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Volunteer opportunities in GERMANY

 

Preserving the dune landscape of the North Sea island of Wangerooge
       Wangerooge, Lower Saxony          March 8 - March 22, 2008
       Wangerooge, Lower Saxony          August 9 - August 23, 2008

Volunteer project: Your exhausting working day ends with a refreshing swim in the North Sea. Afterwards, you bask in the sun and proudly look at the beach: together with your fellow volunteers, you have again saved a good part of those dunes from erosion by wind and waves! If you like the idea of helping to preserve the dune landscape of this eastern-most East Frisian island, you have come to the right workcamp. International volunteer groups have supported the coastal and dune land protection programme on this North Sea island for over 50 years.

Under the leadership of the Marine and Waterways Department, the international group will participate in erecting sand-retaining fences, plant marram grass and repair footpaths in the dunes. All these jobs prevent erosion of the dunes by wind and water, and you will make an important contribution to the island's sea defenses. The dunes are a nature reserve and offer a habitat for coastal animal and plant life. You will have bicycles to reach the particular beaches you'll be working on.

This is a project for people who love the sea, the beach, the sun and the wind. Wangerooge has numerous nature and bird sanctuaries and is a car-free zone. It is a holiday island which offers a variety of free time activities such as swimming in the sea, beach volleyball, walking the mud-flats, bicycle tours, small concerts and much more.

Language: English

Accommodation: A large youth hostel with shared rooms, in a 7-floor-tower; 200 meters to the beach. You will get bikes in order to go to the working area.

Location: The North Sea island of Wangerooge has approximately 2000 inhabitants. It belongs to the National Park “Niedersaechsisches Wattenmeer” and has special flora and fauna. Cars are absolutely forbidden on the island.

Terminal: Train station Sande, from there by bus to Harlesiel, from there by ferry to Wangerooge.

Airport: Bremen or Hamburg

Age range: 16 - 26 years old

 

 

Constructing interactive games in a community meeting centre
       Hildesheim, Lower Saxony          March 8 - March 22, 2008

Volunteer project: The Meeting-centre “Broadway” offers free time activities, consulting and learning opportunities to the people living in that part of Hildesheim (named “Fahrenheit”). The most important task of the volunteers is to encourage and involve the residents.

Together with the local residents, you will build/construct in- and outside games for interaction. This includes a mobile chess-board, wooden alley named “Jaccolo”, mobile goal, mobile bowling alley, and some dexterity games.
If you have any ideas for this project, maybe something typical from your country, please bring it. Maybe we can also develop it.
You will also be involved in the arrangement of the playground.

Special requirements: Technical skills (for construction of the games). Pedagogical interest in working with children and youth. Some knowledge in German or Turkish would be helpful.

Language: English

Accommodation: In two flats in the Fahrenheit community of Hildesheim.

Location: Hildesheim has 100.000 inhabitants and is located in the federal state Niedersachsen, 30 km from Hannover.

Terminal: Hildesheim

Airport: Hannover

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Building a garden around a residence for disabled people in Thuringia
      
Muehlhausen, Thuringia
          April 7 - April 25, 2008

Volunteer project: The local host is a charity organisation running workshops and schools for disabled. They have been hosting international volunteer projects for many years now. Former workcamps got a very warm welcome and were a big success – it always meant a great experience for all volunteers and inhabitants of the place.

Around a new residence for disabled people, the garden has to be arranged, and the volunteer group will help with this. At the moment there is just a field, but there is a concept to transform it into a nice garden to enjoy in the summertime. The project means working in all weather. There will be heavy and easy tasks to do, so every volunteer should find suitable work. Professionals will supervise and explain the work.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will be living in a cozy, yellow house on the property of the charity organisation next to the buildings of the workshops. Kitchen, sleeping rooms and sanitary facilities are provided – and much more. There is a big garden around the house with grass, trees, a pond and a barbecue grill. Next to the workshops you can also find a soccer field. On the roof of the house, there is a balcony, from where you have a great view on the landscape around. Muehlhausen provides a lot of shopping possibilities and is easily reachable on foot or by bike.

Location: Muehlhausen is a very old German town with about 50.000 inhabitants. Visiting the city centre and looking at the old houses, you can still imagine how Germany must have been in former times. Muehlhausen is situated in the beautiful forest of Thuringia. Nearby are many interesting places like the city Weimar (home of the poets Schiller and Goethe) or the Wartburg where Martin Luther translated the new testament of the Bible. There are also many other nice places to go for an excursion.

Train station: Muehlhausen (Thueringen)

Airport: Leipzig

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

 

Environmental works and renovation of an open-air forest stage
      
Fellbach/Wertingen, Baden-Wurttemberg/Bavaria
       May 18 - June 2, 2008

Volunteer project: For one week the city of Fellbach invites especially nature loving volunteers to help with a special project around an open-air stage in the forest – the “Waldbuehne”. After this week, the group will be moving about 150 km to the town of Wertingen, where other environmental projects have to be done. This project offers opportunity to experience two different parts of Germany!

Week 1: The group will work on the renovation and reparation of the city's open-air stage “Waldbühne” in the forest. Work will be done with different tools and includes different technical tasks. Volunteers should be prepared to work outside even in bad weather. The group will be supported by rangers and professional workers of the city.

Week 2: In the second project, volunteers will help with environmental tasks in a forest, basically removing alien species around younger trees and there is also some gardening work around a school to be done.

Language: English

Accommodation: Around 1,5 km away from the working place lies the house of the association of nature friends. The volunteer group will live in the beautiful house with different sleeping rooms, all sanitary facilities, a big kitchen and barbecue place outside the house that lies amidst the nature.

Location: Fellbach is a neighbour city of Stuttgart and is situated in the mountainous and diverse region of the “Swabian Alb”. Fellbach is known for its historical roots and architectural style as well as for its wines and cultural events. The group will have the chance to discover both the landscape of the region and the Swabian culture and sights of the cities Fellbach and Stuttgart (TV-tower, zoo “Wilhelma”, festivals…) before travelling further on to the Bavarian city of Wertingen.

Wertingen is a nice town in Bavaria with 9.000 inhabitants and a history dating back over 800 years. Old churches, impressive town houses, a castle, but also nice pubs can be visited. Volunteers can taste typical Swabian meals or visit the beer museum!

Train station: Stuttgart (arrival); Augsburg (departure);

Airport: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (arrival); Munich (departure);

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Playground renovation and improvements in Singen
      
Singen, Baden-Wurttemberg
          June 15 - June 28, 2008

Volunteer project: After two successful volunteer projects in the past years, the municipal council of Singen again asks an international group to help with renovation and construction works on local playgrounds.

There are different tasks to be done such as painting parts of the playground tools, clearing the vegetation, leveling the ground, etc. The work will be supervised by professional workers who will explain everything and who are looking forward to get to know the international helpers.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the building of the fire brigade. You will sleep in big classrooms where new fire fighters usually have their lessons. A kitchen and sanitary facilities are available in the same building. Be aware that it can happen that there is a case of emergency for the fire fighters during the night and you will wake up because of the alarm bell, which is on top of the fire station. The building is located in the city centre and you will have plenty of shopping and leisure time possibilities there.

Location: Singen is located in the very south of Germany, close to the border to Switzerland and the Lake Constance and offers many nice excursions and hiking tours. There is also a great amount of sportive and cultural possibilities (museums, theatres, etc).

Train station: Singen

Airport: Zuerich (CH) and Stuttgart

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Creating a garden for an ancient Bavarian house
       Regensburg, Bavaria          June 21 - July 12, 2008

Volunteer project: In the beautiful city of Regensburg, you will be on the traces of the Celts, the Romans and ancient Bavarian gardeners. The project can be found on the colonies of these tribes, where a new construction-area is being built.

You’ll support the creation of a garden for an ancient Bavarian house, which is more than 2000 years old. You can help at the construction of little theme-parks, which deal with the long history of the area. Furthermore, you’ll help at the implementation of an art-project. Also you can experience how the beaver acts as a landscape-former, forming the ambiance to nearby Lakeland.

Language: English

Accommodation: The classrooms of a new school

Location: Bavaria; 120 km north of Munich, 100 km south of Nuremberg, 200 km to Prague. Regensburg, with its 152,000 inhabitants is situated on the northern most point of the River Danube. In the past year, the medieval Old Town with many monuments, has become an UNESCO-World-culture-heir. On the border of the Bavarian Forest, Regensburg has a great natural environment, with open air baths, lakes, and a pulsing life with many leisure time possibilities. A van will be provided.

Train station: Regensburg

Airport: Munich

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

 

Restoration and creative workshops in a Cultural Centre for historic crafts in Naumburg
      
Naumburg, Saxony-Anhalt          June 21 - July 12, 2008

Volunteer project: The grounds of the former slaughterhouse in Naumburg, now a listed building, are being transformed into a Cultural Centre for historic crafts and building materials. Your hands-on support with this project is very welcome.

For two weeks, you’ll help with renovations and other work in the grounds, as well as the recreation of the historic kitchen garden. For the new eco-gardens, you could design and build units for a mosaic layout and furniture, using historical materials and wood from the local forests. In addition, your work will of course include the preparation of plant beds, laying paths and general ground clearing operations. You might also help with the restoration of historic building materials, which will then be reused during further renovation work. In the third week, we would like you to take part in a number of creative workshops with local young people. You might discover a fascination for the rhythm and power of samba drumming, and also create costumes, props and stage sets for your leaving party. There will be time to visit the beautiful countryside of Germany’s northernmost wine-growing region, and to explore the attractive town of Naumburg and its history.

Language: English

Accommodation: In a hall on the grounds of the Centre.

Location: Saxony-Anhalt; Naumburg is 45 km south-west of Leipzig and 40 km south of Halle.

Train station: Naumburg

Airport: Leipzig or Berlin

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Creative and intercultural activities with children
      
Osterwieck, Saxony-Anhalt          June 21 - July 12, 2008

Volunteer project: In Osterwieck in the Harz Mountains, you’ll be able to participate in the work with kids and teenagers and be creative in different parts.

In age-based groups, you can bring the culture of your home country to German kids and teenagers - your culture, language, country and people, friends and family, tales and history. The kids are looking forward to playing, singing, listening to tales from all over the world and doing many other things with you. In addition, it’s very important, that you bring along ideas for games, music, creative handicraft and recipes from your home country. For example photos, cards and books about the city and the country, where you are living, may help you at this work here. You will work in kindergarten or the after-school care club, where you will take care of kids in the age of 1 to 10 and will work with them in self-prepared projects. In the first days you’ll have time to prepare for the projects together and to put together a great programme as a group.

Language: English

Accommodation: You’ll be accommodated in a community building of the Catholic Church in Osterwieck.

Location: The small town Osterwieck is situated in Saxony-Anhalt, 86 km from Magedeburg and 48 km from Braunschweigh. Osterwieck is 1025 years old, lies in a beautiful valley in between two mountains.

Train station: Halberstadt or Vienenburg

Airport: Hanover or Berlin

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Renovation works at the outdoor swimming pool in Vilsbiburg
       Vilsbiburg, Bavaria          June 21 - July 12, 2008

Volunteer project: Anyone who likes to work with wood, is sure to like this project. The focus of this volunteer project is to renovate wooden changing cabins and sun beds, which belong to the outdoor swimming pool of the city.

Your help is needed for the construction and renovation of those nostalgic and authentic changing cabins and sun beds. During the summer, the changing cabins are mostly rented out to regular guests.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the main building of the swimming pool.

Location: Vilsbiburg is in Bavaria, 20 km from Landsgut, 80 km from Munich. There are a lot of other free time arrangements for you and of course you can enjoy all the facilities (including the 70 m long waterslide) of the swimming pool. The Alps are 1 ½ -2 hours away. You can do trips to Munich and to Landshut with its castle “Trausnitz”.

Train station: Vilsbiburg

Airport: Munich

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

 

Creating an outdoor play area for children with special needs
      
Elsenfeld, Bavaria
          June 22 - July 5, 2008

Volunteer project: In Elsenfeld, a special school offers education for pupils with special needs. The pupils have chance to spend the whole day at school, which is not usual in Germany. The school is linked to an old monastery, one of the many historic traces that can be found in the town.

Together with pupils, the international volunteers will help with construction work on the school yard. This includes tasks such as putting up wooden play scheme equipments, plastering the ground, putting up seats and benches and carrying out general improvements. The working project will be supervised by professionals.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will be accommodated in a sports hall or in another building in the school. Mats will be provided as well as a kitchen and sanitary facilities.

Location: Elsenfeld has about 7.000 inhabitants and is situated in Northern Bavaria. The region is famous for Roman history. Excursions to the cities of Aschaffenburg, Frankfurt, Darmstadt and Heidelberg are possible.

Train station: Obernburg-Elsenfeld

Airport: Frankfurt (Main)

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Trail construction and playground renovation on the banks of Rhine river
      
Eltville, Hesse
          June 23 - July 13, 2008

Volunteer project: Eltville is located at the banks of the famous Rhine river and it is worldwide known for its white wines (Riesling and Silvaner) as well as its sparkling wines (Henkell is just a few km away, Vaux and MM have their seat in Eltville) and roses. Following the success of last year’s project, the municipality invites again an international group of volunteers.

The work will be divided in two parts: the main part will be the construction of a nature trail at the banks of the river Rhine. Besides, renovation tasks on local playgrounds are waiting for the group. Volunteers should be prepared to work in all weather conditions.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will be accommodated on the first floor of a youth centre. All facilities are provided; showers will be at a walking distance in a sports hall nearby.

Location: Eltville consists of about 17000 inhabitants and it is first mentioned in 1058. The name, despite ending on “ville”, is not French, but stems from “Alta Villa”. It is a charming historical town with a tranquil feeling to it. Some of the most famous German wine yards are located here and the region attracts many tourists. The next larger city is Wiesbaden, about 15 km to the east, which is the capital of the state of Hesse.

Train station: Eltville am Rhein

Airport: Frankfurt (Main), approx. 40 km

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Leading play sessions, sports and crafts activities in a holiday program for children
      
Dortmund-Rahm, North Rhine Westphalia      June 28 - July 19, 2008

Volunteer project: The Dortmund-Rahm Youth Office runs varied holiday programmes for children and young people aged 4 to 18 in its youth leisure centre and the affiliated adventure playground. The youth centre and the adventure playground (an area of some 12,000 square metres) offer a number of different activities, such as a Young People’s Café with billiard and football tables, internet point, fitness room, bicycle repair workshop, an area for building huts, a mud-and-water area, campfire, workshops and sports field.

After a few days of introduction, you’ll work in all of the above activity areas – you’ll supervise play sessions as well as sports and crafts activities for children and young people. We also plan to take children to the outskirts of the city for a 5-day camping trip, for which your help is also required.

We envisage joint free time activities with the other workcamp groups staying in Dortmund, and there are numerous possible excursions, for example to the cities of Bochum, Cologne and Hamburg.

Special requirements: A good working knowledge of German is required, and an aptitude for working with children and young people is essential.

Language: English and German

Accommodation: In the youth leisure centre.

Location: North Rhine-Westphalia; 20 km north-east of Bochum, 90 km north-east of Cologne.

Train station: Dortmund

Airport: Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne-Bonn

Age range: 17 - 26 years old
 

 

 

 

Help kids create their own "Mini-Saarland" play town
      
Saarbrücken, Saarland
          June 28 - July 21, 2008

Volunteer project: Welcome to „Mini-Saarland“! Up to 1000 children aged 8-15 are invited to create their own town and become hairdresser, postman, cameraman, detective, policeman, cook, photographer, mayor, fireman,…. – similar to the adult world! Adults are not allowed to enter the area as “Mini-Saarland” belongs to the children. The play scheme takes place at the usual exhibition area and there is lots of space.

Volunteers will support the running of the play scheme. Together with local volunteers they will support the children. Working times are from early in the morning till the late afternoon, so days can be hard sometimes. In the beginning there will be an introduction in tasks and responsibilities of all volunteers. All volunteers should be very motivated to work with kids.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have German language skills and send a motivation letter in German showing their interest in working with kids.

Language: English and German

Accommodation: In a building.

Location: Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland near the French border. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire and lots of historical traces can be found. There are plenty of leisure activities for the volunteers – either enjoying the city life or relaxing in the nearby nature after hard working days.

Train station: Saarbrücken

Airport: Saarbrücken, Frankfurt-Hahn (70 km), Frankfurt (130 km)

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Help running leisure programs for children and youth in Dortmund
       Dortmund-Eichlinghofen, North Rhine Westphalia          June 28-July 19, 2008

Volunteer project: Each year, the Eichlinghofen leisure centre for young people, run by the City of Dortmund Youth Office, offers two separate activity holidays for children and older youths respectively. These take place for one week each in camps in the leisure centre grounds. The third week is for joint excursions to a nearby lake.

After a few days of introduction, you’ll help with a variety of activities, but your main task will be preparing meals and drinks (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for the groups and it would be great if you could provide recipes from your native country so that you all feel at home here. In addition, your help is needed with educational activities, and some cleaning up. All in all, most of your “work” is about “leisure” activities!

We envisage joint free time activities with the other workcamp groups staying in Dortmund, and there are numerous possible excursions, for example to the cities of Bochum, Cologne and Hamburg.

Special requirements: A good working knowledge of German and some educational experience would be an advantage.

Language: English and German

Accommodation: You’ll stay in tents in the grounds of the leisure centre.

Location: North Rhine-Westphalia; 20 km north-east of Bochum, 90 km north-east of Cologne.

Train station: Dortmund

Airport: Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn

Age range: 18 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Demolition of an old building in a center for disabled people
      
Kleinwachau, Saxony
          June 30 - July 9, 2008

Volunteer project: The local host is a big charity organisation running homes, workshops and schools for disabled and a hospital for people with epilepsy. For the sixth time the centre invites an international volunteer group. So far, for all participants the stay in the centre has been very impressive as a result of the close and friendly contact with the disabled inhabitants and the beautiful surrounding in the forest.

This special working project will be a “demolition camp”: working task will not be construction, but important deconstruction work! The old green house cannot be used for botanical plants and vegetables anymore, so it has to be removed to make space for a new building. This means to destroy the glass windows, to remove the walls, to dispose the material and to clean up the area, so that a new building can be built. The second part will be to help with the preparation of the big summer festival of the centre.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will live in a small hut on the area of the charity organisation. It is a renovated, modernized little house with showers and all other sanitary facilities. Beds are available.

Location: The centre is located in a rural area in the forest. Nice excursions to Dresden, an old and famous baroque town and to “Saxon Switzerland”, which is famous for hiking, are possible. Leisure activities are based on group organized activities, as there is no “town and club”-life around, but the centre lies in idyllic surroundings which allow good recreation.

Train station: Radeberg (Sachsen)

Airport: Dresden

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

 

Preservation of creeks and forests in the scenic Swabian Alps
      
Frittlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg          July 5 - July 26, 2008

Volunteer project:  For the seventh time now in this beautiful camp in Frittlingen there will be nature conservation along the creeks and in the forest. This is in cooperation with the agency for nature conservation, the water department and the local forest management.

You can help in different ways, for example by cleaning water, cutting grooves, and taking care of young trees as well as setting nature-stones in “biotopes”. You will experience many interesting things about nature conservation.

Language: English

Accommodation: The fire brigade’s house in Frittlingen.

Location: Frittlingen is placed in Baden-Wuerttemberg, 100 km south of Stuttgart, 50 km in the north of the Lake Constance, 15 km to Rottweil. It is a little village with 2200 inhabitants, and is found at the feet of the Swabian Mountains in a very nice area. In your free time, you can make trips to Stuttgart, Rottweil, to Lake Constance or to the Swabian Mountains. There are a lot of possibilities for contact with the youth in the village.

Train station: Rottweil

Airport: Stuttgart

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Recovery of forests damaged by the storm Kyrill
       Hameln, Lower Saxony          July 5 - July 26, 2008

Volunteer project: Last year, the ‘Kyrill’ storm did a lot of damage to the forests in Northern Germany. The cleaning efforts are still taking place. In the area of the Lower Saxony forestry office, the consequential damage is still visible.

You’ll help to cut free the new planted trees, as they need space and light to grow. Furthermore, you will remake paths, build or repair recovery places and help at other nature conservation works. You’ll work in changing little groups and will have the possibility to develop nature and to collect background information about nature conservation and the forest as a habitat, together with the employees of the forestry office.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the municipality-centre “Hohes Feld” of the Martin-Luther-commune in Hameln

Location: Hameln in Lower Saxony, called the “rat-catcher-city”, welcomes you. Its historical old city, different museums, the “adventure-world Renaissance”, and a glassblowing show offer many possibilities for cultural experiences or to go shopping.

Train station: Hameln

Airport: Hanover

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Learn German in Storkow Peace Village
      
Storkow, Brandenburg          July 5 - July 27, 2008

Volunteer project: Storkow Peace Village is an anti-racism youth project which aims to promote humanity, solidarity and intercultural youth work. In addition to your work, this project gives you the opportunity to learn German.

You’ll work for about three hours per day. You will help in taking care of parks in the city and within the Peace Village.

Study part: Besides work, you will have two hours of intensive language class every day. All tutors are experienced teachers of German as a foreign language and they are also participants in the workcamp.

Language: English and German

Accommodation: In the Peace Village.

Location: In Brandenburg; Storkow is 50 km south-east of Berlin. During your free time, you’ll have full use of all cultural and sportive facilities around, including volleyball and basketball courts and football fields. You can also explore the beautiful surrounding countryside by bike, boat or by foot, or take a trip to Berlin.

Train station: Storkow

Airport: Berlin

Age range: 16 - 26 years old

Extra fee: 300 Euro
 

 

 

 

Maintenance and environmental work at a war graveyard in Vallendar
       Vallendar, Rhenania-Palatinate          July 5 - July 26, 2008

Volunteer project: Vallendar is close to the Rhine, close to historical castles and fortresses. On the city’s graveyard, there is a large amount of war graves (around 100). Your task will be to rearrange these war graves to give special remembrance to the victims of war whilst being a warning for future generations.

You will help transport stones and to clean the gravestones, as well as planting new grass.

Language: English

Accommodation: An elementary school

Location: Vallendar is a city 6 km north of Koblenz. There are a lot of free time possibilities like travelling to the Rhine or the Mosel. In Vallendar, there are two swimming pools and you can play miniature golf.

Train station: Vallendar

Airport: Frankfurt a. M.

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Organising historical games, sports and creative activities in a Holiday program in Dortmund
      
Dortmund-Scharnhorst, North Rhine Westphalia          July 5 - July 26, 2008

Volunteer project: The Dortmund Youth Office runs varied holiday programmes for children and young people aged 6 to 20 years in its Scharnhorst Centre and adventure playground. The Scharnhorst Centre is a large modern youth leisure centre with internet café, sports facilities, a common room, rehearsal rooms for bands, and an adjacent leisure area that was designed by young people. The huge adventure playground has an on-site playhouse and features pools, a site for building huts, a campfire, sports fields, meadows, stables and a riding arena. During the first two weeks, the adventure playground offers holiday activities for local children. The programme includes play sessions, sports and creative activities and, during the first week, games with historical themes. During week three, holiday sessions for young people are being offered at the “Blue Place” in the grounds of the Scharnhorst Centre.

After the introduction, you will help with a variety of activities: You’ll help run the historical games, the sports activities including those with horses, and all the other holiday activities.

We envisage joint free time activities with the other workcamp groups staying in Dortmund, and there are numerous possible excursions, for example to the cities of Bochum, Cologne and Hamburg.

Special requirements: A good working knowledge of German is required, and an aptitude for working with children and young people is absolutely essential.

Language: English and German

Accommodation: In the youth leisure centre.

Location: North Rhine-Westphalia; 20 km north-east of Bochum, 90 km north-east of Cologne.

Train station: Dortmund

Airport: Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn

Age range: 18 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Construction project with the youth club of Augsburg
      
Augsburg, Bavaria
          July 6 - July 20, 2008

Volunteer project: The youth club “Lehmbau” is located in the outskirts of the city of Augsburg next to a big swimming lake. It is a meeting point for children and youth from the neighbourhood and offers lots of leisure activities such as beach volleyball, climbing, canoeing, handcrafting or taking care and having fun with the animals (donkey, sheep, goats, rabbits,….).

In and around the youth club, there are plenty of renovation tasks to be done. The successful project last year did working projects consisting of the (re)construction and cleaning of some buildings and the big garden such as clearing out an old boathouse, leveling the ground around the ping pong table, setting up a barbecue place including new benches, painting of playground equipment, building a new stable for the animals and so on. This year’s tasks will be similar.

Language: English

Accommodation: In a big tent on the yard of the youth centre. Camping beds are provided; sanitary facilities and kitchen are inside the youth centre. Warm sleeping bags are necessary because nights might get cold (even in German summertime). Local youth will be around – volunteers have the chance to get in contact with them!

Location: Ever since its founding by Caesar Augustus - after whom it was named, the town of Augsburg has stood at the intersection of some of the most important trade and travel routes on the continent. Nowadays, it is the capital and the largest city of the Swabia administrative region of Bavaria. The population is about 280.000 and the face of Augsburg has been shaped by its 2000-year history. The town offers plenty of possibilities for spending leisure time. The youth club can be easily reached from the inner city by a 20 minute walk. Around 200m next to the youth club, volunteers can get new energy in a swimming lake.
The volunteer project is invited and supported by the municipality of Augsburg and the municipal volunteer service.

Train station: Augsburg

Airport: Munich

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

 

Restoration of historical heritage sites
      
Langenenslingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
          July 6 - July 19, 2008

Volunteer project: Due to the commitment of members of the famous Swabian Stauffenberg family, historical traces in and around the town of Langenenslingen can be found. Important examples are an old castle and an old house from the baroque era, where a famous writer used to live. For the first time, the municipality invites an international volunteer team to help with different working projects.

Firstly, the group will help with the renovation of the baroque house. Basically, the facade has to be renewed. Secondly, volunteers will plaster a footpath near a church, which was barred the last five years. Third task will be to uncover the ruins of a castle.

Special requirements: Working places are located in different locations and volunteers should be able to ride a bike, as this might be the way of transportation.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will be accommodated in a Christian community house in Billafingen, a small part of Langenenslingen. A kitchen, sanitary facilities and beds are available.

Location: Langenenslingen is situated in the South of Baden-Wurttemberg and has about 3.600 inhabitants. The Swabian Albs are nearby, which is a popular mountain range and recreation area. Lots of leisure activities are possible, but basically volunteers will have chance to experience typical German rural life in friendly and nice surroundings.

Train station: Riedlingen

Airport: Stuttgart

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Renovation activities at the Youth Club of Walheim
      
Walheim, Baden-Wurttemberg
          July 6 - July 19, 2008

Volunteer project: The Youth Club of Walheim is located in an interesting building called „Dschunke“ (=junk). This name was given because the shape of the building is similar to an old Chinese boat. It was built within three years in cooperation with professionals and young volunteers.

The construction of the youth club is finished, but still there are lots of smaller renovation tasks to do. Renovation tasks have to be done inside and outside. For example rooms inside has to be painted and the facade outside needs new wooden panels, which have to be painted as well. Maybe volunteers will also help with the building of a barbecue place. The work will be in cooperation with local volunteers and professionals.

Language: English

Accommodation: The accommodation will be in the “Dschunke”. Kitchen, toilets and camping beds are provided. Showers are at a walking distance in another building. Local youth are looking forward to meet international volunteers.

Location: Walheim is a small town with approximately 3.000 inhabitants at the border of the Neckar river. It is surrounded by vineyards and has several important Roman sites and a museum about the Roman period. Nice excursions are possible such as canoeing on the Neckar or visiting cities such as Heidelberg or Stuttgart.

Train station: Walheim (Wuertt)

Airport: Stuttgart

Age range: 16 - 17 years old

Extra fee: There is an extra fee of 100 Euro, payable in advance or upon arrival.
 

 

 

Creating a video about international volunteering
       Nagold, Baden-Wurttemberg
          July 6 - July 23, 2008

Volunteer project: Following the success of the last years’ projects, the youth centre of Nagold again invites an international volunteer group. All previous projects there have been a great experience for all participants. The youth centre, located in the inner city of Nagold, is a meeting point for young people aged 14-20. Beside many other possibilities to spend time in the youth centre, you will find rooms and equipment to play music, to dance and make videos.

This project needs participants who are interested in the shooting of a video in front and behind the camera. The result of their job as directors, actors and cutters will be a video about the great idea of international volunteer projects! This should be a nice souvenir for all volunteers, but also information for “newcomers” to get attracted by the idea of voluntary work. In the beginning, a workshop will introduce the techniques of producing a video and all volunteers are requested to bring creative ideas. The process will be supported by a professional filmmaker who joined lots of workcamps himself!
Besides, there are two other tasks to fulfill: firstly, some environmental protection tasks are to be done and secondly, volunteers will help with the preparation and running of a two days children festival. Both tasks will be accompanied with the camera, of course!

Special requirements: Volunteers are requested to write a short motivation letter showing their interest or even experience in making videos.

Language: English

Accommodation: The group will stay in the youth centre with basic conditions. Two sleeping rooms with beds are provided and participants have to bring a sleeping bag. Showers are available at the swimming pool, about 400 meters away.

Location: Nagold is a nice little town with about 22.000 inhabitants. It is about 50 km away from Stuttgart and situated in the beautiful “Black Forest”. Trips to Stuttgart and Tuebingen, hiking in the Black forest, horse riding, swimming and playing beach volleyball are only some of the many possible activities. All the time local youth will be around so participants can look forward to get in close contact with them – be open for this!

Train station: Nagold

Airport: Stuttgart (50 km)

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

 

Restoration activities in an old fortified city
      
Ueberherrn, Saarland
          July 6 - July 26, 2008

Volunteer project: Berus is an old fortified small city on a mountain crest which now belongs to the community of Ueberherrn. Berus is still dominated by the beautiful old medieval buildings (castle, church…).

Volunteers will restore an old footpath along the city wall. The path meanders along old terraced gardens planted with fruit trees. The hill is very steep. The work will include clearing vegetation, transporting materials such as gravel and stones, laying steps and installing handrails. The work will be physically hard (but the beautiful view compensates for this).

Language: English

Accommodation: In a sports hall.

Location: Ueberherrn is a very active community directly at the French-German border. Ueberherrn owns many sights (castles, monuments…) and offers a lot of activities for inhabitants and tourists (swimming pool, barbecue areas…). Our partner for this project is the local municipality. The local community is very welcoming. Volunteers will have a close contact with the locals and should be open for this!

Train station: Saarlouis

Airport: Saarbruecken (35 km), Frankfurt-Hahn (90 km)

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Conservation of historical park landscapes in Potsdam
      
Potsdam-Sanssouci, Brandenburg          July 7 - July 29, 2008

Volunteer project: The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Fund (“Stiftung Preußischer Schlösser und Gärten”) looks after numerous historical parks and palaces in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. At the centre of this man-made cultural landscape (which has developed over three centuries) is Potsdam with its many historical estates, including Sanssouci Palace and Gardens.

Your task is to work in the beautiful Sanssouci gardens, which will give you the opportunity to gain a rare insight into this special environment. The Charlottenhof Park, designed by P.J. Lenné in 1838, is one of the areas where you’ll help with the maintenance of paths, flowerbeds and lawns, all of which is an important part of the conservation efforts. Your work will take you to all kinds of different areas within the gardens and will help you understand the complexity of this type of establishment.

Language: English

Accommodation: A house (with garden) belonging to Babelsberg parish.

Location: Brandenburg, on the south-western outskirts of Berlin

Train station: Potsdam

Airport: Berlin

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Help turn a former spinning mill into a community space for the people of Nuertingen
      
Nuertingen, Baden-Wurttemberg
          July 7 - July 20, 2008

Volunteer project: Next to the train station of Nuertingen, you will find the “Alte Seegrasspinnerei”. This name is related to the origin of the place: it is a former factory (spinning mill), nowadays under historical preservation protection. In just three years and with a lot of motivated and enthusiastic volunteer workers, it has become a social, cultural and ecological centre. Now you will find a kindergarten, a youth club, handcrafting workshops, a canteen serving mainly biological food, studios for artists, theatre and music groups and many cultural and artistic activities. The last of the old buildings is still in the process of renovation in an innovative procedure with ecological materials and regenerative technologies.

Volunteers will be involved in the reconstruction process and work on different parts of the area, inside and outside. Tasks are varying depending on the needs and materials. For sure ecological materials such as clay will be used for facing the walls. Work will be supervised by professionals.

Language: English

Accommodation: In a building, usually used by the children for sport activities. All facilities are provided.

Location: Nuertingen was firstly named about 1000 years ago and many historical traces can be found in the town, for example timbered houses or houses built in the baroque era. About 40.000 inhabitants are living in Nuertingen and the Neckar River is running through the town. The nearby Swabian Alb invites for nice hiking trips. The town is in 40 km distance to Stuttgart and can easily be reached by train.

Train station: Nuertingen

Airport: Stuttgart

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

 

Creating a giant stone monument for a nature conservation project
       Teuschnitz, Bavaria          July 12 - August 2, 2008

Volunteer project: A conservation project in the natural park “Frankenwald”, of the city Teuschnitz, is in its final stage of realisation. In this area, very rare vegetation and animals will find new living space. For the opening, a giant monument/ replication of 11m height, of the flower “Arnikabluete”, made out of natural stone, should be presented.

You will help creating and building this monument. Under professional guidance, you will create a construction plan, place the concrete and do all the groundwork; you will bring up the wall and elaborate the fineness of a flower. During the opening celebration the monument and the park will be inaugurated.

Language: English

Accommodation: You will stay in a school of Teuschnitz

Location: In Bavaria; 100 km away from Nuernberg, close to the state boarders of Bavaria and Thuringia. The cities Teuschnitz, Kronach, Kulmbach, Coburg und Saalfeld and the town centre of Bamberg are UNESCO-world culture heritage and have many interesting places to see. Furthermore you can hike, swing and explore the forest and lakes around the area during your free time. Close to where you are staying, there is a youth centre, where you can participate in many other activities and meet local people.

Train station: Saalfeld in Thuringia

Airport: Nuernberg, Munich

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Restoring a turf moor and protecting its primal habitats
       Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria          July 12 - August 3, 2008

Volunteer project: In the south-east of Munich, there’s a rare moor. In Germany almost 99% of all moors have been destroyed. The EU-supported nature conservation project LIFE-Nature “Rosenheimer Stammbeckenmoore” has the task to restore dry and exhausted turf moor back to its natural state.

You’ll support the project by protecting the primal habitats of dying, moor-specific animals and plants. Furthermore, you’ll have the possibility to make nature in the moors accessible, by creating information points which are handicapped friendly.

Language: English

Accommodation: In the rooms of a kindergarten

Location: Bad Feilnbach is in Bavaria, 100 km south of Munich, 15 km to Rosenheim.
You can explore one of the most beautiful Bavarian nature and holiday landscapes and use your free time for trips to Munich or Salzburg (both around 100 km away) and for mountain hikes.

Train station: Raubling or Aibling

Airport: Munich

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

Creative remodeling of kindergarten facilities in the small spa town Bad Wildbad
    
Bad Wildbad, Baden-Wurttemberg      July 12 - August 2, 2008

Volunteer project: For the fourth time an international volunteer project in the city of Bad Wildbad takes place. This time you’ll have the opportunity to build a connection between two neighbour kindergartens (Oberlin- and Fröbel-Kindergarten).

The area should expand and remodel according to pedagogic requirements of children. Together with the parents and under guidance of an artist from Stuttgart you can support this project. Planned is the construction of a small watercourse, planting and uprooting plants, and modifying the area with earth and wooden constructions. If there is enough time you will be able to participate in the building of a baking oven. We are looking for volunteers who enjoy working outdoors and who like creative work with technical challenges.

Language: English

Accommodation: In a school building, close to the working area.

Location: Bad Wildbad is located in Baden-Württemberg; in the northern outskirts of the beautiful Black Forest, and is known for its spa. It is a great place for hiking, bicycling and enjoying the spa. With the vernicular it is easy to get to the top of the Sommerberg and enjoy nature! Karlsruhe and Stuttgart are easy to reach by train and tram.

Train station: Stuttgart or Karlsruhe; then take the tram to Bad Wildbad

Airport: Stuttgart or Frankfurt a.M.

Age range: 16 - 26 years old
 

 

 

 

Habitat and environmental maintenance work in Leipzig region
      
Borna-Birkenhain, Saxony          July 12 - August 3, 2008

Volunteer project: At the foot of a wooded hill, su