Training Course: Earth, Wood & People

Boževce, Kosovo | 22 June – 1 July 2025

This training is open to 18 participants mainly from Europe, with possible participation from neighbouring countries. It is aimed at people involved in youth work, volunteer projects, and those passionate about sustainability, traditional craftsmanship, and solidarity.

About the Training

The course will take place in Boževce, a small village in the eastern part of Kosovo, near Kamenica. Here, the organisation GAIA Kosovo has been developing an educational centre for permaculture and natural building, built with the help of international and local volunteers, experts, and community members.

This unique setting — a project still in the making — provides an excellent opportunity to learn in practice about natural building techniques while connecting with like-minded people from different countries.

Participants will be accommodated in shared village houses, with vegan and vegetarian meals made from mostly local products. The environment offers cold and hot showers, composting toilets, plenty of trees, animals, and peaceful surroundings. Note that Boževce is a small and remote village, with around 30 inhabitants, no shop, school, or bar.

Why Natural Building?

Natural building is one of the oldest human skills, predating modern terminology. From caves and huts to large, sustainable structures, humans have long shaped their environment with natural materials. Today, it remains an important and accessible response to global challenges like climate change, environmental degradation, and social disconnection.

This training will combine theoretical knowledge and practical workshops to explore the meaning and importance of natural building in contemporary society. Through non-formal learning, teamwork, and discussions, participants will explore its connections to solidarity, inclusion, empowerment, and climate awareness.

Main Topics

  • Introduction to natural building materials, history, and methods

  • Overview of traditional building practices

  • Working site safety basics for volunteers

  • Hands-on workshops with earth and wood using manual tools

  • Discussions on solidarity, volunteering, inclusion, gender, and climate justice

  • How to design short-term volunteer projects in natural building

  • Critical reflection on current volunteering practices

What to Expect

  • Theoretical sessions introducing natural building and its context

  • Practical workshops on working with earth, clay, wood, and natural materials

  • Discussions about the connections between climate change, social justice, and sustainable living

  • Group work designing future volunteering or community projects

  • Solidarity volunteer actions with local neighbours

  • A peaceful, off-the-grid community life experience

  • Travel and participation costs fully covered, with travel costs reimbursed after the training

Participant Profile

  • 18+ years old

  • Interested in natural building, sustainable living, and volunteer coordination

  • Active in an organisation, project, or community group — or motivated to start one

  • Eager to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and contribute to group activities

  • Available to participate for the full duration: arriving 22 June and departing 1 July 2025

  • Open to green travel options where possible

How to Apply

If you are a youth worker, volunteer coordinator, group leader, mentor, or activist interested in organising volunteer or community events around natural building and solidarity, you are welcome to apply.

We look forward to hearing from you and building something meaningful together — with earth, wood, and people.

0 Likes