Youth exchange – We are all Made out of Mud :)

Youth Exchange on Natural Building in Bozevce, Kosovo

10th to 19th of June, 2022

We are inviting you to apply for a Youth Exchange on Natural Building and gender equity, which will take place between the 10th and the 19th of June 2022, in the village of Bozevce/Bozhefc, Kosovo.

This Youth Exchange will host 30 young adults from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey and Montenegro during 8 days to learn and discover about Natural building, and questioning gender equilty within this field.

ABOUT WAAMOOM PROJECT

We Are All Made Out Of Mud (WaaMooM) is 2 year long Erasmus+ Capacity building project which involves 10 organization from Western Balkan region (Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro) and program countries (Croatia, France, Slovenia, Turkey, Serbia). The main topic of the project is natural building (eco building) as an innovative approach to social cohesion and inclusion, gender equity, development and youth empowerment. The approach is based on natural building techniques and different ways for engagement and learning through this practice. It also combines youth work, volunteering aspects and already existing tools and methods for inclusion and development of skills, knowledge and attitudes.

WHAT IS NATURAL BUILDING ?

“Natural building” is an umbrella term than connotes any sort of building that is accomplished with the use of natural materials primarily, it is used more and more nowadays to face the environmental crisis, as an answer to conventional but also because it has many advantages and ethical principles:

– Non toxic

– Carbon negative

– Low embodied energy

– Long lasting

– Beautiful

WHAT IS THIS YOUTH EXCHANGE ABOUT ?

In general, Youth exchanges in the Erasmus+ Programme are an opportunity for two or more groups of young people from different countries to get together and research topics that connect them. During the time spent together, they also prepare products that they present and offer to the world after the exchange.

PROGRAM

During those 8 days you will learn about the basics of natural building and why it makes so much sense 😀 There will be space for practicing various techniques such as earthen plasters and sculptures, rammed earth, wood work, perfect conditions for muddyness!

Further than practice there will also be a more theoretical insight with safety basics of construction and principles of natural building, how to include gender topics in a stereotyped environment.

Finally there will be open spaces, presentations, cultural exchanges and thematic evenings.

WHO CAN APPLY ?

Partner organisations: PVN Albania, Fine Art & Craft Club ( Serbia), GAIA Kosovo, Bugday (Turkey), VUK (Croatia), ADP ZID (Montenegro).

This means that participants of this youth exchange should be residents of those countries. Each organization will select 4 participants and 1 group leader.

Age limit: between 18 and 30

You should have an interest in Natural building, traditional building and gender topics and that’s all!

You must be willing to get your hands muddy, learn about different aspect and techniques of Natural Building, get into the web of natural builders, meet new people, question building standards through gender equity to make it a more inclusive world.. but also share spaces with a big group, eat vegetarian food and live surrounded by animals (dogs, cats, chickens…)

English will be the common language for this Youth Exchange, a basic level is required for it.

No specific experience is required, natural building is, you will see, very intuitive and playful!

HOW TO APPLY?

Fill in the application form (available HERE) no later than 10th of May 2022. Selected participants will be informed about the selection results by 15th of May 2022.

Important practical notes: travel should be done by environmentally friendly means, if possible (hopefully it is :).

VENUE & HOSTS

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The Youth Exchange will take place in Bozevce village, where GAIA is developing an educational program for permaculture and natural building. The place is still under (natural) construction, thus it represents a good example of a place which is being built with the help of international and local volunteers, experts and friends. Participants will be in common rooms, whether on the estate or close by with all basic accommodation. Food will be vegan and vegetarian options, mainly local products, very healthy and super tasty. There are cold and hot showers ☺, composting toilets, plenty of trees and fields, and many animals such as dogs, cats, chickens, geese and bees.

The village is situated in the Eastern part of Kosovo, close to Kamenica. There are around 50 people living there, no shop, no school nor a bar.

Depending on the measures related to covid, the number of the participants might change.