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Extra fee to be paid in the hosting country:

0.00 Euro

Required Language:

English

Spoken Language:

English

Motivation letter:

This camp requires an additional motivation letter to explain in more detail why you would like to attend.

Description: In the year of 2017, Portugal was particularly hit by violent fires that destroyed a very significant part of the forest, villages, and took the life of more than a hundred people. In this context of destruction of the natural and humanized spaces, it is urgent not only an intervention to clean the forests but also a strong environmental education of the populations to prevent as much as possible events such as the ones that happened the last year. And this is exactly what the volunteers of this workcamp will do in Vinhais!

Type of Work: Volunteers will engage on different activities in the Vinhais Biological Park. The group will help in the cleaning and preservation of the forest, the area of the Vinhais Biological Park and the animal facilities, as well as participate in animal feeding, under the guidance of local specialists. Volunteers will work 5 days per week from 9.00h to around 12.30h, lunch break from 12.30 to 14.00; in the afternoon, from 14.00h to 17.00h.

Study Theme: This project is a learning and sharing camp, in which everybody is supposed to contribute with his/her own knowledge and experience. The focus of this working camp is to learn about different aspects of environmental and sustainability topics through a variety of talks/workshops and discussions. Special interest will also be devoted to the unique traditions of the region with visits to museums, (http://museudamascara.cm-braganca.pt/, among others), local villages and communities.

Accommodation: The volunteers of the workcamp will live in a wood house, with only one big room, with no beds, so, all participants will share the same common space. If you want, there is also the possibility to camp, if you bring your own camping-tent. There are 2 female and 2 male toilets as well as 2 female and 2 male hot water showers. There is a biological swimming pool and Free Wi-Fi is also available. There is also a small café/restaurant in the Biological Park area. Please bring your own mat and sleeping bag!

Meals will be prepared by local cooks, but the volunteers are welcome to help!

Language: The language used between the group members will be English. Speaking Portuguese (or at least Spanish) will be very useful to communicate with some of the local people who do not speak English.

Requirements: There are no specific requirements, but volunteers need to be passionate about animal and plant protection, sustainable solutions & other environmental topics!

Approximate Location: Biological Park of Vinhais, north of Portugal, close to the Spanish border.

Notes: During the free time, volunteers can go to the biological swimming pool, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching or just relax in the terrace of the restaurant and read a book. A guided visit to the historical castle and museums of the city of Bragança (40 km) is planned for the weekend. Activities with the local community of Vinhais are also planned for the weekend.

Organization Description: Para Onde is a Lisbon-based organization that is mainly focused on promoting social inclusion through volunteering. It was born in 2014 as an informative website and, at the end of 2016, it became an active NGO. Para Onde will allow everyone to have the experience to volunteer abroad despite age, budget and professional background/experience. Suitable training will be guaranteed to all those departing on an experience with SCI International.