Renovation of the Youth and culture center in Laroque d’Olmes
     Laroque d’Olmes, Midi-Pyrenees       August 17 - September 6, 2008

Volunteer project: You will participate in the renovation of the MJC (Center for Youth and Culture) of the town of Laroque d’Olmes as a follow-up of the 2007 volunteer project. In partnership with the municipality and the MJC, this project will be the occasion to work together with the local youth (12 to 18 year-olds), in the objective of an intercultural cooperation.

The renovation work in the Center will consist in painting and doing small masonry work. You will also participate in the reconstruction of stone walls situated in the “Castéla” (upper part of the fortified town) or on the path that leads to the St Roch chapel. Note: you may have to work on a scaffolding.

Language: English

Possible free time activities: Hiking or cycling tours, visits of Cathar castles, sport activities, visit of the textile plant of the town, swimming at the lake, visits of the cities of Foix, Toulouse or the medieval city of Carcassonne. Some activities will be organised jointly with the local teenagers of the MJC.

Accommodation: You will be accommodated in an apartment located in the school. You will stay in shared rooms; kitchen and sanitary facilities are available.

Location: Laroque d’Olmes is a charming and lively little town of the Ariege department, offering a rich and preserved natural environment. It is also the stronghold of the local textile industry. It is situated in the heart of the Cathar country and at the foot of the Olmes Mountains (Pyrenees), in a calm and rural area.

Terminal: Pamiers

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Renovation of the Notre-Dame church of Bonrepos
       Bonrepos, Midi-Pyrenees          August 18 - September 8, 2008

Volunteer project: Under the supervision of volunteers from the village, you will renovate the Notre-Dame church of Bonrepos-sur-Aussonnelle, which is at the centre of the village. The aim is to valorize the site in order to develop tourism in the village, together with other projects (putting up sign posts, etc). You will do painting (doors, furniture) and masonry on one of the outer walls, as well as other maintenance work.

Furthermore, during the last weekend of the project, the local festival will take place: you will participate in the preparations with the population. Attention: we require all volunteers to stay until the last day of the project!

Language: English

Possible free time activities: Walking and cycling tours, sports activities, adventure park “Tépacap”, visits to the city of Toulouse. Exchanges with the local youth will be encouraged for a better integration of the international volunteers in the local life.

Accommodation: You will be accommodated under tents; the kitchen and sanitary facilities are available in a municipal building.

Location: Bonrepos-sur-Aussonnelle is a rural village of 850 inhabitants. Located 35 km from Toulouse, close to St-Lys and Muret, it is at the border of the Gers district. An ancient Roman way and a 15th century castle can be found there. During the 2nd World War, the French resistance fighters had a stronghold near the village. Surrounded by woody hills, Bonrepos overlooks the plains of the region of Toulouse.

Terminal: Toulouse

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Support the organization of "Riff Mania" music festival
      Castelnau-Riviere-Basse, Midi-Pyrenees    August 24-September 6, 2008

French speaking project
Volunteer project: The international volunteers will participate in the preparation, the organisation and the closing of the "Riff Mania" music festival, where many bands will perform on stage. Your tasks will include handling and assembling of the equipment, preparation of the stage, activities linked with the theme of the festival (workshops, debates, exhibitions, etc.) and finally, preparation of meals, cleaning the site and disassembling the stage. Attention: a certain flexibility in the work is required according to the needs of the festival.

Language: French

Possible free time activities: Hiking, swimming, visits of typical villages, visits to castles, exchanges with the local population, the organisers of the festival and the visitors.

Accommodation: In the municipal football grounds building near the village, dormitory style with sanitary facilities.

Location: Located at about 2 hours by car from Toulouse, Castelnau-Riviere-Basse is a small village of 800 inhabitants, at the limit between the Gers and the Hautes-Pyrenees departments. The region offers an amazingly wide range of landscapes, and is famous for its vineyards, namely the Madiran wine.

Terminal: Tarbes

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Restoration of low walls in the ancient town of Billom
       Billom, Auvergne          August 24 - September 15, 2008

Volunteer project: The international volunteers will be guided by a technical leader of a local association. The aim of the project is the restoration of low walls located in the town centre. The work activities consist mainly of brushing of the wall, removing of plaster and clearing, replacing of the stones, replastering.

Language: English

Possible free time activities: Participation in a medieval festival organized by the association Billom Renaissance, meeting with the local associations, visit of the medieval city with Billom Renaissance, discovering of the pink Garlic of Billom, swimming pool, football, basketball, tennis, walk in the Madet Gorges, horse riding, visit of castles (Mauzun, Lachaux Montgros), visit of the Livradois forez park, visit of the towns of Clermont-Ferrand and Issoire.

Accommodation: Under tents, at the campsite. Average altitude is 500 m

Location: Billom is a small town of 5000 inhabitants in the regional park of Livradois Forez, 20 min from Clermont-Ferrand and Thiers. Originally Gallic village and druidic center, the Romans made of it a stop on the great way connecting Lyon to Bordeaux. Its intense development enabled the village to become one of the first important towns of Auvergne in the XII century and to build its fortifications. The medieval area and old documents are not enough to describe this welcoming town. City nearby: Clermont Ferrand (25 km).

Terminal: Clermont-Ferrand

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Festival for a Fair Humanity
       Montauban, Midi-Pyrenees          September 2 - September 20, 2008

French speaking project
Volunteer project: You will participate in the organisation of the “Festival vers une Humanité Equitable” (“Festival for a Fair Humanity”), which will take place at the Emmaüs Community on September 12th, 13th and 14th 2008. This Festival is the outcome of the cooperation between a large number of organisations. Your tasks will include the handling and the assembling of the equipment, the preparation of the stage, the activities linked with the theme of the festival (workshops, debates, exhibitions, etc.), the preparation of meals, and finally, the cleaning of the site and disassembling of the stage. Attention: a certain flexibility in the work is required according to the needs of the festival.

The community is self-sufficient and does not accept public funding. The principles of collective responsibility, sharing, and active participation are central for Emmaüs, and they regularly call out to the public authorities on issues of housing and of social exclusion.

Language: French

Possible free time activities: Your leisure activities will be organized with the companions: theme parties, visits to Montauban, Toulouse and Moissac, canoeing and a lot of different sports.

Accommodation: You will be accommodated under tents at the community. The meals will be taken with the community members and you will have to participate in the daily housework duties. Important note: consumption of alcohol and drugs is forbidden at the community as a mark of respect and solidarity towards those who struggle against alcohol and drug addiction problems.

Location: La Villedieu du Temple is situated at about 10 km west of the town of Montauban, and 1 hour drive from the city of Toulouse, in a rural region of cereal production. The community is located 3 km from the village of La Villedieu du Temple; it is a small hamlet itself.

Terminal: Montauban

Age range: 20 - 30 years old
 

 

 

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