Volunteering for sustainability | YS-2023-05 | 2023-07-31 - 2023-08-14 | ENVI,MANU | Age: 15 - 17

The youth association Jaunatne smaidam / Youth for Smile is a non-profit non-governmental youth organization established in 2005. Our Mission - We are a strong and values-based youth organization that gives opportunities to create, experience, and be together. Our goals are: Creating - enabling local communities to learn, participate, and self-realize; Experience - to provide experience at the local and international level to promote the personal development of young people; Being together - creating an environment where young people develop their competencies for the growth of the local community. The tasks of the organization are: 1. To develop and promote youth initiatives, creating favorable conditions for their intellectual and creative development; 2. To provide young people with the opportunity to acquire the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary for life through non-formal education; 3. Provide young people with an opportunity to make good use of their leisure time; 4. Provide young people with access to relevant information for their development needs. Our target groups. Our main target group is children and youth (age group 7-30) in the Bauska region. We are working for all communities as such.

Work: The work camp is part of Jaunatne smaidam / Youth for Smile new initiative growing up from a project we started in 2010 - Outdoor education center. We are inviting international volunteers to work on environmental sustainability. By developing a sustainable farm–training center, our organization is looking to create a platform through what could be spread information and knowledge about sustainability. Within the camp, we will implement a holistic approach to everyday life. According to the weather and real need, volunteers will have tasks in different fields – agriculture, farming, restoration of natural areas, traditional buildings, etc. Volunteers will have possibilities: • Work on the creation of permaculture garden, take care of existing garden and greenhouse. • Take care of animals on a farm (sheep, goats, etc.), build pasture paddocks, and prepare food for winter. • Restore natural meadows by removing them from bushes and purifying the river from overgrowth. • Creating a nature path in the forest by removing bushes and planting trees.

Accomodation and food: Living conditions are very basic. Volunteers will be accommodated on a rural farm. Sleeping will be in tents. Toilets and washing facilities will be provided. Cooking will be done by volunteers themselves in the kitchen. Volunteers should bring their sleeping bags. Do not forget some traditional or typical food from your home country for the international evening.

Location: Bārbele

Location and Leisure: A work camp will be organized in Bārbele village, Bauska municipality. The farm is located in a rural area around 6 km from the village. The nearest bus stop is 3 km away. The administrative center of the municipality is Bauska located 60 km from Rīga (capital city of Latvia). More information about the region - https://www.tourism.bauska.lv/en/. More about Latvia - https://www.latvia.travel/en. During a work camp, we will have possibilities to visit different cultural and historical places. Volunteers will have a possibility to organize intercultural events, etc.

Airport: RSC

Train/Bus station: Riga international bus station.

Meeting point will be in Bārbele bus stop. Please let us know about your arrival time at least day before camp. For volunteers who don’t have experience to travel alone we will organize meeting in Riga bus station.

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 250 EUR