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Volunteer opportunities in FRANCE

Development of organic farm in Provence
        Trets en Provence          February 3 - February 20, 2010
               Trets en Provence          February 24 - March 13, 2010
               Trets en Provence          March 17 - April 3, 2010
               Trets en Provence          April 7 - April 24, 2010
               Trets en Provence          April 28 - May 15, 2010
               Trets en Provence          May 19 - June 5, 2010
               Trets en Provence          June 9 - June 26, 2010
               Trets en Provence          June 30 - July 17, 2010
               Trets en Provence          July 21 - August 7, 2010
               Trets en Provence          August 11 - August 28, 2010
               Trets en Provence          September 1 - September 18, 2010

Volunteer project: The association "La ferme de Noé" has purchased in 2003 a property of 4 hectares in the village of Trets en Provence, to create a social and organic farm. The association has 50 members. Friends and family members give a hand regularly for the development of the farm. The objective is to develop the economic aspect of the activity to achieve financial autonomy (visits of the public, restaurant, selling farm products).

The volunteers will participate in agricultural work, planting and harvesting, removing of weeds, maintenance of the buildings, installation of folds for animals in the pinewood in front of the house, taking care of farm animals (make sure you have no allergies). The farm also receives visitors; volunteers may (if they wish) participate in the preparation of meals for the visitors. Volunteers will work under the supervision of the active members of the association.

Volunteers should be interested in contributing to the development of the project; to work at different tasks according to the needs; be ready to share one room with other volunteers, respect the rules of homestay and common "family type" living, be ready to do agricultural work and work with farm animals.

Number of participants: 2

Language: English

Possible free time activities:
- Discovering Marseille; Aix en Provence and the surrounding villages.
- Exchange with the associations working with La Ferme de Noe.
- Horse riding at the farm La Manade, a partner of la Ferme de Noe.

Accommodation: Volunteers are accommodated in a comfortable room with beds, general space available being quite reduced. Active members of the host association live in the house (3 people permanently).
There is a cinema, a swimming pool and a library in Trets where books can be borrowed  (however the farm is isolated from the village centre, at 4 km).

Location: In the Southern part of France. Located a few kilometers from the center of the village of Trets en Provence, the farm is in the middle of the vines, in front of Sainte Victoire (a preserved mountain). Trets has a population of 12 000 inhabitants, and a shopping area. Nearest towns are Marseille (30 minutes), Aix en Provence (25 minutes). Access by bus.

Terminal: Trets

Age range: 20 - 30 years old
 

Trets     is a lively little town of nearly 12,000 inhabitants that has preserved the charm and traditions of a Provencal village. It lies between the Sainte-Victoire and Aurelians mountains, near Aix en Provence, and not far from Aubagne and Marseille.
A mediaeval village. Behind the ramparts which still surround the heart of the town there are many reminders of the past, such as the castle, the church and the old synagogue.
A busy modern town. With a swimming pool, a BMX trail, a go-cart track, river fishing, a golf course (5 km away), a media library, a multimedia centre, exhibition halls, auditoriums and a cinema, Trets is a gold mine of cultural and sports activities.
Festivals, fairs and markets. On Wednesday mornings the town's Provencal market fills the town with life. Life in Trets follows the rhythm of festivals: the Spring Fair, May Day, St Jeans Day, St Eloi's Day and St Barthelemy's Fair.

 

 

Volunteering in an Emmaus community
      
Etoile, Rhone-Alpes          May 25 - June 12, 2010

Volunteer project: Emmaus is a community that welcomes marginalised and homeless people, mostly men. They are called "companions". The community provides them with a place where they can live and work. It is a place where people live together in a spirit of solidarity. Some companions live there temporarily while going trough a tough phase in life and the community supports them towards social reinsertion; others see life in the community as an alternative way of life. There are 3 founding principles in all Emmaus Communities: welcoming people (everybody whatever their origin and their past); working, which is seen as fundamental for a sound life and as the way to reinsertion and reconstruction of self esteem; sharing is the third pillar of life in the community.

The group of volunteers (max 7 participants) will share the life and activities of the companions, organised around the collecting, fixing and selling of second-hand articles in the community shops. The volunteers will be associated to the daily tasks carried out all year round by the companions. Work from Tuesday to Saturday, days off on Sunday and Monday. Some days, volunteers may work at the Montelimar community, located 35 km South from Valence.

Language: English

Possible free time activities: Discovering Crest (visit of the tower, abseiling...), and various sites of the Drôme valley such as Die (old town, and cooperative cellar), Saillans (magnagnery), Aouste (oil mill)...; visit of the town of Valence, Montélimar (museum of the miniature and manufacture of nougat), Romans (the shoe museum); excursion to discover the Vercors; sports, rides, hikes, swimming, canoe (Drôme).

Accommodation: In the community building.

Location: Located at 10 km south of Valence, in the Drôme, Etoile (4,500 inhabitants) is a town which overhangs the valley of the Rhône. Its village, at the heart of the enclosure of the 15th century, reveals an architectural heritage of quality: a church, stone houses, a chapel and a castle. As for its countryside, it is characterized by very diversified landscapes (edge of the rivers Rhône and Véore, agricultural and fruit bearing zones, hills and woods).

Terminal: Valence ville

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

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