ESC volunteering team Co-creating rural spaces

Bozevce & Rajanovce, 13 – 30 of July 2024, 15 volunteers!

ABOUT GAIA in BOZEVCE

In Spring 2017, GAIA got involved in renovation of an abandoned property in Bozevce which was given to us for use and implementation of a permaculture design. The place is run by a team of GAIA members and with the help of international volunteers. It serves as a polygon for natural building, permaculture, community living and sustainable practices. We nurture relations with neighbors and other villages, local food procedures, local institutions, etc. Our project proves that it is possible that people from different cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, ages can live and work together, and that life in a village can be a right choice 🙂

Through the years, we have hosted dozens of trainings, workshops and gatherings, and got support from many local and international volunteers, friends and travelers. With all of them, we tackled different environmental and social topics, shared knowledge and skills, and incorporated different solutions into our design and programs.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

In summer 2024, together with international volunteers GAIA will support neighboring communities in revitalisation of public spaces and organization of educational activities for children.

With this ESC team, which will take part in July, we are planning to co-create an outdoor space for children and youth in the village of Rajanovce.

Rajanovce is a bigger village than Bozevce, situated 1.5km far from our educational space. Around 200 inhabitants live in Rajanovce and they mainly live from agricultural work. There is a primary school with a sports field, and a small local shop. This summer, besides the ESC team, we will organize an environmental camp for children from the whole municipality.

APPLICATION

We are looking for 15 volunteers from France, Serbia, Kosovo, Italy, Greece, Lithuania and Germany.

There are only a few specific requirements:

To be resident of the above mentioned countries;
To be older than 18 and younger than 31;
To be interested in environmental topics, natural building, permaculture, and similar;
To be willing to live with others, share with others and care about the others;
No previous experience is needed but on contrary… if you had fewer opportunities for participating in international activities, that would be an advantage;
Basic English is welcome, but not necessary… we will find a way to communicate ?.

Volunteers should be OK with the following conditions:

Simple and sustainable living principles (compost toilet, saving water, electricity and other resources)
Vegetarian/Vegan and healthy food
Sharing space with other volunteers
Teamwork and physical work
Presence of animals such as dogs, cats, chickens etc.

You should register at the European Youth Portal: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/placement/40435_en

and apply here before 15th of June: https://forms.gle/3GkYn7p5WXtRKBdP7

WORK PART

During this ESC team, the volunteers will be helping GAIA and local volunteers in the arrangement of the public spaces in Rajanovce village. Together with the local municipality, we have identified the potentials and needs for revitalisation of the area nearby the primary school, and the volunteers will be helping with:

building of the wooden pavilion
building of the benches and garbage bins
creating the reed bed for waste water
basic clearing of the area from vegetation
preparation of the foundations, support walls and weaved fences

For all the woodwork, we will be using traditional techniques and hand tools. Besides the handiwork, the volunteers will organize activities with local youth and children.

LEARNING & LEISURE
There will be many different learning opportunities for the participants:

Basics of woodwork
Traditional crafts
How to use basic tools
History of natural building and different techniques
Basics of permaculture thinking
How to cook vegetarian meals for big groups
How to live and share resources with others
Probably much more…

During their free time, the volunteers will be able to play games, read books, go for walks or rest in hammocks in the orchard. Sometimes we will go for a coffee to neighbors or football games with youngsters. Trips outside the village can be organized as well, but the costs will have to be shared. We usually recommend visiting the National Park Sharr 🙂

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD

The volunteers will stay in a house in Bozevce. The house has 4 rooms, a small kitchen, one shower and outdoor composting toilet. There are several other composting toilets and outdoor showers as well. Volunteers should bring their sleeping bags and towels and we will provide sheets and pillows. Cooking and cleaning will be done in teams and food will be vegetarian, seasonal, local, healthy, and very tasty.

On the property we also live together with several dogs, cats, goats, chickens, geese and bees. Around the place there are many birds, toads, lizards and insects.

Lifestyle is sustainable, simple, and without much technology, even though access to the internet is available.

ABOUT ESC PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEERING TEAMS

The European Solidarity Corps is a European Union initiative that brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to the challenges society is facing across the continent. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn and develop by funding a range of opportunities across a broad range of areas, such as integration of migrants, environmental challenges, prevention of natural disasters, education and youth activities or measures to prevent radicalisation.
Volunteering teams are solidarity activities which allow teams of 10 to 40 participants coming from at least two different countries to volunteer together for a period between 2 weeks and 2 months.

Useful links: