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Preserving
the dune landscape of the North Sea island of
Wangerooge
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
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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. Train station: Augsburg Airport: Munich
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Restoration
of historical heritage sites 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:
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 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
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! 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 Volunteer project: At the foot of a wooded hill, surrounded by idyllic hiking trails and not far from a large lake is the home of the “Ökologische Station Borna-Birkenhain e.V.”, which is responsible for environmental public relations work, countryside conservation and species protection in the southern Leipzig region. Your help is required with the maintenance of pasturelands (mowing and clearing work), as well as habitat and environmental maintenance work in the grounds of the “Ökologische Station”.
Language: English Accommodation: In tents on grounds of the ecological station; sanitary facilities in the station. Location: Saxony Train station: Leipzig Airport: Leipzig/Halle
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Landscaping activities and
creating playgrounds
for kids in
Nidderau Volunteer project: Very close to the national parks of Spessart and Vogelsberg is the municipality of Nidderau with its historical centre. Here you will rearrange the area of the city’s youth centre “Blauhaus” (blue house). For the formation of tidier grassland, we will take care of the wild growing area and plant new plants. Your help is also needed for rearranging the school yard. First, you will arrange the area and then create playgrounds for kids. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in the youth centre “Blauhaus” Location: Nidderau is located in Hesse, 20 km from Frankfurt, 70 km from Mainz and 85 km from Fulda. The city offers a variety of cultural and free time activities. In the youth centre you can play billiards and there is an adventure swimming pool. There are very good travel connections to Frankfurt a. M., Mainz, Fulda and possibilities for trips to the river Rhine and to Spessart or Vogelsberg. Train station: Nidderau Airport: Frankfurt a.M.
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation of a forest education path in the Rhoder Hude nature
conservation area Volunteer project: Diemelstadt is a town in the northernmost part of the “Waldecker Land”, in between the Sauerland and the Teutoburg Forest. The city of Diemelstadt plans to restore the “Forest-Education-Path” in the landscape area “Rhoder Hude”. It’s very old and needs to be renewed. In the centre of the area, there’s a spring, which has to be cut free. In addition, some information boards, and direction signs are required and it’s your task to construct them, as well as several points of the Forest-Education-Path and some benches. You may bring your own ideas for this. For the topic of ornithology, nest boxes will be constructed. As far as possible, young birds will be marked with a ring. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in a club house close to the sports field.
Location: Diemelstadt is located in Hesse,
45 km to Kassel, 40 km to Paderborn and 100 km to Goettingen. Train station: Warburg Airport: Hanover
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Improving the surroundings of
the Wrangelsburger Castle Volunteer project: A Workcamp in a castle! The Wrangelsburger Castle, built in 1880 is a lordly manor house, which needs to be refurbished, making it attractive for art exhibitions and concerts. The castle is near a beautiful lake and is surrounded by a large park. Here you will do different gardening works. You’ll work with teenagers from the workshop of the youth club “Use Your Chances”. This club offers new job perspectives for disadvantaged young people. Together with them, you can also dabble in boat building. The second important task of the volunteer group is the construction of toys for a playground in the neighbouring village of Gladrow. During your stay, there will be a large village party on the area of the castle. Language: English Accommodation: You will be accommodated in some rooms of the old castle.
Location: Wrangelsburg is in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 18 km from
Greifswald, 78 km from Stralsund. The village of Wrangelsburg has 162
inhabitants. Train station: Zuessow Airport: Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Removing non-indigenous plants in the Rotwildpark nature reserve in
Stuttgart Volunteer project: Stuttgart is the capital of the Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and for many years has marketed itself as “Stuttgart – city amongst forests and grapevines”. One of the most beautiful local forests is the “Rotwildpark”, the deer park in the western part of the city which is 4 square km in size. The Rotwildpark with its many ancient oaks and beech trees of strange and impressive shapes has been a nature reserve since 1939. Unfortunately, non-indigenous plants have started to become a problem and this project’s main task is to help halt that spread, especially that of the Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera). As this is only possible with the help of many willing hands, both the Stuttgart Council’s Countryside Conservation Department and the local forestry commission are very much looking forward to your contribution. Besides that work, you may be involved in constructing a barbecue site and maintaining other recreational areas including other maintenance of bio topical settings. Language: English Accommodation: You will be living in an idyllic forestry hut, in the middle of the deer park. Location: Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart offers a lot of opportunities for leisure activities. The deer park is 10 km from the center of Stuttgart. Train station: Stuttgart Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Landscaping
and maintenance of historic memorials in Brandenburg Volunteer project: The city of Brandenburg, which is over a thousand years old, nearby the river Havel, is one of the oldest German cities east of the river Elbe and serves, with its many historical buildings and museums, as documentation for the history of the country. In this beautiful city, you have access to a huge amount of leisure time activities. You can also visit a variety of culture establishments or travel to Germany’s capital Berlin. The city museum welcomes your help with the gardening works at memorial places. You will be offered accompanied sightseeing, through which you will have an extensive insight into the history of the city. Also, you will get to know many locals. On this occasion you will have the opportunity to meet teenagers from Zgierz (Poland) and from Brandenburg (Germany). Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in the classrooms of the “von-Saldern-Gymnasium”. Location: Federal State of Brandenburg. Brandenburg an der Havel is 40 km west of the capital Berlin. Train station: Brandenburg an der Havel Airport: Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Organizing a
multicultural music and
theatre event
in
Bad Bibra
Volunteer project: Together with young
people from the city, you will build wooden market stands, which can be used for
Christmas markets or food/vegetable markets. You will receive professional
guidance. Special requirements: Please take a music instrument with you Language: English Accommodation: You will stay in bungalows on the public camping ground. Location: Bad Bibra is situated in Saxony-Anhalt; 70 km from Weimar and 80 km from Leipzig. This city is close to the natural park „Saale-Unstrut-Triasland“ and therefore you will have many free time activities to your disposal: gymnasium and open air pool, do some canoeing, bowling, football or visit the medieval monastery nearby. Train station: Laucha or Naumburg, then take the bus to Bad Bibra Airport: Leipzig
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Restoration of war victims' graves in Berlin Volunteer project: At the regional graveyard “Freiheitsweg” north of Berlin, you will help restoring the graves of victims of war. These victims are both German and non-German soldiers and civilians. Your task will be to transport and clean gravestones. In addition, you will plant new grass. Language: English Accommodation: Within the scouts’ adventure playground, in tents and wagons. A nearby house with a kitchen, living-room and sanitation is open for you. Location: Berlin, Federal State of Brandenburg. The adventure playground is located on a little green island in the middle of Berlin. There are a lot of different possibilities (e.g. archery). Guitars are provided, so the lunch/ dinner campfire will be very nice. It’s easy to reach Berlin using public transport. Tickets are provided. Train station: Berlin Hauptbahnhof / central station Airport: Berlin
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Berlin
In an area of about 891 square
kilometers – as large as Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main together –
Berlin unites a large number of urban districts, centres and boroughs which are
completely different in character. In the inner part of the city, the buildings
of the Kulturforum on the southern edge of the Tiergarten and the modern office
and shopping complex on Potsdamer Platz link the western city around
Kurfürstendamm with the eastern city in the historical centre of Berlin between
Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz. To the north of the Tiergarten, new
buildings are being built for the federal government and the parliament in the
meander of the Spree. The parliament has its seat in the Reichstag building,
which has been remodeled.
Organizing a summer holiday program for kids Volunteer project: In the idyllic village of Rodewald, you will be part of a holiday-fun-action for kids between 6 and 16. Together with members of the “Binderhaus e.V.” and other complimentary helpers, you’ll form a 15-day programme for them. A kid’s camp is part of the programme. You’ll introduce your home countries with music, dances, fairy tales, games and typical meals. For the older children there will be a PC-workshop, which has the task to document the project. Your ideas are welcome! Special requirements: Knowledge of German language (basics) is required, pedagogical skills and artistic, technical or sportive interests are advantages. Language: English and German Accommodation: In large rooms in the building Location: Rodewald is situated in Lower Saxony, 55 km north-west of Hanover Train station: Schwarmstedt Airport: Hanover
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Vacation program for children in the largest Indian tepee in the world
Volunteer project: "Adventure world Fredenbaum" offers a holiday programme for kids between 4 and 16 years. In the centre there’s the largest Indian tent in the world, “Big Tipi”, the former kids and youth stage of the EXPO 2000 in Hanover. In the Big Tipi and the 22000m² large area, kids and teenagers can spend their free time. After settling in during the first days, you’ll support different stations. You’ll attend to the kids, who participate in the open summer holiday programme. You’ll organise games, climbing, sport and technical activities (building of musical instruments, practicing dances). Special requirements: Good knowledge of German language and pedagogical skills are absolutely necessary! Language: English and German Accommodation: In tents in a Tipi-village on the area Location: Dortmund is in Northrhine-Westphalia, 20 km north-east of Bochum, 90 km from Cologne. In Dortmund there are open air and indoor swimming pools, the Westfalenpark, museums and the stadium of the BVB are possibilities for trips. The city can be reached by subway in about 7 minutes. In addition, the city and the region “Ruhrgebiet” of course offer all possibilities of a major city. Train station: Dortmund Airport: Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Cologne-Bonn
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Fairy tale inspired playscheme for children Volunteer project: This year again, the Youth and Social Work department of Bad Oeynhausen will run a two week holiday program for 150 children aged between 6 to 13 years. Under the slogan “Wickie and the strong kids” (according to a modern tale), games and a lot of creative things are going to take place. Inspired by old tales you will – together with the staff - be converting the whole playground into a huge pirate camp. At the end, there will be a big festival. In addition, there are huts to be built, excursions to be made and the program includes one overnight stay with the children. Your creative ideas will be very welcome! In your first week, you’ll be helping the staff from the Department for Youth and Social Work with preparations for the holiday program, and week two and three you will be spending the time with the children. Special requirements: Good German is absolutely essential. Language: English and German Accommodation: In the Youth and Leisure Centre in town, which offers numerous free time activities. Location: North-Rhine Westphalia; Bielefeld – 30 km, Hanover – 80 km Train station: Bad Oeynhausen Airport: Hanover
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Renovation and improvement of the play area and interior of children's
day care centre in Krefeld Volunteer project: In the outside of Krefeld, a children’s day care centre should be renovated and rearranged with your help. Together with the employees of the green area office, you will do different tasks in the outside area. You will build a new water-play area; install two pergolas and help constructing a by-pass, so that the children will have more space. Additionally, you will redecorate the inside walls and make the entrance of the day care more attractive by building variable walls. Language: English Accommodation: In the children's day care centre. Location: Krefeld is in North Rhine-Westphalia, 20 km from Duesseldorf, 60 km from Cologne. The city offers an interesting cultural and free time programme. There are possibilities for nice trips to the Lower Rhine, to Cologne, to Bonn, to Duesseldorf or the Ruhr Region. There is also a large swimming pool, a billiard-café and bowling. Train station: Krefeld Airport: Düsseldorf
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Preparing and running a holiday play scheme for children on the Baltic
Sea coast Volunteer project: Wismar, a beautiful old town on the Baltic Sea, is running a children’s play scheme this summer.
As part of this, we would like you to prepare and
run a holiday play scheme with an international flavour in the town gardens.
Your first week is preparation time and the next two weeks will be spent putting
your prepared plans into action with the children of Wismar. You’ll love this
project if you enjoy contact with children and creative and
Wismar lies on the Baltic and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The Hanseatic Cities of Luebeck and Rostock with their multitude of recreational and cultural facilities are within easy reach, as is Poel Island. Language: English Accommodation: In the “Schwalbennest“ Youth & Leisure Centre in Wismar, near the beach, which is owned by the Wendorf district Workers‘ Welfare Association. Location: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; 30 km north of Schwerin and about half-way between Luebeck and Rostock. Train station: Wismar Airport: Hamburg Age range: 18 - 26 years old
TV production workshop Volunteer project: TV38 is the TV station for the Wolfsburg-Braunschweig-Salzgitter region, providing local programs from the region - for the region. Citizen’s TV has two main areas of operation; one is to produce news, information and entertainment programs, the other is to teach media skills. Local people can attend courses to learn how to produce their own programs. You, too, will make your own TV program under the guidance of an expert tutor, giving you the opportunity to get to know the city of Wolfsburg in a very special way. Before you’re let loose with digital cameras, you’ll be made familiar with the process of producing a TV program, you’ll learn technical skills and draw up an outline concept. Editing and finishing will be done in the TV38 studio in Wolfsburg. Again, you’ll be working exclusively with digital media. The theme of your production will be “Changing City – City in Motion”. Wolfsburg was founded in 1938 to provide housing for the workers of the VW factory and originally had 1,144 inhabitants – these days, it is a modern city with internationally renowned attractions such as the castle, the museum of the arts, “Autostadt” (Car City) the VW car museum, the soccer Bundesliga team VfL Wolfsburg and “phaeno” a new science museum which opened in 2005. Language: English Accommodation: Your accommodation is in the nearby youth centre, which is well equipped for a comfortable stay. Location: In Lower Saxony; distance to Hanover is 75 km, to Braunschweig - 30 km, and to Magdeburg - 65 km. Train station: Wolfsburg Airport: Hanover Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Extra fee: 260 Euro
48 hours music festival Once again international volunteers are invited to help to set up and run the 48 hours music festival and clean up the area afterwards. That work will be done together with local youth. In detail, this means the participants will help building up the stage and the fences, collecting entrance fees, collecting the rubbish, selling drinks and food, etc. During the festival weekend volunteers will work the whole weekend, even during nights. It can be very stressful, so everybody should be flexible and open for all kinds of work since a festival can never be planned in detail. The organizers are very busy, so volunteers cannot expect perfectly organized work. Special requirements: Volunteers with German skills are preferred! Language: English and German Accommodation: The participants will stay in tents near the youth club and should not mind to sleep in noisy conditions. All sanitary facilities are provided. The work will be done together with many local young people so that there will be close contact with locals. Location: Herrenberg is located 30 km away from Stuttgart. Excursions to other nearby cities like Tuebingen or hiking trips in the Black Forest or the “Swabian alb” are a possible alternative to the stressful work during the festival. Train station: Herrenberg Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Creating a garden for young and old visitors of a Social and culture
centre in Stuttgart The volunteers will help to renovate the garden which is divided in different levels. This year, the working task will focus on the development and construction of a playground, the building of a wall of clay and different smaller works. For the idea of the house, it is really important that the volunteers are interested and motivated to participate and integrate in shared activities. There will be common excursions with inhabitants of the house and the volunteer group. Special requirements: Volunteers are requested to write a short motivation letter showing their interest in the integrative idea of the house. Language: English Accommodation: The group will live in a room in the “Generationenhaus”, sleeping on mattresses. Sanitary facilities are provided; showers can be used at the swimming pool nearby. Location: Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg with about 590.000 inhabitants. The city offers a lot of sights to see and events to participate in (TV-Tower, Zoo “Wilhelma”, Mercedes Benz Museum, festivals, etc.). Besides, the region around Stuttgart provides many spectacular places of interest (mountain chain “Swabian Alb”). Train station: Stuttgart Airport: Stuttgart, Frankfurt Hahn, Karlsruhe-Baden Baden
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Renovation of
heritage buildings of a
centre for social, cultural and
artistic activities
in
Mainz The volunteers will help with the renovation of two buildings. They will clean and plaster the outside walls. Therefore volunteers will work on a stage up to 4 meters and the work will be outside in all weathers and might be hard sometimes. Language: English Location: Mainz is the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate with over 2000 years of history. It was an important seat under the Holy Roman Empire and previously it was a Roman fort city. It is located at the Rhine River. Train station: Mainz Airport: Frankfurt International Airport
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Constructing
hiking trails
in
southern Germany The group will work on hiking trails. The aim of the work is to link two already existing trails with each other (building wooden stairs, constructing a new trail). There are also some seats and benches in the surrounding of those trails that need to be fixed. Working tools will be shovel, pick axe for the constructing of the trail as well as saw and hammer for the building of the wooden stairs and a mower. The work might be hard at times! Language: English Accommodation: The project participants will stay in the gym hall of the new built school in the village. All sanitary facilities are available, as well as a big school kitchen. The first week of the project is also the last one for the pupils of the school before holidays start. Therefore there will be close contact with local pupils. They are already looking forward to meet the international group! Location: Steisslingen is situated in the southern part of Germany close to the great Lake Constance and the city of Singen. With its hilly and diverse nature it is a very beautiful part of the country. Historical attractions are the different castles in the area. Train station: Singen (Hohentwiel), Radolfzell Airport: Friedrichshafen, Basel (CH), Zuerich (CH), Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Maintenance of
an open-air-museum and memorial of the Iron
Curtain The concrete tasks might be to clear from plants the former path used by border guards to patrol the border, paint the lorry barriers, and restore the wall and fences. The work will be physically demanding in parts and volunteers will work outside under all weather conditions (even if it rains). The project includes a small study-part on this period of the German history with several excursions. On August 13th there will be the National Memorial day for the victims of the “Iron Curtain”. All volunteers are invited to join the different events on this day. Language: English Accommodation: In the former village hall. Location: Hoetensleben is a nice village with approx. 2.500 inhabitants. The local inhabitants are looking forward to welcome the volunteers and many activities will be done together with local associations e.g. the voluntary fire brigade of Hoetensleben. The volunteer project will start with a big rock concert next to the memorial. You should be interested in a close contact with the German population. Train station: Helmstedt Airport: Hanover, Berlin
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Gardening,
archaeological and landscaping activities in the famous Woerlitz Parkland Volunteer project: The “Dessau-Woerlitzer” garden area, which is 145 km2 large, has been designed by an English stylist around the year 1800 and represents a space for recovery, cultural and aesthetical education for all people. At its centre is the famous Wörlitz Parkland with its castles, pavilions, ponds, canals and ever-changing gardens. The parkland, which is located within the “Middle-Elbe River Biosphere Reserve”, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in November 2000.
The volunteers will be involved in gardening,
archaeological and landscaping activities in the park. This will help improve
the overall appearance of the great work of art that
Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay at the Gohrau International Youth Centre located in the grounds of a former primary school. The school building has bedrooms, a kitchen, common rooms, workshop facilities and a sports hall, plus a variety of leisure facilities on the grounds. Location: Gohrau is located in Saxony-Anhalt, 5 km south-east of Woerlitz, 16 km east of Dessau. The medieval village of Gohrau is close to the work place “Dessau-Woerlitzer Gardenarea”. There are a lot of possibilities for free time activities in the area. Train station: Dessau or Lutherstadt Wittenberg Airport: Hanover, Leipzig or Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Constructing
an observation deck in a nature
conservation area Volunteer project: Braunfels is a medieval old town with a 'fairytale castle' in the heart of the “Lahn-Dill-Circle”. Here your help is needed in a nature conservation area. Under professional guidance, you’ll build a wooden observation deck. Furthermore, you’ll build a wooden “balustrade” and erect information boards. If there’s more time, you can renovate a protection hut which has been built for the honour of the French partner city Bagnols. Language: English Accommodation: An apartment on the area of the building yard.
Location: Hesse, 60 km to Frankfurt a.M., 60 km to Marburg, 30 km to
Giessen Train station: Wetzlar Airport: Frankfurt a. M.
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Building
a pavilion in a youth centre in Nuremberg Volunteer project: Your work will be in the youth and kids house “Langwasser Geiza”. It’s a building of the city of Nuremberg. Kids and teenagers in the age of 6 to 21 are spending their free time there. The exterior area has a barbecue place and sitting places. The youth centre plans to build a pavilion roof, made out of wood. It will be painted adequately to the metal artwork. Of course all of the works will be guided by professional workers and be supported by the Geiza-team or other young people. Language: English Accommodation: In the rooms of a social centre near the youth centre. Location: Nuremberg is located in Bavaria, close to Munich, in the heart of Franconia. It offers a variety of possibilities for culture and free time. There are historical places, like the "documentation centre Nuremberg Rally" and the "emperors castle" and the city offers a lot of free time possibilities. Train station: Nuremberg Airport: Nuremberg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Creating
a “cultural garden” in the heart of Franconian lakelands Volunteer project: Georgensgmuend lies south of Nuremberg in the heart of the Franconian lakelands and is home to the Hämmerleinsmühle Environmental Centre and Workshop for Ecology and Social work. Since last year, the Centre hosts international volunteer projects with the aim to create a cultural garden. This ecological garden will be a place where people can meet, where cultural exchange can take place and where animals will have enough space to live. In this garden, a wooden house will be built as a natural seminar room. The house will be built with your help in an eco-friendly manner with natural building materials (wood, straw, loam). The walls will be strengthened with straw-loam. In addition, the area will be formed in a creative way. With natural wood you will create a maze and green it with plants. Under an apple tree there will be formed a “place of calm”, in which you can listen to nature sounds, for example the singing of the birds. Language: English Accommodation: The youth house of Georgensmuend with its cafeteria, its kitchen and a large party- and living-room will be your living place. Location: Georgensgmuend is in Bavaria, 45 km from Nuremberg. It offers a lot of free time activities and very interesting cultural and historical attractions, from the Jewish museum to the planetary or the sculpture path. Good possibilities for swimming offers the quarry pond. Furthermore, trips to Nuremberg and to the Frankish Lakes are planned. Train station: Georgensgmuend Airport: Nuremberg, Munich
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Landscaping and renovation of a pond near Leipzig
Volunteer project: In the city centre of
Taucha you will find a park with the pond “Schöppenteich” which has to be
renovated. Language: English Accommodation: You will be accommodated in a school. Please note that only the showers are in another building on the other side of the road. Location: In the federal-state of Saxony; close to Leipzig (10 km), Dresden is 114 km away and Chemnitz about 90 km. This small city Taucha, with about 15.000 inhabitants, is located next to a beautiful landscape conservation area. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities and thanks to the big city Leipzig you can enjoy city life, which you can easily reach by public transport. Train station: Leipzig Airport: Leipzig
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Providing
day care and fun activities for children in a holiday camp Volunteer project: The grounds of the Falckenstein Youth Holiday Camp, which served as accommodation for young participants of the 1972 Olympics, are right on the shores of the Kiel Fjord (“Kieler Foerde“). Every year, this vast area by the water’s edge is used as a play centre for some 1500 children. We would like you to help us with providing day care for the children. Each week has its own theme, for example “Living like Native Americans” or “Magic Worlds”. You’ll be involved in all kinds of activities – playing, making things, fancy dress and many more. If you love working with kids, are keen to gain working experience in this field and enjoy the seaside, you’ll have fantastic four weeks. The first week gives you time to get to know each other, take a look around Kiel and become familiar with the holiday camp. During the other three weeks, you’ll spend every day playing with the children. Each afternoon, the kids return to Kiel and the beach is yours – time for volleyball, table tennis, barbecues… Language: English Accommodation: In one of the houses on the grounds. Location: Schleswig-Holstein; Kiel, the capital of the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein, is some 12 km away from your accommodation. Hamburg – 100 km, Flensburg – 80 km Train station: Kiel Airport: Hamburg
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Improvement
of the old castle in
Bretten Volunteer project: You’ll help the city of Bretten with some gardening work around an old castle. The historical meaning of this castle in the 11th and 13th century is of interest to the population and will be revaluated. With professional guidance, you will construct a paved area. An already existing stone bench will be integrated in the composition with your help. Additionally, you will help placing information boards for visitors and hikers to give them a historical overview over the location and the remains of the Castle. Language: English Accommodation: In a school in Bretten Location: Bretten, in the region of Kraichgau, in the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, offers with its historical city core and the variety of cultural sites many opportunities to develop the city, its people and the surroundings. The cities of Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Stuttgart are nearby and always worth a visit. Distance: 60 km from Stuttgart, 25 km from Karlsruhe. Train station: Bretten Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Maintenance
of habitats in the Upper Mid-Rhine Valley Volunteer project: The wine-growing town of Lorch is located within the Upper Mid-Rhine Valley region of the Rheingau, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its idyllic countryside, mediaeval towns, castles and stately homes. Your tasks in this beautiful part of the country will be many and diverse. Biotopes, the habitats of indigenous small creatures, need to be cleared of intruding undergrowth. You’ll build a narrow wooden bridge across the Grolochbach (a small stream) and create resting areas and wooden benches within the network of footpaths in the forest. In addition, some cultural and maintenance works are included in your program. And if you’re interested, you could take part in a soccer tournament and take part in excursions to learn about nature conservation. During your free time, you could visit the nearby cities of Wiesbaden and Mainz, which offer excellent leisure facilities, take boat trips on the Rhine or go to local wine tasting sessions. Language: English Accommodation: In a school. Location: Hesse; Lorch is 35 km to the west of Wiesbaden, Mainz – 40 km, Frankfurt – 70 km, Koblenz – 70 km. Train station: Lorch Airport: Frankfurt a.M.
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation
of the
500 year old chapel in Bad
Schwartau Volunteer project: The Evangelic - Lutheran Church in Bad Schwartau celebrates in the autumn the 500th anniversary of the chapel “Georg”, the oldest building of the city. During the summer, some preparation work needs to be done. You’ll help rearranging the exterior area around the chapel and the new bell tower. You’ll also help with little refurbishments in the chapel itself. You, as a volunteer group, will live and work together with the pastor couple. Language: English Accommodation: In rooms of the Ev.-Luth. Church. Location: Bad Schwartau in Schleswig-Holstein is 10 km from Luebeck, 70 km from Hamburg. The city is close to the Baltic Sea, and there are good possibilities for trips to the Timmendorfer Beach, to Kiel or to Hamburg. Train station: Bad Schwartau Airport: Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Restoration
of
a historical peasant house from
the 17th century Volunteer project: Since summer 2004 the workshop “Homeland-History-Lamerden” owns a historical peasant house of the 17th century. The house should be rearranged in order to become an information and meeting place. You’ll help in renovating the interior. The wall papers must be displaced and the walls should be plastered with loam. The old wooden beams will be freed and the boarding renewed. There might be physically demanding work. Furthermore, your help is required in the outside area: You will clean the cross beams and then paint them with linseed oil colour. Additionally, you will erect new walls and plaster them. Language: English Accommodation: In a municipality house of the village. Location: Lamerden is a little village in Hesse, close to Kassel and Göttingen. Nearby is the River Diemel, which is excellent for swimming, relaxing and canoeing. The village is perfect for hiking and to visit castles. There are possibilities for trips to Warburg, Hofgeismar and the rat-catcher-city of Hameln, to Kassel or Hann. In Lamerden you should love the country life. Train station: Warburg Airport: Hanover or Paderborn
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Cultivating
a nature biotope
and preparing a
local festival for children
in
Ebhausen Cultivating a biotope means amongst other things to cut plants and bushes that grow exuberantly and endanger the diversity of plants. The group will also help building a path that leads through the biotope. These tasks can be physically demanding. The group will be led and supported by professional workers of the building yard department of town. To enhance exchanges with locals, the international group is invited to help out at the local festival for children and youngsters that runs during their summer holidays. This festival is an opportunity to sing, dance and play together and share cultural habits with each other! Language: English Accommodation: The group will live in a gym hall in the centre of town. All sanitary facilities and kitchen are available. Due to the central location of the accommodation, contact with the local population can be ensured. Location: Ebhausen - a village with around 3000 habitants is located close to the Black Forest. There are many opportunities to discover the beautiful sights of nature the south of Germany has to offer - by hiking along different trails in the surrounding of town or even using bike trails. Due to the size and their position in the village, the volunteers will get the chance to have an insight in specific cultural habits of the region and local population. Train station: Herrenberg Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Nature
protection and renovation of a historic water pumping system by the river Rhine
There are two big projects: first project
is the renovation of an old building used for pumping water. These water
pumps were established in 1926 and are very unique and a leftover of
former pumping techniques. The pumps and the surrounded room have to be
cleaned and painted. The renovation is necessary to keep the place as a
kind of museum for people interested in historic systems of protection
against high water. Language: English Accommodation: The accommodation will be in the rooms of the youth centre in a big public building. Beds, kitchen and bathrooms are provided. The local youth are looking forward to meeting the international volunteers! Location: Philippsburg is a little town consisting of several small parts. Nice lakes around the town offer swimming opportunities if the weather is good. During weekends, excursions to nearby towns such as Mannheim or Heidelberg are possible. Train station: Philippsburg Airport: Frankfurt (Main), Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Forestry
and construction
works in the
idyllic
Franken
region
of
Bavaria Different working tasks throughout the weeks are planned. Firstly, the focus lies on the construction of a new hiking trail as well as the reparation and maintenance of already existing ones. Furthermore, the group will care for different playgrounds and soccer fields of the city. The third task will be to help to rearrange a schoolyard. Volunteers will work together with official employees of the building yard department of the city. Language: English Accommodation: Home of the volunteer group will be the very comfortable and luxurious youth centre of Heilsbronn. A couple of rooms are provided as the living and sleeping rooms for the group. Beside that, a kitchen and all sanitary facilities are provided. Location: The city of Heilsbronn is located in the idyllic Bavarian region called „Franken“. Typical for the small town with its 9300 inhabitants are the old carcass houses. Heilsbronn also has some unique sights to offer, for example the monastery and the cathedral. Nature friends can find several hiking trails in the beautiful landscape around the city. Remarkable above all is that “the Way to St. James” also known as “Camino de Santiago” leads through Heilsbronn. For this reason, the region is adorned by many old churches. Train station: Heilsbronn Airport: Stuttgart, Nürnberg, Frankfurt, Munich
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Restoration
of
dry-stone walls in
Gaeufelden
community Following the success of last year, the municipality invites an international volunteer group again to do the dry stone walling. Volunteers will be supervised by a professional, who will teach them the best techniques. Work might be hard sometimes. Language: English Accommodation: The group will be accommodated in a building, used as a youth centre. It includes kitchen and sanitary facilities. Location: Gaeufelden is a village in the county of Boeblingen and in about 30 km distance to the city of Stuttgart. Hiking trips in the nearby Black Forest are possible as well as excursions to bigger cities. The small size of the village gives the chance to come in close contact with the local inhabitants. Train station: Gaeufelden Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Organizing
a holiday play scheme for children The volunteers will help to run this big playground. Because of the presence of 200 children, work can be quite hard sometimes and lasts longer than just six hours per day. Volunteers must have a keen interest in working with children. It will be an advantage if volunteers have creative or technical skills. Project language will be German. Special requirements: Volunteers must speak German fluently and send a motivation letter in German, showing their interest in working with children and what kind of skills they can offer to enrich the project. Volunteers who bring ideas for activities to run with the children are particularly welcome. Language: German Accommodation: The accommodation will be in an empty building next to the youth club. Sanitary facilities will be available. Location: Bietigheim, Baden-Wurttemberg Train station: Bietigheim Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Various
environmental and renovation activities in the Saxonian
countryside Volunteer project: In 2004, the German Society for Nature Conservation and the city Loeßnitz took over a youth hostel in the city district “Affalter”. This summer the third international volunteer project will take place in this hostel. We will need your help for taking care of the tree nursery, for renovating the on-site buildings (you will work with wood and do some painting, and you can introduce your ideas) and the outside walls of a barn, as well as taking care of the campsite, the volleyball field and the green areas. Furthermore, the domestic animals (goat, rabbits, cats and sheep) need to be taken care of. All in all: 100% nature, animals and fresh air, far away from the city. Language: English Accommodation: Youth hostel. Location: Saxony. The youth hostel is located in slightly hilly region (about 450m above sea level), which has been marked by shale mining and agriculture. The surrounding consists of small lakes and forests. In order to reach the next bigger village, you will need about 30 minutes on foot, but it is worth going because it has a nice old village square. Otherwise, you can visit old mines, or travel to Dresden, Leipzig or Weimar for a day trip. Train station: Aue Airport: Halle-Leipzig Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Construction
and environmental works on the shore of Lake Jersleber Volunteer project: The campsite on Lake Jersleber now belongs to the town of Barleben, which lies right next door to Magdeburg, the capital of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. The town council has big plans for this campsite. You’ll work on the grounds, and your main tasks will be the construction of a barbecue area, removing old plant beds from the shore of Lake Jersleber and renovating the lifeguard station. You’ll also help with maintenance work along the shore and in the sports areas, such as hedge trimming, weeding, as well as tidying up the eastern beach. Language: English Accommodation: At the campsite. Location: Located in Saxony-Anhalt; Magdeburg – 15 km, Berlin – 140 km. The surrounding area itself has many attractions, such as a skating park and football and basketball courts in nearby Barleben as well as the US-Play leisure centre with bowling alleys, games consoles and multi-screen cinema. You might like to visit Europe’s largest lime tree forest, and the “Wasserstraßenkreuz” with the “Trogbruecke,“ where a steel aqueduct carries a canal across the river Elbe. The city of Magdeburg with its multitude of cultural and leisure facilities is also within easy reach. Train station: Magdeburg or Wolmirstedt Airport: Leipzig, Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Expanding
and remodeling a network of hiking trails
south of Berlin Volunteer project: A programme has been created by the government in cooperation with the International Airport Berlin Brandenburg, in order to make this beautiful region more accessible to tourists. A network of hiking and bicycling trails should be built, and protected areas for fauna and animals created. Under supervision of the local landscape conservation association, you will help expanding and remodeling different parts of the existing trails network. Your work will include restoration and construction of new trail sections, rubbish removal, maintenance works, building park benches, observation points and signposts, which have to be put up. Most of the work will be done manually. Local partners, such as the forestry office, the nature conservation society and council will help with more technically demanding aspects of your work. At the end of the project, you will have the opportunity to display your work and success to the public. Special requirements: Knowledge of German and English language is required. You need to be able to ride a bicycle. Language: English and German Accommodation: You’ll stay in a child care centre which offers sufficient bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room and shower facilities. Outside there is a garden with a barbecue and volleyball courts.
Location: Located in the Federal State of
Brandenburg, 15 km south of Berlin. Rangsdorf is a small town southern of
Berlin, surrounded by a landscape, typical for Brandenburg. It consists of
fields, meadows, small lakes and forests.
Train station: Rangsdorf Airport: Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Nature
conservation activities in the valley of the River Lahn Volunteer project: In the beautiful valley of the River Lahn, there is the small city Runkel. This city of castles and fortresses is known for its picturesque old town centre and for its idyllic location between the “Westerwald” and “Taunus” mountain range. The city Runkel and the forestry office of “Weilmuenster” have arranged many nature conservation works for you. You will accomplish work like removing grass and weeds; take care of biotopes and habitats in protected sections. All this work will help protecting native lizard species, which are almost unique in Europe. If there’s sufficient time, you will help in taking care of a Jewish graveyard and hiking trails. Language: English Accommodation: In the city hall Location: In the federal state of Hesse; 80 km away from Frankfurt a. M., 60 km from Koblenz, 50 km from Giessen. For your free time you can do canoeing on the River Lahn, and a lot of hiking or visiting castles. You can do trips to Frankfurt a. M., Koblenz, Limburg or Giessen. Train station: Runkel Airport: Frankfurt a. M.
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Landscaping
the surroundings of a new youth hostel in Thuringia
Volunteer project: In the National Park “Hainich” with a Jungle-Life-Camp, a new hostel of the Thuringian German Youth Hostel Association is under construction. For the last three years, international volunteer groups have worked on this project. Your help and your creative ideas are required. Many interesting and diverse tasks are waiting for you. These include building a park, planting flowers, setting pathways and creating a play area. Language: English Accommodation: In a guest house, close to the new hostel. Location: Thuringia; Mihla is situated about 15 km north of Eisenstadt, and is famous for its “Wartburg” castle. Train station: Eisenach or Mühlhausen Airport: Hanover or Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Various
environmental activities in the Isar valley Volunteer project: Like in previous years, we offer you this nice project together with the local community of Freising. In small municipalities around Freising, you will mow meadows and make hay, repair fences around fruit orchards and secure trees. In addition, you will take care of neglected grassland, set up environmental information boards and, thereby, learn a lot about the ecology of the region. In the last week you will work at the Freisinger Domberg. Freising lies in the Isar valley, not far from Munich and the Alps. Since it is situated near Hallertau, the world’s largest hop growing area, there are loads of nice beer gardens around. Language: English Accommodation: In a self-catering house, 5 km outside Freising; in the week of 22-26 August - in an alpine hut. Location: Bavaria; Munich and Landshut are about 35 km away Train station: Freising Airport: Munich
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Environmental
conservation of the
Fischbeker Heath Volunteer project: The Fischbeker Heath is a 770 hectare large nature conservation area in the southwest of Hamburg. To keep the heath, pines got to be displaced. This is urgent for the conservation of the animal life in the heath, as for example the more than 200 different species of ants are in danger of extinction. These nature conservation works may be physically exhausting, but are therefore placed in a beautiful landscape. In addition, you can help with the translation of an information flyer in different languages. Language: English Accommodation: You will be accommodated in a comfortable seminar house on the area of the nature conservation centre in Fischbek. Location: Fischbek is about an hour by train from the centre of Hamburg. In your free time you can do trips to the second largest city in Germany. A variety of free time possibilities await you: sights, the harbour, shopping, going out. On the weekend you can do trips to the Northern or Baltic Sea. Train station: Hamburg central station Airport: Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Care for the residents of
an old people’s nursing home in Berlin Volunteer project: This project is about helping to look after residents of the “Evening Sun” old people’s nursing home. Your tasks will include supporting the carers by distributing and assisting with meals as well as organising and devising free time activities for the residents, for example games, exercise and trips out. You might read to residents or go for walks with them (on foot or with a wheelchair) and an important part of your day will be caring for individual bedridden residents, maybe you’d sing to them or make music, play games or just talk with them. You are particularly welcome to create programmes of entertainment with an international flair. Special requirements: Good German is absolutely essential. Language: English and German Accommodation: Youth hostel “Prosocial” with shared rooms. Location: Berlin Train station: Berlin Airport: Berlin
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Conservation and development of
the unique nature park “Ivenacker Tiergarten” Volunteer project: Right in the heart of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, just north of the town of Stavenhagen in Ivenack, is the “Ivenacker Tiergarten”, a nature and culture park of 70 hectares with thousand-year-old oak trees, which are unique in Germany and attract many visitors each year. The biggest oak has a diameter of 3,49m and is 35,50m tall. Now the area of the park should be expanded and therefore, the forestry office needs your help. You’ll build gates and cut clear the oaks, which are overgrown by other plants. In addition, you’ll research the bug species, which live in the forest, measure and classify trees - an important basis for maps, which are created by the forestry office. You can learn a lot about the forest and its animals from the employees of the forestry office. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in a school or a provisional accommodation. Location: The municipality of Ivenack is close to Stavenhagen, in the heart of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is surrounded by forests, far away from major cities. You’ll be able to discover the beautiful landscape of “Mecklenburg’s Switzerland” by bicycle or canoe. You can go swimming in one of the beautiful lakes around. During the weekend you can visit Berlin or the Baltic Sea Coast. Train station: Reuterstadt / Stavenhage Airport: Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation
of a playground for the children of Bielefeld Volunteer project: The municipality of Bielefeld will need your help with the renovation and reorganisation of a playground. In order to create a safer place for kids to play in, your tasks will be to repair old play equipment, renew old footpaths and install new equipment. Some of this work is physically demanding, but we would like you to be creative: you’ll have the opportunity to use paint and your imagination. The project will finish with a big re-opening party organised by the group, which will include parents and children from the surrounding area. Language: English Accommodation: In the “Niedermuehlenkamp“ Youth Centre. Location: North-Rhine Westphalia; 50 km east of Muenster, Hanover – 80 km. Bielefeld is a university town with many cultural and free time facilities. Nearby is the Teutoburg Forest is great for hiking, and Hanover, Muenster and Dortmund are within easy reach by public transport. Train station: Bielefeld Airport: Hannover
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Development
of a Forest Experience Trail
in Saar-Hunsrueck Nature park Volunteer project: You will find Trassem in the romantic Leukbach-valley; in the southwest of the nature park “Saar-Hunsrueck”. Since 2005 a new Forest Experience House is under construction. Together with the young members of the German Forest Youth Group and tutors of the forestry office in Saarburg, you’ll take part in numerous works around this building. You will build walls out of natural stones on the outside of the building; create pathways, build a fireplace and much more. A number of interesting tasks are waiting for you to enhance the Forest Experience Path. In addition to building information boards, adventure paths must be recreated. You’ll help in a water project, where a new habitat for rare water flowers is created. Nature protection or care works complete the variety of nature activities. Language: English Accommodation: In a house of the municipality of Trassem Location: Trassem is situated in Saarland, 38 km south of Trier and 55 km south-east of Luxembourg. Close to the municipality of Trassem, there’s the beautiful wine town of Saarburg, with its historical castle ruins and the picturesque Old City with a waterfall. In addition to the many sights, in Saarburg there are a lot of free time possibilities, such as cafés, an open air swimming pool, and a bird of prey park. You got the possibility to do canoeing on the river Saar or to climb on the rocks of the Saar-valley. You can do trips to Trier, Saarbruecken, Luxemburg and France. Terminal: Saarburg Airport: Saarbruecken, Frankfurt a.M. or Frankfurt Hahn
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Environmental
and nature conservation program in the Harz region
The Harz region is a popular holiday destination; there are mountains, caves with stalactites, mining museums, nature reserves and vast forests steeped in legends and fairy tales, all waiting to be explored by you. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll live in a hut in the forest and sleep on beds of hay. You will need a mattress and a warm sleeping bag. On site there is an outside earth closet, water from a well, a barbecue grill and cooking facilities. Showers are available at a camping ground about one kilometre away. Location: Lower Saxony; Clausthal-Zellerfeld is situated in the centre of the Harz region and your accommodation is some 2.5 km from the city centre. Train station: Goslar Airport: Hannover
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Various
construction and renovation activities in a rural
region of
Bavaria The group will help the members of the association with different building or renovation works in the village, e.g. in the home for elderly people. Depending on the weather, the work can be flexibly done in- and outdoors. For instance, growing and harvesting in the gardens and fields. Since the association is working on different projects at the moment, tasks can vary throughout the project. Language: English Accommodation: The participants’ friendly home for the three weeks will be in a kindergarten where they will have different sleeping rooms, a kitchen, all sanitary facilities and a living room. Location: Wernstein is a small village integrated in the community of Mainleus with all in all 6715 inhabitants, situated in the Bavarian region “Oberfranken”. Not only the sights of nature are impressive, the region is also adorned by many old castles and historical places of interest. Wernstein is situated in a very beautiful rural environment inviting nature lovers to enjoy swimming in the lake or hiking trips. Interesting towns near to Wernstein are for example Bayreuth (Richard Wagner Festival), Coburg (Royal Consort Prince Albert) or Bamberg (World Cultural Heritage). Train station: Mainleus Airport: Dresden, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Muenchen
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Renovation
of
the performance area of
the
Arts and Culture
Centre
in
Guetersloh Volunteer project: Die Weberei is the name of the Centre for Arts, Culture & Communications in Guetersloh. It is located within the Dalkepark in a beautiful former weaving mill, now a listed building, which also houses a huge beer garden. The Weberei provides a venue for concerts and theatre performances, discos, crèche facilities, support groups for senior citizens and the disabled, and dance and drum workshops. The affiliated Young People’s School of the Arts encourages and supports artistic talent. Everything the Weberei does is aimed at making culture and leisure pursuits accessible to all. For example, there is a free live performance every Thursday night. We will need your help with the renovation of the performance area. The large and the small auditorium need to be repainted and renovated, and a new stage needs to be built. The Weberei team is looking forward to challenging you to beach games, such as volleyball, and during your stay you are of course invited to join in with all the events. In addition to the cultural centre, Die Weberei e.V. also looks after the “Wapelbad”, a local leisure area with many facilities, which you are welcome to use. You might also like to visit Muenster, Bielefeld and Hanover. Guetersloh is a “young / trendy” city. Language: English Accommodation: In the rooms of the cultural centre. Location: North Rhine-Westphalia; Bielefeld is 15 km and Muenster - 60 km away. Train station: Guetersloh Airport: Hanover / Duesseldorf
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Conservation
and maintenance of Alpine pastures and biotopes Volunteer project: Rottach-Egern lies on Lake Tegern in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. The local council would like to give you the opportunity to work within this wonderful alpine landscape and explore the natural beauty of this region. You’ll join council employees in a variety of tasks such as conservation and maintenance of Alpine pastures and biotopes as well as combating neophytes (non-indigenous plants) and restoring existing hiking trails. Language: English Accommodation: In the local school’s sports hall. Location: Bavaria; 56 km south of Munich. Rottach-Egern offers a variety of leisure facilities, amongst them an open-air swimming pool and a lake. At weekends, you could visit Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck or the beautiful Chiemsee (“Lake Chiem”). Train station: Tegernsee Airport: Munich
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Restoration of
graves of victims of war
in Berlin Volunteer project: At the regional graveyard “Humboldtstraße” in the north of Berlin the international volunteers will help restoring the graves of victims of war. The victims are German and non-German soldiers alike and civilians. Volunteers' task is to transport old stones and to clean the gravestones. In addition, you will plant new grass. Language: English Accommodation: Youth centre “PallasT” at Berlin-Schoeneberg. Location: Berlin, Federal State of Brandenburg. Berlin-Schoeneberg is located in central Berlin. The sights are easy to reach by foot or by public transport. Berlin’s nightlife is also easy to explore. Tickets for public transport are provided. Train station: Berlin Hauptbahnhof / central station Airport: Berlin
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Holiday
program for handicapped people
in
Hildesheim Volunteer project: The disabled workshop in Hildesheim offers work in different categories (packaging, montage, metal, pressure, wood, kitchen or garden) for adult people with a physical and/or psychological handicap. Here they can establish their independent life, where they feel good and are able to live within their individual possibilities. Together with the carers of the workshop, you will create a holiday programme for these people. In small groups, you will work 3 days a week, on a bicycle project (repairing, traffic training, and bicycle tours) and a garden creation project. One day each week is planned for free time activities and trips. Friday there’s a collective barbecue day. Special requirements: Knowledge of German language is important in order to be able to talk to the handicapped people. Language: English and German Accommodation: You’ll stay in the youth hostel in Hildesheim-Drispenstedt. Location: Hildesheim is in Lower Saxony, 30 km from Hanover. It’s a “little big city” with 100.000 inhabitants and you’ll find some culture and free time possibilities. Train station: Hildesheim Airport: Hanover
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Nature
protection and development work in
the longest biotope system
in Germany
Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in a summer hut on the area of the KiEZ Arendsee
Location: Arendsee is in Saxony-Anhalt, 80 km north of Magdeburg and 25
km east of Salzwedel. Train station: Salzwedel or Seehausen Airport: Hanover or Berlin
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Preserving
the Himmelmoor marsh biotope Volunteer project: In the north of Hamburg, there’s the Himmelmoor, the largest high moor of Schleswig-Holstein.
With your work you’ll help maintain the moor and
recover the natural condition of the moor. You’ll displace foreign plants, and
help at water conservation works. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in rooms of a school and a municipality centre. Location: Hemdingen is in Schleswig-Holstein, 30 km from Hamburg, and 100 km from Luebeck. It has about 1500 inhabitants and is placed in a beautiful landscape. The municipality has already accommodated many international volunteer groups and you’ll have the possibility to come in contact with the local population. At the weekend, trips to the coasts and to the cities of Hamburg and Luebeck are worth it. Train station: Quickborn Airport: Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Nature
conservation and landscaping activities in the woodland region
of Hunsrueck Volunteer project: Together with the employees of the forest district “Emmerichshuette”, you’ll lay out the surrounding area of the newly built Free Time House in the well wooded Hunsrueck. The Free Time House offers accommodation for school students at their forest adventure tours. Additionally, you will be involved in nature conservation works in the city’s forest. This can include for example plant and forest care works, building and repairing safety fences, tables and benches. If you’re interested, you can learn a lot about the forest. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in the new and modern furnished house, which is idyllically located in the forest. Location: Rhineland-Palatinate; Rheinboellen, 45 km from Koblenz, 60 km from Mainz, and 85 km from Frankfurt a. M. A van will be available and there are possibilities for trips to the river Rhine, to Koblenz, Mainz or Frankfurt a. M. Train station: Bingen Airport: Frankfurt a.M. and Frankfurt Hahn
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Creating
a children’s playground and designing play equipment with artistic flair Volunteer project: Together with the employees and participants of the youth development program, a playground should be built in a small park in Duelmen. Your task will be to prepare the grounds. You will have the opportunity to design and create some exciting toy equipment and “play sculptures” from tree trunks, to give the site some artistic flair. Language: English Accommodation: In a guesthouse for young people. Location: North Rhine-Westphalia; 30 km west of Muenster, on the northern edge of the Ruhr region. It is a lively town with friendly people, many leisure facilities and cultural attractions, surrounded by beautiful parks, pasture land and forests. The immediate surroundings of Duelmen are widely regarded as a paradise for cycling and walking, with great scope for exploring the beautiful countryside. The city Muenster, the Ruhr region and the Netherlands are all within easy reach. Train station: Duelmen Airport: Dortmund
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Creating
a playground for disabled kids and adults in
Helmstedt Volunteer project: On the area of the Speech recovery kindergarten and the Healing pedagogical kindergarten of the Life-aid in Helmstedt, a large natural area will be formed as a playground and place for the free time.
You will work together on this creative project
with disabled employees of the life-aid-workshop, build paths, a hut, and create
kid’s corners for playing close to nature. You can of course bring your own
creative ideas. Special requirements: Knowledge of German language is required in order to be able to talk to the disabled people and the kids. Language: English and German Accommodation: You’ll stay in the "nature friends" house on the outskirts of Helmstedt, which isn’t far from the city centre. Location: Helmstedt is situated in Lower Saxony between Magedburg and Braunschweig. Helmstedt has with 25.000 inhabitants. There are many possibilities for doing sports, for example swimming, fishing, tennis, horseback riding and skate-boarding. There are cinemas and discotheques. The Zone border museum Helmstedt and the memorial “German Division Marienborn” (one of the most important former border crossings of the divided Germany) provide you an insight into the country’s history and the reunification of Germany almost twenty years ago (following the fall of the Berlin Wall). Train station: Helmstedt Airport: Hanover
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Preservation
of
rare plant and animal species in Lower Saxony Volunteer project: In the landscape conservation area of Oesel, there are very rare species of plants and animals which need to be protected.
To preserve this natural habitat and biodiversity,
the mistreated grassland area needs to be enlarged. According to this, trees and
bushes have to be displaced. You’ll be supported by workers of the BUND
(alliance for environment and nature protection Germany). Of course you will
learn a lot about nature protection. Language: English Accommodation: In a youth tent camp, there will be a tent village for you. Meanwhile there will be an international meeting of the youth center. You’ll have many possibilities for international exchange and you can be part of the free time activities of the youth center. The tent camp is about 5 km from Wolfenbuettel. Location: Wolfenbuettel is situated in Lower Saxony. Braunschweig is 15 km, Wolfsburg 50 km, Hanover 60 km away. Wolfenbuettel has 56000 inhabitants. It is an old residency city with more than 600 studwork houses, many museums and sights. Train station: Wolfenbuettel Airport: Hanover or Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation
and construction works in an adventure garden Volunteer project: In the family centre “Grest”, the international volunteers will do some renovation and construction work together with local people. With your help, the adventure garden of the family centre “Greste” will be rearranged, bringing it close to nature. Under skilled guidance and with your help, a meeting point, a fireplace and a hiking trail should be created. Some of the work may be physically demanding. Language: English Accommodation: In the cultural centre Heimathof Location: Leopoldshoehe is in North Rhine-Westphalia, 15 km from Bielefeld, and 36 km from Paderborn. The municipality of Leopoldshoehe is located between the forest Teutoburger and the Weser mountain chain. The family centre “Grest” has a beautiful exterior area, where you can have a barbecue. You can play billiard, kicker and darts, as well as surfing in the internet or visit the cities of Bielefeld, Munster and Hanover. Train station: Oerlinghausen - Leopoldshoehe - Asemissen Airport: Paderborn, Dortmund
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Theatre Workshop:
Nonverbal communication and body language of genders in different
cultures
Volunteer project: Did you ever ask
yourself why girls are always smiling and guys have to show off? Did you ever
notice that while holding hands, the guy has always the upper hand? And don’t
you find it strange that models become finer and finer but the men are dreaming
of the feminine curves? Did you ever ask yourself: Are we too demanding with
ourselves? Or too weak? How should I talk with the guy? How should I talk to the
girl? How are men? How does the woman feel? Are the German women the same as the
Japanese women? Nonverbal communication and body language of genders coming from
different cultures are the focus of this theatre workshop. During the first two weeks of the project, you will be guided and instructed by professionals in order to learn how to express yourself using the language of your body and your creativity. You will create your own play, which you will present in the third week to other volunteers from another volunteer project. Language: English Accommodation: You will stay in the conference house „Villa Ruhe“. There will be enough room to practice and to relax. There is a big garden too, which you can use. Location: Lower Saxony; Hanover is 40 km away, Hildesheim 30 km and Goettingen 40 km. Alfeld is an idyllic small town with about 20.000 inhabitants in Leinebergland. Train station: Alfeld Airport: Hanover Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Extra fee: 290 Euro
Playground
renovation project in
Bernburg Working tasks will be on different playgrounds in the town: playground equipment such as swings and roundabouts have to be cleaned and painted, new footpaths and steps have to be built, sitting areas constructed, a bike trail should be established and sand in sandpits needs to be cleaned and refilled. Language: English Accommodation: In a youth club with all facilities like kitchen, shower and bathroom. Participants will sleep on sport mats. They will have close contact with the local youth who visit the club regularly. Location: Bernburg itself is a town with a history of more than 1000 years and is situated in the eastern part of Germany. There is a castle on the top of the valley of the river Saale, which can be seen from far away. There are plenty of possibilities for leisure activities such as visiting the town, going to pubs and bars, making excursions to towns like Leipzig or Magdeburg, canoeing on the river, a hiking tour, etc. Train station: Bernburg Airport: Leipzig or Berlin
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Forest
restoration activities in Bavaria
Due to the fact that in the Middle Ages the forest was only cropped with oaks, the leafy canopy that oaks can provide is not dense enough so that too much sunlight hits the ground. Furthermore, the oaks are afflicted by bugs. Solution is that beech trees have to be planted to enhance diversity. The volunteer group will therefore help to care for the young trees, to cut the older beech trees in the right way and plant new ones in a part of the forest. A very committed forest ranger will be with the group and teach the volunteers why and how to plant beech trees. So in addition to the practical work, there will be interesting and informative study parts. Language: English Accommodation: The group will stay in a sports club house in Untereisenheim where they can use the well equipped kitchen and all sanitary facilities. Around the sports club, there is a soccer field, a beach volley field and the possibility to play boule to enjoy the free time. Due to the size of the village, closer contact with the inhabitants of the village can be guaranteed. Location: Eisenheim is situated near to the river Main and the city of Wuerzburg and beautifully surrounded by vineyards. Growing vine is the occupation of most inhabitants of the village. The volunteers will get the chance to experience two of the popular wine festivals where they can get to know the wine as well as the culture of the village. Trips to the bigger cities like Schweinfurt and Wuerzburg can be planned. But Eisenheim itself has also interesting sights to offer, like the house designed by the artist F. Hundertwasser on a vineyard and old churches. Train station: Seligenstadt, Wurzburg Airport: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Frankfurt-Hahn, Munich
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Improving
the surroundings of an environmental education centre
near
Heidelberg The area around the Landschulheim needs to be cleared of woodland which has been neglected over recent years. This includes removing alien species, cutting trees and bushes or cleaning a small pond. Besides, the two sports grounds need to be taken care of. There will be various tasks to do around the house and you will be sometimes supervised by teachers of the school or work together with pupils. Language: English Accommodation: The Landschulheim offers very comfortable conditions and has sleeping rooms with 4-8 beds. Location: Schoenau is a small town, approximately 15 km from Heidelberg, situated in the Odenwald hills. The present settlement of Schoenau grew up around a monastery, which gives example of historical movements. The nature in the area is very beautiful and many tourists are visiting this region every year. Train station: Heidelberg, Neckarsteinach Airport: Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Restoring
a stream and reviving a biotope in Pluederhausen Volunteers will help to keep the stream’s water under control and the water level low. This means building of “stoppers” and natural steps in the stream and around it, for example with stone or wooden palisades. Tools used for this are picks and scoops. Another effect of the palisades is that they provide possibilities for insects and small animals to find a shelter. Next to the stream, a biotope died of lack of water. After the construction of a new water source, it should get back to life. Therefore, bushes and trees around have to be cut. Professional workers will support, instruct and guide the participants at work. Volunteers should be prepared to work in all weathers and work may be hard sometimes. Some volunteer projects have already taken place in the town, so the locals are experienced in hosting them and are looking forward to welcome you. As the projects are organised very carefully, all participants should be very motivated. Language: English Accommodation: The group will live in a school. There is a big kitchen and a place for barbecue outside. Beds are provided. Location: Pluederhausen is a small town with approximately 9.500 inhabitants. It is situated approximately 50 km northwest of Stuttgart. The participants will have the chance to experience a nature park by hiking or enjoy swimming in the lake. More sporting activities like beach volleyball, tennis or miniature golf will be organised by the municipality. There are also a few bigger cities to visit like Stuttgart or Heilbronn. Train station: Pluederhausen Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Renovation
of children's playgrounds
Volunteer project: The city Gevelsberg is
located in the beautiful valley of the Ennepe. With your help, playgrounds will
be renovated and rearranged in order to make them more attractive for kids. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in circus wagons. Location: Gevelsberg is in North Rhine-Westphalia, 15 km from Hagen, 30 km from Dortmund, 65 km from Cologne. The city offers a broad cultural program. In the youth centre you can play billiard and mini-golf, and there’s an adventure swimming pool. There are possibilities for trips to Dortmund, Bochum and Cologne. Train station: Gevelsberg Airport: Dortmund
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Environmental maintenance of
biotopes, gardens and
watercourses in Bavaria Volunteer project: The beautiful village of Babenhausen is close to Memmingen and Ulm, not far from the Bavarian Alps. Under the guidance of an environment-educationist from the Youth-Education-venue “Babenhausen” and the support of local workers, you will be involved with different tasks, such as taking care of ecological sanctuaries (Biotopes), rebuilding natural watercourses and help enlarging the Garden of senses belonging to the youth centre. You will be introduced to the topic of amphibian life and the importance of water protection; you will be working artistically and creatively. In your free time, you can make trips to Lake Constance, to Munich, to Ulm, to Kempten, to Augsburg, or undertake one of the many hiking-tours offered in the Alps. If the weather is good, you can go swimming in the lake close-by. In order for you to discover the region, you can borrow a bicycle. Language: English Accommodation: Shared rooms in a house, close to the lake. Location: Bavaria; 120 km away from Munich, 40 km from Ulm, 60 km from Kempten and 90 km from Lake Constance. Train station: Sontheim (Schwab) Airport: Munich
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Nature
conservation and creating a new biotope in
Spaichingen Volunteer project: Together with the nature conservation office and the environment advisory council, there are a lot of tasks for you. With your help various nature conservation works will be done. Planned is the creation of a new “biotope”. With your support, larger stones (25-30cm edge length) will be placed on the bank of a pond. At existing “biotopes”, you can cut trees and bushes and reopen water ditches. In addition, there are planned works with fruit trees, where your help is required. You can learn a lot about nature protection and biotopes at this project. Language: English Accommodation: An elementary school in Spaichingen Location: Spaichingen is in Baden-Wuerttemberg, 110 km south of Stuttgart, 40 km north of the Lake Constance. Therefore there are a lot of possible trips, to the Lake Constance, the Swabian Mountains or to Switzerland. Train station: Spaichingen Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation
works and care
for animals in a
wildlife park Volunteer project: You’ll help in the reconstruction of a donkey enclosure in the wildlife park. There are around 200 animals living here. For this, poles must be replaced, and cross-pieces must be sawn and bolt. In addition, you will help at the care for animals and the park: cleaning of the enclosure, preparing the food and feeding the animals, removing plants and maintenance of the paths. Language: English Accommodation: You’ll stay in a house, situated in the area of the wildlife park. Location: Ludwigshafen is in Rhineland-Palatinate. 5 km from Mannheim, 20 km from Heidelberg and 70 km from Karlsruhe. In the closer surroundings, there are a variety of swimming lakes, and the cites of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim offer a culture and free time programme. Also, the university city of Heidelberg with its picturesque castle is worth a trip. Train station: Ludwigshafen Airport: Frankfurt a.M. and Frankfurt Hahn
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Renovation
of a youth camp in
Bavaria Volunteer project: The youth camp Vestenbergsgreuth has existed since 1995 and has accommodation and two tent areas. International volunteer projects have a long tradition in the youth camp, as young people from all over the world already helped at the building of the youth camp and the enlargement of the floors. The building will be renovated in parts. The open air stage should be renewed and parts of the fences have to be replaced. An existing wooden hut will be rearranged as a living-room. You will help at the drywall construction and lay a wooden floor. The youth organisation Erlangen-Hoechstadt will support you regarding the free time program. Meeting young people from Erlangen-Hoechstadt is also planned. Language: English Accommodation: In the youth camp accommodation (4-bed rooms) Location: Bavaria. Vestenbergsgreuth, Erlangen, Nuremberg with its documentary centre, the Old City of Bamberg (world cultural heir), and the former imperial city Forchheim offer many possibilities. You can go climbing in the Franconia Switzerland and get to know the many monuments of the region. Train station: Erlangen, with transfer to the youth camp Airport: Nuremberg or Munich
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Running
a summer holiday play scheme for kids in Marbach Volunteers will take care of the children during the play scheme and they will offer own workshops and activities – this means volunteers should bring creative and handcrafting skills. Working hours will be Monday to Friday, start in the morning till late in the afternoon. 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: The accommodation will either be home stays in families in town or the group will be accommodated all together in a building of the community. Location: Marbach is known as the birth place of the classical poet Friedrich Schiller. The Schiller National Museum and the German Literature Archive are popular destinations. The town has a picturesque centre with several churches and many historical houses. Train station: Marbach am Neckar Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Construction
of a leisure park
for
children, youth and adults
in
Haiterbach Volunteers will help to set up parts of the leisure park. This means for example to help with the construction of the play scheme or the beach volleyball-court. According to the needs, there are different tasks to do, and volunteers will be supervised by professionals. Work might be demanding sometimes and will be outside, so volunteers should be prepared to work in all weathers. Language: English
Accommodation: The volunteers will be accommodated in a newly renovated
historical building called “Zehntscheuer”. In the Middle Ages it was used by
farmers for storing corns and crops. After a recent renovation, this historic
building was transformed into a modern community house including a big courtyard
used for cultural events and rooms for a kindergarten and different activities
for young and old people. Location: Haiterbach is a town with about 5.800 inhabitants consisting of five districts. It is situated in the eastern Black Forest, 20 km northeast of Freudenstadt and 30 km west of Tuebingen. About 1000 years ago it was first mentioned and historical traces can be found in the town. The Black Forest is a famous wooded mountain range. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1.490 meters. There are numerous paths suitable for day walks. Train station: Nagold Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Conservation
of forests in the Harz Mountains Volunteer project: The small town of Wildemann is scenically situated in the Harz Mountains — offering mountains, stalactite caves, environmental protection areas, and forests. It is a popular destination for tourists and day-trippers. Many German fairy tales and stories originate from this area. In cooperation with the Lower Saxony Forestry Office, you will carry out various nature and landscape conservation tasks, e.g. restoration of courses of streams to their natural state, care and maintenance of young trees and recreation facilities. In addition to these interesting and diverse tasks, you can explore the Harz region together with the Forestry Office staff. Substantial hikes, e.g. to the Brocken Mountain, are possible as well. Language: English Accommodation: Wildemann hiking cottage. Location: Lower Saxony, 20 km to Goslar, 7 km to Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Train station: Goslar Airport: Hannover
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Maintenance
of green spaces and renovation of the Learning Centre of an old
Benedictine monastery Volunteer project: The old Benedictine monastery of Ensdorf lies on the river Vils in the Upper Palatinate between Regensburg and Amberg. In 1920, the order of Don Giovanni Bosco, an Italian saint, moved to Ensdorf, and following the interests of its founder, the order serves to support young people find their way in life, and helps them realise the possibility of building a worthwhile future. Commitment and involvement go hand in hand with the search to make sense of this life, the issues concerning the future of society, and the questions surrounding how to best live one’s own life and our place in the natural world. The monastery’s motto, “Schoepfungs-Erleben Kloster Ensdorf”, shows the order’s intention to give visiting school children, young people, families and teachers the opportunity to experience nature and the wonders of creation.
In recent years, new biotopes were created, such
as orchards, a monastery garden and ponds by the river Vils. These, together
with the local forests, dry grasslands and water meadows, create a varied nature
study area which needs to be sympathetically managed. The “special treat” of this project is the vast choice of leisure activities: beach-volleyball court, cool-water fun park, Gruene Kapelle (“green chapel”), Klanghaus (“house of sound”), rope garden, musical instruments, bicycles, canoes, lots of indoor games (football tables, table tennis, billiards, etc.). Language: English Accommodation: Dormitory style accommodation in the Meeting House (Haus der Begegnung) within the monastery grounds. Location: Bavaria; between Nuremberg and Regensburg. Train station: Amberg Airport: Frankfurt a.M., Frankfurt Hahn or Munich
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Organizing a summer feast in a Home for mentally handicapped people Volunteer project: In the Koepenick district on the outskirts of Berlin, within close proximity to two rivers, lakes and extensive forests, there is a Home for mentally handicapped people run by the social foundation “Koepenick”. Your main task will be to organise and run a summer fete together with the residents. We would hope that the preparation of decorations, games, entertainment (for example, music and theatre) and food would mirror the varied cultural backgrounds of the participants. Other tasks are the creation of a herb and vegetable bed for each of the groups living in the home, and taking day trips with the residents. Most of the residents work in workshops until early afternoon and you will need to be flexible in arranging your working time and be prepared to work in the afternoons. Language: English Accommodation: In rooms belonging to the protestant parish of Berlin-Oberschöneweide. Location: Berlin. Köpenick is the largest geographic section of Berlin. Seventy-five percent of the district is water, forests, and meadows. For the people of Berlin, this district serves as a recreational area. Train station: Berlin Airport: Berlin
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Improve
your German and help in workshops for disabled in Berlin Volunteer project: This volunteer project takes place at the Spandau branch of the “Mosaic Workshop for the Disabled” which includes twelve different workshop areas, such as industrial assembly, laundry, joinery, home-grown produce, canteen, etc, and provides work for 260 mentally disabled people. The facility also provides care, support and education. During the second and third week you will work for about 4 hours in the Mosaic workshop. Your tasks will be to rearrange the surrounding area, to plant flowers and to arrange sitting areas. Furthermore you will have the chance to gain an insight view into the work of this workshop. If you want, you can help and learn how to cooperate with disabled people. Study part: In addition to working at the Mosaic workshops, this project gives you the opportunity to learn more German. During week one, you’ll have four to five hours of language tuition per day. Your tutors are experienced teachers of German as a foreign language and also participate in the workcamp. During the next two weeks, you’ll spend about four hours each day in the workshop areas, where you can practice and improve your newly acquired knowledge of German. An hour’s German tuition straight after work should help to ensure that you retain whatever new words and phrases you learned that day. Special requirements: This project is for participants with a basic knowledge of German. Language: English and German Accommodation: You’ll stay at the Grunewald centre, in the middle of the Grunewald forest and close to lake Grunewald. Location: Berlin. The centre of Berlin is within easy reach by public transport. You will receive the tickets for this. The 3 hectare big area is big enough for camping, an outside theatre, for BBQ, and to play football. Train station: Berlin Airport: Berlin Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Extra fee: 300 Euro
Creating
a
new meeting center for
migrants in Bremen Volunteer project: The intercultural workshop “Tenever” is a society which aim is to encourage a better and smoother integration within the city of Bremen. Within the district “Tenever” of Bremen, about 80 different nations live together, sometimes in poor conditions. This summer the workshop will move to other premises and we will need your help for setting up this new meeting point. You will do some painting, re-arrange and design the interior decoration, and much more handcraft work. You can leave your creativity full bent. You will work together with the society members and learn a lot about their background, lives as migrants in Bremen and further projects of the association, such as meal service counter, addiction help centre or taking care of public parks. Language: English Accommodation: You will stay in a school or an empty building. Location: In Bremen; 120 km away from Hamburg. From the district “Tenever” it is easy to reach Bremen’s downtown. This city exists since 1200 year and therefore has lots of historical interest points. Furthermore, you will find nice places for shopping and interesting museums. On the weekends you will have the opportunity to visit the North-See coast, Hamburg and other interesting places around. Train station: Bremen Central station Airport: Bremen or Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Organizing a holiday program for mentally
and physically disabled people Volunteers and disabled people will spend their time together to be creative, have fun, do handicrafts, go on excursions, playing games, do sports,.... In total there will be around 20 disabled and non-disabled children, youth and adults, who will be divided into groups according to the needs and abilities (the group with severely handicapped will for example be offered quieter activities). An introduction seminar for all volunteers will take place on the first Sunday to explain the rules, responsibilities and tasks. Local volunteers will work together with the international group and they will have lunch altogether. The weekends will be free and you can either spend leisure time in the families you live together with or with the group. Special requirements: Project language will be German and English! Please add a motivation letter to show your interest and experience in working with disabled people (What kind of experience do you have? Do you have experiences in taking care of disabled persons including sanitary aspects?). Language: English and German Accommodation: The accommodation will be in families, which means an experience of “real German culture”. Location: Sindelfingen has about 60.000 residents and is about 15 km south west of Stuttgart. It has an economy fuelled mostly by the automobile industry and the weaving industry. Nice excursions in the Black Forest for hiking tours are possible as well as sightseeing trips to cities like Stuttgart or Heidelberg. Train station: Sindelfingen – Goldberg Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Support
the organizing and running of
summer festivals for children The international participants will help and support to take care of the kids at several different activities at both festivals. The volunteers will support the staff in supervising a set programme of indoor and outdoor activities such as sports, games and crafts. They are generally helping the children enjoy their summer holiday. The activities of the festivals are running from 8 am until 3 pm each day, so the group should be prepared to work long hours, but it is very rewarding. Working tasks will be different due to the topics of the festivals. Special requirements: Project language is German. Motivation letter in German is required. Language: German Accommodation: The group will stay in a beautiful and well equipped self-catering house belonging to the “Franziskanerklösterle” (little monastery) close to the city centre. Around the house, there is a big garden belonging to the monastery. In the monastery itself, there are monks living separately but there is always the chance to get in contact and to get to know each other's lifestyle. All sanitary facilities and kitchen are available. Location: Wangen is a beautiful city situated in the southern German region called “Allgau”, close to the borders of Austria and Switzerland. The region lies close to the Alpes and therefore provided with a diverse nature of mountains, meadows, waterfalls and the like. There is a lot to discover in terms of history and nature. Old castles, mountain trails, the Lake Constance. But also Wangen itself has much to offer. The history of the city dates back to the year 815. The charm of Wangen lies within its historical buildings and southern German architectural style. Train station: Wangen Airport: Munich, Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Park
maintenance and renovation project
in the
Black Forest
According to the plans of a landscape
architect, there are different tasks to undertake in the park: new
footpaths have to be installed, old footpaths have to be cleared, alien
species have to be removed, trees and bushes have to be cut, new trees
have to be planted, dry stone walls have to be surveyed and
reconstructed and other different tasks. Language: English Accommodation: In a school in the village of Waldulm, a part of Kappelrodeck. Two sleeping rooms, a kitchen and sanitary facilities are provided. Location: Kappelrodeck is a small community situated in the popular “Black Forest” and has around 5700 inhabitants in total. The region attracts many tourists who find recreation in the beautiful landscapes. Besides, the area is famous for its delicious red wine. Hiking in the nearby nature as well as excursions to cities like Strasbourg or Stuttgart are possible. Train station: Kappelrodeck Airport: Strasbourg (France), Karlsruhe
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Teenage Orientation Camp
Volunteer project: The medieval city
”Allstedt” in the federal-state of Saxony-Anhalt, already attracted the poet
laureate Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Between 1176 and 1802, he often came to the
city in order to take care of state affaires. While he was accommodated in the
castle, he wrote the first act of the famous play “Iphigenie”. People say, that
he enjoyed spending his time at the border of a pond, on the dyke. Furthermore, this Teenage Orientation Camp in Allstedt will invite you not only to discover the life of the famous poet Goethe, but also to discover what you personally want from the future! Time, space and assistance will be given to you in order to find out, what you want to do in and with your life, which orientation you would like to take and which job or study you would like to choose. Different workshops will be held about “planning your life” and “Future Wishes”. Language: English Accommodation: You will stay in tents. Location: In the federal-state of Saxony-Anhalt; close to Halle (40 km away), Erfurt (about 50 km away) and Magdeburg (60 km away). Train station: Sangerhausen or Artern Airport: Leipzig or Berlin
Age range: 15 – 17 years old
On
the traces of Iron Age settlers Volunteer project: How did our ancestors live 2500 years ago? On the traces of the settlers of the Iron Age, archaeologists from the Rhineland landscape association are building a court in Titz, where one can find the outpost of the Rhenish agency for the preservation of ground monuments.
Under professional guidance, you’ll build an
original house with authentic tools. This will give you an impression of life
back then. You’ll work with logs and erect walls. Also, you will be making a
roof out of Thatch. Language: English Accommodation: In a hall on the area of the outpost in Titz-Hoellen, close to the Iron Age court. Location: North Rhine Westphalia. Titz is placed in the “city triangle” of Cologne (40 km), Duesseldorf (40 km) and Aix-la-Chapelle (40 km). There are many possibilities for trips to the Lower Rhine, to Belgium and to the Netherlands. Terminal: Dueren Airport: Cologne/Bonn
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
Restoration
of an old Roman watchtower
in
Odenwald
forest The group will work on the rebuilding of a stone wall of the watchtower. In detail that means stones have to be arranged, concrete has to be mixed before setting the wall back in place. The working place is located in the middle of the forest. The group will be supported by professional workers of the building yard department of Buchen. Language: English Accommodation: The participants will stay on a family campsite area called “Eckbuckel” which was rearranged by the workcamp last year. This campsite lies idyllic and isolated outside of Buchen in a cozy village – surrounded by meadows and forests. Beside the cabins that are used as sleeping rooms, a separate building with a kitchen and sanitary facilities is available. There is also a place for barbecuing. For more leisure activities the participants are free to use the big sports ground as well as ping-pong tables at the centre. Around 2 km away lays a private lake for swimming… Location: Buchen is a small town located in the north of Baden-Wurttemberg in the forest “Odenwald” with around 18900 inhabitants. Volunteers can enjoy the landscape by hiking or experience the wonders of a stalactite cave. In Buchen you can also find a forest swimming pool and more opportunities for sporting activities. Bigger cities like Stuttgart or Heilbronn are also worth visiting. Train station: Buchen Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Maintenance
of a recently restored river in Kehl Volunteers will clear the banks of the river and cut the grass and bushes. They will work with machines and it may be physically hard and muddy. This is a good project to learn about nature prevention and conservation. Language: English Accommodation: The group will live in a youth centre close to the river where all facilities are provided. There is a big kitchen and different rooms to stay and spend time in. Outside you can find a place for barbecuing, a lake and trick fountains to enjoy. The area around the youth centre is rather spacious and provides many activities and things to experience. Location: Kehl is a medium sized town on the bank of the river Rhine facing the French-German border. The Alsatian town of Strasbourg is situated on the other side of the river Rhine. It will be interesting to visit the beautiful town of Strasbourg, crossing the border to France. The youth centre is only a five minute walk from the inner city of Kehl. Other interesting sightings can be the Black Forest and the nature of the southern area in general. Train station: Kehl Airport: Strasbourg (10 km), Frankfurt (150 km)
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Creating
and cultivating nature biotopes
in the beautiful south of
Germany The volunteer group will create new biotopes as well as cultivate already existing biotopes. They will work with different kinds of tools. The work can be physically demanding – especially in any kind of weather. Volunteers should be prepared to work hard. Language: English Accommodation: The group will stay in a building of the fire department where they will have a sleeping room, a living room with couches and games, all sanitary facilities and a kitchen. The house is situated next to the building yard department from where the group will leave to the biotopes each morning together with the professionals with whom they will work during the weeks. Location: The community of Willstaett contains several villages with all in all around 9000 inhabitants. It is situated in the beautiful southern part of Germany close to the border to France. It is characterised by its beautiful architectural style of carcass houses. There is also a lot to see and discover in the landscape close to the Black forest with its spectacular sights (waterfalls, castles…). Close bigger cities like Freiburg or Strasbourg offer a wide range of cultural events. Train station: Appenweier, Kehl Airport: Strasbourg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Stuttgart
Age range: 18 - 30 years old
Developing an environmental
conservation area in Lower Saxony Volunteer project: This autumn, the small town of Edewecht in the beautiful Ammerland district would like your help to convert an area of agricultural land into an environmental conservation project. There is a variety of outdoor tasks for you, supported by local expertise. Your work will involve planting, the maintenance of existing young plants, designing information boards and building a wooden observation platform. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in small group excursions to learn about local flora and fauna, and during these two weeks you could gain a lot of knowledge about nature conservation and countryside maintenance. And of course this is a great opportunity to spend time outdoors before the winter sets in. With a bit of luck you’ll have two weeks of great weather due to the “Indian Summer“.
Language: English Accommodation: In a school in Edewecht. Location: Lower Saxony, Oldenburg is 20 km away and Bremen - 65 km Train station: Bremen, Hamburg, Hanover Airport: Bremen, Hamburg
Age range: 16 - 26 years old
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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. 
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.
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. 
Volunteer project:
Based near the historic mining and university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, you
will be involved with a variety of environmental and nature conservation
programmes in co-operation with the Wildemann forestry team. Your tasks will
include the maintenance of riverbanks and small waterways, creation of habitats
and forest pathways. The forestry team will of course be happy to share their
knowledge on nature conservation and their involvement in the environmental
protection of the forests. This project is for people who are happy to live,
work and spend most of their free time surrounded by “Mother Nature“ – you must
be very much in tune with nature to enjoy this project. 
Volunteer project:
The “Green band”, the former inner-German borderline, is with about 1393 km the
longest biotope system in Germany. This nature camp will be supported by the
BUND Saxony-Anhalt. Apart from the work in the “Green band” (creating
information boards for walking paths, and relax-stations, as well as cutting
bushes), you’ll do nature development workshops, walking tours, and listen to
lectures. Close to the former German-German border, the “iron curtain”, you’ll
find media on the topic “the foreign in me and in others”. Wilderness and
cultural landscape areas will be incorporated. Little country art installations
in the landscape will be installed as enriching signs for us and others.
Adventure, nature, arts and culture will be explained and media documented. 
For
your free time, not only the area of the KiEZ offers a lot of sports
possibilities, fun, games and creativity, but in addition the comfortable
romantic city of Arendsee in the Altmark. The lake invites you to go swimming
and to do water sports and the beautiful landscape invites to go hiking and
bicycling.