ESC volunteering teams in France with Solidarites Jeunesses

These projects are supported by the program European Solidarity Corps for young people between 18 and 30 years. It is open to all the EU and partner neighboring countries that fit the ESC criteria. The participation to the ESC volunteering teams is subjects to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en

Volunteers do not have to pay no participation fee to attend the projects

Volunteers need to enrol in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal ; SJ will organize their matching in the portal with the volunteering project;

Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 6€/day, once they arrive on the projects

Volunteers will receive a financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established in accordance with their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets;

Volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the portal

Objectives

Promoting and experiencing collective living and healthy lifestyles
Promoting alternative and solidarity-based modes of consumption
Raising awareness about the importance of physical activity
Learning about ecological and low-fat cooking
Analysing and remodelling one’s practices and lifestyle
Reconnecting with people and nature after 2 years of Covid-19 pandemic
Contributing to meaningful community work

More information about Solidarites Jeunesses: https://www.solidaritesjeunesses.org/apropos#item-si

1) SJ/ESC72 THE WITCHES’ CLAWS 1

30/08-20/09 (to be confirmed) ENVI 12 vols 18-30

Project: This international camp is organized in partnership with the Syndicate mixed Rivage and the town of Barcarès, on the edge of the Salses Leucate pond, in a protected wetland, renowned for its varied biodiversity. The partnership between the Syndicat mixte Rivage and the REV has existed for several years. The syndicate collaborates regularly with the REV, on the organization of international worksites or other occasional events. The two structures are used to working together, and find each other both in terms of their values and their ambitions. This year’s project will aim, in addition to removing invasive species (witches’ claw, yucca, prickly pears, agaves, etc.), to participate in implementing measures for the protection and enhancement of existing biodiversity on the site (e.g. trail layout). Since the work is linked to weather conditions, the tasks are generally defined at the start of the project. Your action will be in accordance with the objectives 14 and 15 of sustainable development (UN) in favor of the protection of fauna and flora (aquatic and terrestrial).

Work: This site will allow you to carry out several activities: opening up environments (cutting down trees), delimiting the protected area of the area frequented by kite surfers for example (laying wooden barriers), uprooting invasive species in order to allow endemic species (flora or fauna) to be able to reproduce. The aim of the project is to preserve the surroundings of the pond, whether by managing attendance or managing plants. 25h/week

Accommodation and food: You will be accommodated in a gîte made available by the town hall. This place includes dormitories, toilets and a kitchen. Meals will be provided and prepared in turn by participants.

Location: Between the Mediterranean Sea and the pond of Salses Leucate, near Perpignan and the Pyrenees.

Leisure activities: As the site will be held in a protected area, the majority of leisure activities will consist of discovering the surrounding nature (fauna and flora), but also discovering the culinary heritage. Transport will also be made available to organize discovery outings and leisure activities.

Closest Train Station: Leucate la Franqui station between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Closest Airport: Montpellier

2) SJ/ESC82 THE REAL STORY BEHIND ARZELIERS CASTLE

17/09-02/10 RENO 12 vols 18-30

Project: At the gates of the provençale Baronnies, the site of Arzeliers lies perched on a small mountain where one can marvel at a beautiful view of the Durance valley. This former village that today is in ruins is the birthplace of the Laragne commune. There, we can still find the remnants of a chapel as well as the ruins of several homes. For some years now, the commune of Laragne has mobilized the ruins of the Arzeliers castle, a relic of the rich past of these communities, back to life by upgrading and maintaining it. For this purpose, international workcamps of young volunteers have been organized since 2013.

Work: Do you want to learn ancient masonry techniques and to register your action in accordance with the objective 12 of sustainable development (UN) in favor of sustainable consumption and production? How to use ancient and ecological materials? This year, we will continue to work on protecting former homes in close proximity to the castle. With the aim of preserving this heritage and its remains, we will use the same materials used at the time, namely, plaster. We will collect the gypsum on site, and cook it (thanks to an oven built on location), in order to reuse it in the masonry. All of this will be accomplished with the help of a technical supervisor who will be there to share their knowledge! Warning, this will tone up your arms! You’ll work for 30h a week, you will get there by vehicle. We will use a scaffold at times for work at heights. Evenings and weekends are free for activities that you will choose and organize together.

Accommodation and food: We’ll be living under tents on the « Montéglin » camping in Laragne, a small town steeped in history and typically provençal. On the campgrounds, we have access to amenities like sanitary facilities, a barbecue, a pool, a bocce ball court, a bar, a restaurant, and WIFI. We will install a large kitchen tent in order to prepare our meals. We’ll take turns cooking, that way we’ll be able to taste a number of different specialties ! Here, we pay attention to what we eat, and to reduce our impact on the planet, we try to eat a maximum of local products and we limit eating meat to twice a week. Community life will be organized together: organization of menus (vegetarian, vegan and other specific diets possible), grocery shopping, activities, etc. The lunch will be cold as it will be taken to the construction site. Bring a mattress, a good sleeping bag (the nights can be cool) and a pillow (to be adapted to your needs).

Location: The small town of Laragne is a welcoming town with all kinds of shops (10km from Sisteron and 40km from Gap).

Leisure activities: We will be in an exceptional location to discover the joys of hiking among the mountains, its rivers, its lakes, the farmers markets, and festive events organized in the surrounding villages (depending on programming). As a group, we’ll decide the activities and outings that we want to set up (subject to distance).

Closest train station: Laragne Montéglin (05300). You can arrive by train from Grenoble or Marseille directly at the Laragne Montéglin station. Carpooling is also possible because Laragne is on the road between Grenoble and Marseille. The meeting times at the Laragne train station will be communicated to you on the infosheet (no times available at this time).

Closest airports: Lyon or Marseille.