This camp has ecological, educational and multicultural nature. Through various activities such as the landscaping, cleaning, educational workshops and games volunteers will draw attention of local young people on the importance of responsible behaviour towards the environment in which they live and plan some activities for after the workcamp together with them. We will work on renovation of the area around the high and secondary school in Arandjelovac (putting benches, building children s playground, painting over ugly graffiti with the help of a local youth art group), but also we will be clearing school yards from ambrosia, planting trees, gardening, clearing and marking mountaineering paths, cleaning illegal dumps near the paths. All the activities aim to involve international volunteers in local community s development by contributing to improving conditions for living and enjoying the nature and learning about volunteers cultures and countries.
Accomodation & food:
The volunteers will be accommodated in classrooms of one of the schools (in case of bad weather) but, when weather is good everyone will be in tents. Sleeping bags needed. Bathroom is available inside the school. Food will be prepared for the volunteers by the host.
Location & leisure:
Arandjelovac is in the central part of Serbia. It is a municipality with a big number of cultural and historical monuments that show many ups and downs of the old Serbian state. During free time, volunteers will explore the town and local customs. Excursions to important cultural and historical points will be organized, together with visits to museums and getting to know the people from the local school and participating in their special event. Participation of the local volunteers will be an essential part of the camp. We have already organized and prepared many interesting leisure activities and attractive weekend visit to nearby towns, as well as natural resources, cultural and historical monuments, an aqua park where volunteers will spent one day (or more) and where they will relax and enjoy.
Requirements:
Volunteers should be nature and culture lovers prepared for long walks and hard work.
Volunteers will clean the shores of the lake Zavojsko from garbage, raise awareness on the problem of polluting the lake by various creative activities; they will mark the paths and clear them of vegetation, place resting benches and info boards along, help paint the divers club.
Accomodation & food:
in the divers club, with fully equipped kitchen, living room, bathroom. For those who want to sleep outside, there will be a big tent available. Volunteers can bring their individual tents if they prefer. Volunteers will prepare meals on their own, with the material provided.
Location & leisure:
Zavojsko lake is located close to the town of Pirot, in south-eastern part of Serbia, close to the Bulgarian border, deep in the nature park Stara Planina (Old Mountain or Balkan Mountains). Pirot is situated at 300km from Belgrade, 80km from Nis and 85km from Sofija (BG). Stara Planina is of a stunning beauty yet untouched, but also not enough appreciated by the locals and very little visited by tourists. In the free time we can go swimming and diving in the Zavojsko lake, participate in aikido and defensive techniques workshops, and simply enjoy the local community, its people, customs and nature. We will visit Pirot, a medieval fortress, monasteries, and various cultural events.
Volunteers will help building a house of wood, straw and mud, using old craft style of house construction. Beside this, we will clear the shore of the river Draca from garbage.
Accomodation & food:
in the village school. Sleeping bags needed. Volunteers will prepare their meals on their own, with the material provided.
Location & leisure:
The village Draca is located in region Sumadija, in Central Serbia 8 km from Kragujevac, formal capital of Serbia in 19th century. Kragujevac now has about 200.000 residents. Today Draca is one of the largest villages near Kragujevac and with nearly 900 inhabitants. There is the Ethnographic Museum and the Orthodox monastery from the 17thcentury. Configuring the terrain is slightly hilly. Draca is the geographic centre of Serbia. This area is rich in cultural and historical monuments and the locals are very friendly. The natural beauty of the landscapes makes gorge river Draca and more than hundred years old preserved trees. Of the 33 protected mushrooms in Europe in Draca were detected three. Draca locals produce excellent wine.
Requirements:
Volunteers should be prepared for physical work and will have the support of hospitable locals.
Local and international volunteers will work different ecological and cultural activities. During ecological activities, volunteers will clean riverbed of Brestovac river, Zlot river, Bor Lake, park of spa, Lazar Canyon and Lazar Cave, and tourist paths on the Crni Vrh (mountain) and Dubasnica (weald). During cultural activities, volunteers will help in organizing the local event called The days of Brestovac spa . In addition, volunteers will participate in program The international youth day .
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be accommodated in a motel in the centre of Brestovac spa. Food will be prepared in the restaurant. It s not necessary to bring sleeping bags.
Location & leisure:
The camp will be placed in Brestovac spa and surroundings near Bor in the eastern part of Serbia. Brestovac spa is one of the oldest spas in Serbia, on the coast of Brestovac and Pujica river; 8km away from Bor. Water of this spa are considerate as the most curative water in Serbia. During the camp, volunteers will be informed about the cultural and historical importance of Brestovac spa () and environment of Bor (natural monument Lazar s Canyon, Bor Lake, objects of mining tradition and other).
Requirements:
Volunteers should be nature lovers prepared for long walks and hard work.
Volunteers will continue with the work that has been done in the previous year and help in cleaning and renovation of public spaces, schools, kindergartens, libraries, parks, playgrounds, sport fields, houses of the most endangered and poor families. It will be of the most importance to talk to people and give them support to continue with their lives. Also, volunteers will be involved in different environmental and cultural outdoor activities: landscaping and cleaning of parks, walking paths, participating in local cultural events, depending on their interest.
Accomodation & food:
In one of the big halls of the Cultural-sport center. There will be folding beds, so bring your sleeping bag and pillow. Toilets and showers are functional. Volunteers will eat in a nearby restaurant.
Location & leisure:
Obrenovac is situated only 30 km from the capital, Belgrade. There are several excursions planned. During August, beside all challenges, the municipality and the local organisers will open the traditional summer cultural festival Summer in Obrenovac , as in the past years: theatre, concerts, literary evenings, children plays and cinema.
Requirements:
No special skills needed just high flexibility and motivation.
Volunteers will renovate the scout centre in the village, usually used for the young scouts activities, schools in nature, as well as for the activities of all local youth organisations and groups. They will help make the centre accessible to wheelchairs and organise the outdoor space of the centre; they will cultivate the river shore and spring; they will clear the mountaineering tracks. There will be cleaning, mowing, painting, furniture restoration.
Accomodation & food:
In the scouts centre (beds, bathroom, toilets, kitchen arranged). If weather conditions allow, we can be camping in tents in the nature. Volunteers will prepare meals on their own, with the material provided, thus supporting intercultural learning.
Location & leisure:
The village drelo (municipality of Petrovac na Mlavi) is situated at 140km south-east of Belgrade and 11km from Petrovac na Mlavi. The medieval village of Zdrelo with preserved fortifications, on both the banks of the river Mlava, is an outstanding monument of Medieval Serbia. The village benefits of a beautiful confluence of the river Mlava into the Gornjacka gorge, with a nearby spa. Leisure time will be used for nature outdoor activities, hiking, sport activities and artistic workshops, excursions to local monastery, museum.
« 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! »
