Project : Saint Menoux, as many of French towns and villages, owns an old public wash-house which has been almost forgotten for ages. Therefore we propose this international project of renovation in order to refresh the old wash-house and make it as a tourist spot for hikers, nice place to meet for the inhabitants. The work of volunteers will involve masonry, cleaning and building a new roof of the wash-house. This project has also a social objective : the volunteers will work with youngsters from a social institution (i.e. lightly intellectually disadvantaged ). This work will consist in helping them at their daily work, as well as organising leisure activities (games, visits...). During all the project the volunteers will be guided and will work in close cooperation with the social workers. This project will allow you to meet people from all over the world and France, to get to know better the rural lifestyle, to visit some cities nearby (e.g. Moulins and Vichy) as well as some tourist spots of this area. A van will be provided for all the duration of the project. Accommodation : in dormitories, all the facilities available Location: Saint Menoux (Allier), 15 km from Moulins-sur-Allier Terminal : Moulins-sur-Allier
Clausonne abbey was built in the 12th century, a few kilometres away from the actual village of le Saix, in the south Alps of France. It is located at alt. 1100m in a very preserved and quiet environment. Throughout the centuries, the abbey was burnt, destroyed and rebuilt several times. At the beginning of the 20th century, it had become the local parish. Some years later, the main part was finally transformed into a primary school... Each time, it had been reconstructed on rubble of the previous construction. The abbey’s original ground was never affected, and the vestiges of its first destruction, remain buried under the current paving stone. The local association, "The Friends of the Abbey of Clausonne " has the project, since a few years, of covering the abbey’s chorus. It will protect the degraded walls and especially, allow undertaking archaeological excavations within the chorus. The object of this worcamp is the realization of the skeleton’s foundations, and the implementation of the posts which will support this skeleton. This workcamp is also a good opportunity to discover the rural lifestyle, the mountains, its fauna and flora.
Project: Salvagnac is a small XIIIth century fortified town located upon a hill between Gaillac and Montauban, within a vineyard landscape which conveys this small village a particular charm among this green and sunny valley. The work will consist in restoring the wall that used to surround the former convent garden. This ancient wall is made of bricks and tiles, a particular local building technique giving a very beautiful visual effect. It is full of overgrown vegetation that needs to be cleared away. Once the wall cleaned, the volunteers will repair the bricks and tiles to strengthen the wall. The volunteers will work with two local employees who already have the experience of this kind of mason's work. During the free time, volunteers will have the opportunity to hike on the numerous footpaths and discover the different leisure time activities of the region. Between the 10th and 15th of July, volunteers will participate to the festival Place en ftes in Salvagnac. The festival program includes intercultural activities such as music, dances, writing, handicrafts, games, international dishes and many other activities. Moreover volunteers will have the opportunity to join the medieval evening, with medieval dishes and traditional dance after which will follow firework show for the national celebration of 14th July. Accommodation: dormitory in municipality apartments Location: Salvagnac, 50 km North-East from Toulouse Terminal: Gaillac
Project: Montberon, located right next to the beautiful town of Toulouse, is a very dynamic village thanks to its numerous associations which organize a lot of projects along the year and particularly in summer. During the three weeks of the workcamp, volunteers will participate in different activities. The first week will be dedicated to the organization of the local festivity and the farewell party for the end of the scholar year. Then, for the last two weeks, they will repaint the building of the Youth Club and build a wooden wall of the playground. The members of the youth club will participate in this work in order to work together with international volunteers, discover different cultures and to exchange. Several people will be there during the working time to lead you and explain you the techniques. Some free time during afternoons and week-ends will permit to discover the wonderful town of Toulouse, to meet the local people and to join some activities in the collective garden. The members of the local Youth Club will be there to show their village and organize different activities with volunteers. Accommodation: Dormitory in municipality hall Location: Montberon, 25 km north-east from Toulouse Terminal: Toulouse
PROJECT: This is an original workcamp in cooperation with the eco-museum who owns several traditional Breton houses from the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. This is the opportunity to jump in the history and discover the way of life of this period, the way houses were built and the Breton culture more broadly speaking. WORK: You will participate in achieving a traditional carpentry, a woodwork activity aiming at the restoration of one of the eco-museum's house. You will go in the fields to harvest the rye used for tatched roofs. LANGUAGE: French & English. LOCATION: Close to Brec'h, a village in Morbihan department located north from Aurey, close to Vannes. ACCOMMODATION: In a guest-house in Brec'h. TERMINAL: At Auray SNCF train station. Airports : Rennes, Nantes or Paris. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Bring work gloves, hiking shoes, warm clothes, a good sleeping bag, a mattress, a backpack and a swimming suit. SPECIAL REMARKS: Workcamp situated in a rural area for woodwork and architecture lovers. More information on http://www.ecomusee-st-degan.fr/
The Project The Youth village in Mettray is a former penal colony, formally known as La Paternelle . Created in the 19th century, it is now a medical and professional institute which hosts up to one hundred young people. This place is classified as a historical monument. International workcamps have been organised at this place in the past. Volunteers will follow the renovation work along with local young people who are facing difficulties or handicap. It s necessary to know that you will work and spend free time with the young people (15-17 years old) from the institute.
Work:
The work masonry and more specifically jointing and staking. The activities Discovery of the region and several activities are possible. Volunteers will have to get involved in the organization and the leisure time, along with the leaders and according to the budget given to the workcamp.
With people in social inclusion, works in heritage restoration on the Church in Daon.
Work :
The goal is to restore an outside part of the Church, and to create an access ramp for persons with motor disability.
Activities :
On your arrival, leaders will propose several activities; but your ideas are welcomed and everything can be discussed. So be imaginative, the workcamp is a place for having fun! We don’t expect you to do activities on your own, you will live an experience in a group and things are planned within the group. Don't forget it!
Accommodation :
You will be accommodated in a beautiful campsite, not far from the Church.
Project: The village of Vaunieres welcomes young people from different backgrounds and different countries, brings them together in order to work on cultural, environmental or construction projects. There is a party room in Vaunires used for cultural events, but there is no heading system therefore it can be used only during the summer. During this project, volunteers will work on plastering walls with a Lime/Straw plaster, and on other little internal renovation works in this building such as isolation of the walls, electricity system, shelf construction and some decorations, painting of the walls in order to make this room cozy and pleasant place. During the summer Vaunires host many groups of people in this hamlet therefore it is ideal time to meet people from all around the world and some groups of young French people too, share the daily life tasks, hike in the mountains, do some free time activities together. Located in the middle of the Alps, its a good place to discover flora and fauna and mountain life. The volunteers will have the possibility as well to visit some of the tourist attractions of the area. Accommodation: in tents (in bedrooms of 5 to 6 people for the workcamp in October) Location: Vaunires is located 7 km from the village of St Julien en Beauchne, 40km from Gap and 200 km north from Marseille Terminal: Lus la Croix Haute
« 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! »
