HIGHLIGHT WATER | CONCF-6904 | 2023-08-02 - 2023-08-16 | ENVI,MANU | Age: 15 - 17

Laureate of the Label 60 years of the Elysee treaty, Concordia proposes you this workcamp in partnership with the French-German Office for Youth (OFAJ). The Serre Chevalier Youth Hostel is organizing this year its third international volunteer workcamp with Concordia. Our networks work together according to the principles of popular education and share common values such as the understanding of the world, civic and intellectual emancipation, solidarity and dialogue between cultures. Through our partnership, we have a common interest in strengthening European citizenship through active awareness of the issues that surround us.

Work: Embark on a water conservation project in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes! Located in the small village of Le Bez, the Serre-Chevalier Youth Hostel, labeled Cle Verte (Green Key), advocates a sustainable tourism in a sustainable and eco-responsible development approach. The establishment is very active in the creation of local partnerships in adequacy with its values of intercultural opening and international exchanges. It is campaigning with a group of associations and NGOs for the opening of a reception center for refugees, exiles and asylum seekers near the inn! This project follows a first workcamp realized with Concordia in 2021 around a vegetable garden in permaculture. Our first objective is to preserve water and use it wisely to feed the needs of this orchard and vegetable garden. You will participate in the installation of a water collector for the watering of the vegetable garden as well as the installation of a low-tech water purifier to supply the garden with healthy water. These installations will be completed by the installation of oyas, micro-porous ceramic pots that are buried near the plants and filled with water. Finally, you will help build an arbor that will be covered by climbing plants to provide shade and enhance the new garden equipment. No specific skills are required. If you are sensitive to the preservation of water and the environment in the mountains and you like to work in a team, this workcamp is for you!

Accomodation and food: You will be accommodated in the Youth Hostel, in single dormitories with individual beds (remember to bring your sleeping bag). Toilets and showers will be in the rooms or on the landing. Wifi is available in the common areas of the youth hostel. Laundry will be done by hand. Breakfast and dinner will be provided each morning and evening by the Youth Hostel. Together, you will participate in the organization of the collective life (cleaning, activities...) and in the preparation of the lunch, in turn, from products that will be bought nearby. We wish to encourage vegetarian food with local and seasonal products while respecting the diets of the participants and discovering together the local cuisines. You will be in contact with the clients of the youth hostel, which will reinforce the exchanges. For more information about the Youth Hostel: https://www.hifrance.org/auberge-de-jeunesse/serre-chevalier.html

Location: SERRECHEVALIER

Location and Leisure: In an exceptional setting, in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes and a few kilometers from the Italian border, at an altitude of nearly 1,500 meters, we offer you the opportunity to discover a territory rich in natural and cultural assets. You will have the opportunity to go hiking from the resort, to practice outdoor and white water activities, to discover and observe the richness of the fauna and flora. Meetings with mountain professionals will also be organized in order to raise awareness about water conservation.

Airport: GNB

Train/Bus station: LA SALLE LES ALPES, stop " Frejus Pre Long "

Requirements: Please note that it is recommended to know how to swim. Open to French, German and Italian volunteers only. This project is supported by the French-German Youth Office (OFAJ / DFJW). Some volunteers from France, Germany and Italy may be eligible after the project for reimbursement of their travel costs upon the presentation of original tickets. Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues arise on the project, volunteers will have to pay for them, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

The Meeting point is set at 5:30 pm on 2nd of August, at LA SALLE LES ALPES, bus stop " Frejus Pre Long ". The LER 35 (Public transport network of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur region) takes you, all year long, from GRENOBLE to BRIANCON via SERRE-CHEVALIER VALLEE. To prepare your trip, consult the timetable of the line: https://dauphine.transdev.com/line/ler-35/ Train reservations are possible about 4 months before departure on the SNCF website, link below: https://www.sncf-connect.com/ If possible, please consider using low-carbon transportation (train and bus rather than airplane) for a sustainable international workcamp. If you are coming first by plane, remember that you will need some time to commute from the airport to the train station, therefore we recommend that you arrive early enough for you not to rush and have a stress free travel.

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 200 EUR

Remember to take clothes and shoes for work, not fearing dirt and paint stains. In the mountains, despite the sunshine, the weather is surprising and can change quickly. For leisure activities, it is necessary to bring clothes adapted to the climate (fleece or warm sweater, shorts and hiking pants, windbreaker, down jacket, warm socks...). For hikes, high and notched shoes are recommended. Don't forget sun protection (hat or cap is essential, sunglasses with a high protection factor because of the intense reverberation, sunscreen with a high protection factor IP 30-50...) and a bathing suit for swimming or white water activities. For accommodation, remember to take a warm sleeping bag and a towel. You should also bring a backpack (in addition to your luggage), comfortable sneakers and a pair of flip-flops for your movements in the youth hostel. It will also be useful to bring these essential accessories: a cell phone charger, hiking poles (not mandatory but recommended), a water bottle, a set of bandages and a headlamp or flashlight. Off-work times will be programmed in collaboration with our leaders and according to your desires. We will organize thematic evenings in each country. If you wish to share a bit of your culture (cooking recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects, music...), do not hesitate to take a little piece of your country/region in your backpack.