Concordia and UFCV have been partners for many years. UFCV’s leisure center is located in the beautiful Frayse’s estate, a former wine estate of 24 hectares in which you can find sports areas, an educational farm and an intergenerational garden plot. This year, UFCV and Concordia offer you a workcamp on landscaping and preservation of the natural heritage of the Frayse’s estate. You will help in the renovation of the walking trails and the watercourses. You will participate in the building of natural wooden barriers and to the creation of common spaces in the park. You will also have the opportunity to create an insect hotel that will allow you to discover the importance of these creatures in the environment.
Work:
You will help in the rehabilitation of the walking trails of the park:
weeding, bush clearing and also building natural barriers in woven wood to protect the two ponds of the estate. You will also build outdoor furniture creating welcoming spaces in the outside for an area dedicated for the local youth that will be joining the project.
Accommodation and food:
You will be housed in tents with a collective room available for cooking and different activities. The estate will provide you open air living rooms to enjoy your free time out in the sun. http://www.domaine-de-la-frayse.fr/
Location and leisure:
The Frayse’s estate is located 15km away from Bordeaux in Fargues-Saint-Hilaire, just next to Entre-Deux-Mers region. This area is well-known for its vineyards between Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Not too far south are Marmande and Langon, to the West Bordeaux, Libourne in the North, and Bergerac in the East. You will be charmed by the ancient cities, the mills and castles around.
Special requirements and remarks:
Please bring a good sleeping bag, working clothes, sport shoes, warm and rain clothes, a flashlight, a swimsuit and sun cream. Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
For two years now, the association has been developing a vegetable garden space by using permaculture techniques. This year, we wish to establish an irrigation system that will alow us to optimize the waterind of the garden and green spaces, and to limit the water consumption. The work will consist of building two wooden structures (1m50 high) where the rain water will be collected, and the creation of a channel system. The structure will be made out of wood with inter-locking cross beams. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to learn the basics of wood work, and to begin using the manual cutting and carving tools. You will also be able to work on the vegetable garden and discover the main principles of permaculture.
Accomodation & food:
In tents with access to outdoor sanitary blocks and dry toilets. An equiped kitchen is situated in the main building. The food is provided and the meals will be prepared by rotating groups of volunteers.
Location & leisure:
Montcombroux-les-Mines (Allier), 45 km from Vichy.This workcamp will allow you to meet younsters from France and all over the world and to discover the rural way of life of this region. You will visit the nearest cities: Moulins and Vichy and be able to go to the swimming pool.
You will participate in the construction of a tool shed for materials. It will be an opportunity for you to discover the work that goes into constructing a building : masonry, floor work, woodwork, levelling, framework, and roof work.
Accomodation & food:
In tents of 2 to 3 people on the « Aurore » site located 300 meters from the center of the hamlet. You will have access to : a kitchen cabin, a sanitiary block with water and toilets, as well an exterior space for meals around a camp fire. You will prepare the menus and cook the meals together, using local produce, and you will participate in the organization of the camp : dish-washing, clean up, and campfire.
Location & leisure:
Hameau de Vaunières, Saint Julien en Beauchêne, located 50 km from Gap.You will have the opportunity to participate in the active life of the village during the summer by organizing pizza dinners, barbecues, dance and theme nights, international meals, sports, etc. Furthermore, multiple pathways and small rivers run across the hamlet ; therefore, many of the activities will involve walking tours and swimming. You will also be able to participate in local events (festivals and provicial parkets), and to visit the region of Buëch.
The work will consist of renovating the outside wooden walls of two buildings of the town: the youth bungalow and an activity room. With the support of a professionnal technical leader, you will do some wood work, as well as some painting. During the whole project, you will work with local youngsters.
Accomodation & food:
You will sleep in some activity rooms of the youth information centre. You need to bring along a sleeping bag. The showers are in another very close building. Food will be provided and cooked by the volunteers in turns.
Location & leisure:
A park with a lot of facilities surrounds the place where the workcamp will be organized. The town of Lesigny is located 20 km south-east of Paris.During the workcamp, you will be able to take part in cultural outings and activities organized with local young people. You will have opportunities to discover the local heritage, such as the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Other free-time activities will be organized collectively, depending on the wishes of the group and the available budget.
The two main works to be done are landscape and masonry. You will build a community kitchen, in accordance to Citrus' standards, that will feed many groups, as well as landscape the gardens of Mayounelle and the welcoming site's (decoration and furnisment).
Accomodation & food:
In tents at the site of Citrus in Mayounelle, with acces to a sanitary block. The kitchen will also be inside a tent.
Location & leisure:
Laguépie, located 100 km north of Toulouse, between Albi and Villefranche de Rouergue.A passionate local host will teach you how to cook seasonal dishes using the vegetables grown in the garden. During your free time, you will have the opportunity to go swimming and hiking, and to meet with the other volunteers from the workcamp and from Laguépie. You will also be able to organize evening pizza dinners and game nights, and to visit the medieval villages of Najac, Cordes sur Ciel, and Saint-Antonin Noble Val. Food workshops will also be organized so that you can learn the basics of a healthy diet.
This year, you will participate in rehabilitating the arena of the hamlet. This arena is used for the local game of bull racing, which is an important part of the local culture. The rehabilitation will essentially consist of painting work.
Accomodation & food:
You will be accommodated in the local school, and you will have access to its kitchen and bathroom.
Location & leisure:
The hamlet of Franqueveaux, next to the city of Beauvoisin in the south of France. The workcamp will be held in an area (Camargue) that is rich in local cultures and traditions that you will have the opportunity to discover. The Camargue is also an exceptional natural area in France that draws-in many tourists each year. Finally, since the workcamp is located near the Mediterranean sea, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the seaside.
It will consist on the continuation of last year's work. The group will renovate the pavement of the second part of the Museum of Negritude. In carrying out the renovation, you will be advocates of cooperation and solidarity. By working together, you will learn how to deconstruct stereotypes.
Accomodation & food:
You will stay on judo rugs, prepared for the occasion. Girls and boys will be sleeping in separate rooms, over camp beds. Remember to bring your sleeping bag and a pillow. The place is situated five minutes from the work site. Meals will be prepared by the participants, in turns.
Location & leisure:
Champagney is 20 km from Belfort.The afternooons will be dedicated to activities that you, the group, and the leaders will decide on. The villagers will propose you some cultural and sport activities, such as museum visits, sailing, hiking… And if you have propositions don't hesitate to talk about them; you will learn to make decisions as a group.
The Castle of Prureaux is situated in the center of an old agriculture field surrounded by a wall. This 2-meter wall, that has never been restored, is now covered by vegetation, which has caused some parts to collapse. Therefore, the work will consist of rebuilding this wall and securing the entrance to the enclosure. Doing so, you will learn how to make a traditional lime primer, using your hands and trowels, and discover the advantages of this material when it is used to build old walls: its implementation (calculations and proportions) and the different finishing-touch techniques. Since some parts of the wall are significantly deteriorated, you will also work on brick-laying middle sized stones, as well as bourbon flat tiles, to level the wall. To keep the original aesthetic, you will have to pay close attention to the identical reproduction of the work.
Accomodation & food:
In tents with access to outdoor sanitary blocks and dry toilets. An equiped kitchen is situated in the main building. Food is provided and the meals will be prepared by rotating groups of volunteers.
Location & leisure:
Montcombroux-les-Mines (Allier), 45 km from Vichy.This workcamp will allow you to meet younsters from France and all over the world and to discover the rural way of life of this region. You will visit the nearest cities: Moulins and Vichy and be able to go to the swimming pool.
« 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! »
