the region. You will meet local ski jumpers. There will also be a chance to get to know local citizens during social events (campfire, blueberry feast).Leisure time: Light trek through Giant Mountains with sleeping in a mountain chalet, a trip by a cogwheel train on Czech-Polish border, chair lift ride to and 268;ertova hora (Devil s mountain), miniature golf tournament with the locals, possibility to swim under Mumlava Waterfall etc.
You will work on the local Jewish cemetery and in the synagogue (about 90 of the working time) where you will help to maintain outdoor areas. The work can include cleaning of pavements, liquidating of invasive plants, painting, grinding off etc. Furthermore, you will help with the technical preparations of the festival Jewish Culture Week which takes place in Holesov during the workcamp (10 of the working time). Bring suitable working clothes with you. The work might be physically demanding, weekends are usually working days (because of the festival) but you will get days off during the week.
Accomodation & food:
In a hostel in the centre of Holesov. There are beds with pillows and blankets at your disposal. You will prepare your own meals. During the festival you will have a chance to try Jewish cuisine.
Location & leisure:
Holesov, a middle-sized town with around 12.000 people in the south-east of the Czech RepublicStudy part: You can learn more about the Jewish culture, visit local monuments and see concerts, performances and films during the festival. You will have a chance to meet local community during a barbecue organized in the garden of a local castle or at a traditional lunch with the representatives of the town of Holesov. It is also possible to prepare some activities with and for the local community (such as visiting summer camp for children or a community centre for seniors).Leisure time: Trips to the surroundings (e.g. UNESCO site of Kromeriz), free entrance to cultural activities organized by the local cultural centre, free access to the local swimming-pool.
The work will be manual and connected with renovation and maintenance of public areas (painting fences and children s playground, cleaning graves of famous locals that are forgotten nowadays). Additionally, you will help with renovation of an area around the municipal house where you will be accommodated. This area will be used in the future for cultural activities. You will mainly do gardening tasks (cleaning, etc.). Please take with you some clothes that can get dirty. At the end of the workcamp you will be involved in the organization of a local festival ( celebration day of St Anna ). You will be asked to prepare some activities for children. Please think about some games from your childhood and if needed bring materials with you.
Accomodation & food:
In a house belonging to local municipality, 3-4 rooms with simple beds, 1 shower, 1 bathroom, 3 toilets, around 15-20 min of walk from market square. Please bring your own towels and sleeping bags. You will get money to buy food; there will be a kitchen available in the place where you will be accommodated.
Location & leisure:
The town of Mnichovo Hradiste (approximately 8000 inhabitants) in the Central Bohemia. It is a town of contradictions as it belongs to Skoda region where most people work for car industry and at the same time is situated near the Czech Paradise , nature preserve on the UNESCO World Heritage list.Study part: Creative workshops (making baskets, cooking with locals, yoga); afternoon with local kids; visiting a festival or a concert; meeting other local associations; listening to local stories told by storytellers. Please bring some music/musical instruments/movies/food from your culture. The final program will be set in group discussion.Leisure time: Guided tour around the town, visit to local brewery, open air movie evening, common barbecue with locals, visiting interesting pubs of the town, opportunity to play tennis, bike trip, volleyball, football, to use slack line; visit to a local mini gallery in art school, concert on public piano, opportunity to go to a swimming pool (5 km from Mnichovo Hradiste), to rent boats on Jizera river or to visit Skoda museum.
The work will be manual and physically demanding. It will take place in different locations, mainly in green areas. You will help with cleaning out of an old barn, construction of a little pond (digging), founding of flowerbeds, maintaining paths in the park, planting of trees and bushes, cleaning the courtyard. There will also be a possibility to participate in the organization of the local cultural and theatre festival Domazlicky Kulturovar 2016 . If you are interested you can also try creating a piece of land art. Please bring a raincoat and good working shoes. Be ready to work in all kinds of weather.
Accomodation & food:
In a youth home located in the historical centre of Domalice on beds equipped with bed linen. There are several bathrooms and an equipped kitchen. A pair of volunteers will prepare meals every day.
Location & leisure:
Arboretum (area of 4 ha) in Domalice, south-west of the Czech Republic. Another working place will be in the park nearby the castle Horsovski Tin and in the area of little village Pivo328; (in a local valuable alley). Transportation between sites will be arranged by public transportation or on bikes provided by the hostStudy part: Getting to know the unique local folklore, landscape and specific crafts, particularly by visiting museums, attending workshops, international evenings and excursions. Within the festival Domazlicky Kulturovar 2016 there will be an opportunity for you to prepare and present a short performance (musical or other) that is related to your culture and is based on your own creativity.Leisure time: Chodsko region offers many natural beauties (Nature Protected Area Cesky Les ), sports activities (tennis, football, karate, cycling, swimming-). There are also other interesting towns near Domalice, e.g. Klatovy (catacombs) or Pilsen (European Capital of Culture 2015).
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
