Nature conservation and environmental awareness activities in the Ebro Delta
                    Ebro Delta          July 8 - July 21, 2010

Volunteer project: The "Barra del Trabucador", located in the Ebre Delta with an extraordinary natural beauty where many people enjoy its beaches, is one of the most fragile of the Delta, already threatened by the arrival of sediments, climate change, rising sea levels, regression... This year we want to continue and improve the work in Ebre Delta giving new impetus to the conservation of this area as well as the awareness to tourists and local population.

The working activities will be done mainly in the "Barra del Trabucador" but also in other places of the Delta. With technical support of SEO/Birdlife and of the Natural Reserve of Ebre Delta. The work tasks include: collecting garbage, activities to raise awareness, helping to restore the natural habitat, reforesting plants, and doing agricultural work in an ecological garden. Volunteers will be also involved in different activities to promote a better understanding of the Ebre Delta, its role, problems, history and cultural heritage of towns and people of the Delta. Furthermore, we will get to know the Catalan reality and the local associations.

Language: English

Free time activities: The cultural activities will be based on environmental education (talks, cinema, workshops, cultural visits), traditional culture, group dynamics and excursions.

Location: The Ebro River Delta

Nearest airport: Reus or Barcelona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Help in the organization and running of the International Music Festival of Cantonigros
                    Cantonigros          July 9 - July 22, 2010

Volunteer project: The Music festival of Cantonigròs is a great event which attracts around 2.000 people, both audience and participants to enjoy traditional music and dances. During this festival, musicians from 30 different countries are performing, so it is a great intercultural experience! Performers, local people and volunteers participate side by side in the Festival.

The volunteer activities at the project consist in supporting the organization of the Music Festival of Cantonigròs. More precisely, the volunteers in collaboration with locals, will help with technical work not only during the festival but also before and afterwards. The tasks will be:
- assembling and dismantling the infrastructure of the festival;
- support in the organization of services during the festival;
- logistic support in relation to the participating groups;
- access control during the festival.

Special requirements: Motivation letter is required with application.

Language: English

Free time activities: Workshops and group activities: cultural exchange between participants; international meals; discussions; simulation games. Excursions to discover the region and its cultural, natural and social way of life such as visits to Vic and other places. And of course, enjoying the atmosphere of the Festival.

Location: Cantonigròs is a village situated at the top of a mountain at a height of 1.000 metres, in the country of Osona (Vic is the main city) in the centre of Catalunya, and 100 km far from the city of Barcelona (south) and the French border (north).

Nearest airport: Girona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Archaeological excavations at the medieval Castle of Montsoriu
                    Arbúcies, Girona          July 14 - July 27, 2010

Volunteer project: The castle of Montsoriu is an example of original gothic architecture in Catalonia. The Arbucies Youth Council has been working for its restoration for several years now, as a means to give value to its local heritage.

The international volunteers will be involved in archaeological work in the Montsoriu Castle. The work will consist of moving earth and rocks to clean the space and move down the level of ground to find the original one. There will be also tasks of cleaning and classification of the remains found during excavations. The excavation will take place with the technical team of Montseny’s Ethnology Museum.

Language: English

Free time activities: From excursions to the surrounding area to workshops, talks, sports, games, traditional dances,... There will be a visit to Tossa de Mar.

Accommodation: In the castle (with bunk beds) during the week. In the weekends we will stay in the town of Arbúcies.

Location: Arbúcies, province of Girona. Montsoriu Castle is located in the Natural Park of Montseny, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and very near to the Costa Brava. It is a unique example of the military medieval architecture in Catalonia.

Nearest airport: Girona or Barcelona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Environmental conservation work in the delta of the Llobregat river
                    El Prat de Llobregat          July 17 - July 31, 2010

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year working on this project. We will work in the natural environment of the Delta of Llobrega.

The tasks of the volunteer group will be divided in 3 lines:
- Actions to improve the environmental situation of the natural spaces of the Delta
- Collaboration in projects of conservation and management of the natural areas of the Delta
- Actions to spread awareness about the importance of the agricultural land stewardships in the marine Delta.

Language: English

Free time activities: Different activities and games with the aim of reflexion about the perspectives of coeducation, interculturality, peace or sustainability. There will also be activities to promote the discovering of Catalonia.

Accommodation: In the Centre Esplai youth hostel, a fully equipped centre.

Location: El Prat de Llobregat, a town near Barcelona.

Nearest airport: Barcelona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Restoration and environmental activities at the medieval castle in Algerri
                     Algerri          July 18 - July 31, 2010

Volunteer project: It's been many years since international volunteer groups are collaborating with the village of Algerri to improve its particular heritage.

This year, the aim of the volunteer project will be restoration of the medieval castle in Algerri. The volunteers will help conditioning the area of the castle, including cleaning the space. The group will also take part in the inventory of the flora of the Serra Llarga.

Language: English

Free time activities: Workshops on recycling paper, metals, popular games and dances, cultural visits, excursions to Balaguer and Lleida.

Accommodation: In a sports center with matresses.

Location: Algerri (Lleida), in a rural area of Catalunya. Its inhabitants are called "algerrians". It is located at the Noguera Baixa region. This region occupies a large extension of light ground, closed to the North by the Pyrenees. The area is crossed by the Segre River.
It seems like this place had been created in order to delight the foot walking lovers, due to its nature and beauty.

Nearest airport: Barcelona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

Preserving the Iberian archaeological heritage
       Salou          July 19 - August 1, 2010

Volunteer project: This is a project of archeological interest, based on the extraction and cleaning of walls found dating from the third century BC. The group of international volunteers will be involved in archaeological tasks in La Punta de la Cella, such as defining the area, cleaning, digging, sorting, etc. There will be 2 technicians that will guide the work to be done.

Language: English

Free time activities: Visits, excursions and workshops, etc. Archeological visit to Tarragona.

Accommodation: In a school (place to sleep, dining room, showers, etc.)

Location: Salou

Nearest airport: Barcelona or Reus

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

 

Rehabilitation of social housing residences in Barcelona
       Barcelona          August 16 - August 25, 2010

Volunteer project: The District of Ciutat Vella (The old city) is the oldest quarter in Barcelona and one of the most damaged. The population - approx. 100.000 inhabitants - faces generally low education level and low income with a high percentage of unemployment which contributes to increased level of poverty and exclusion. In recent years, Ciutat Vella has also increased heavily its number of foreigners, single parents and elders. In this socio economic context, more than half of the residences need some kind of rehabilitation, that locals in poor conditions cannot afford. The project has two main goals: improve the living conditions of the flats, through cooperation between locals and international participants, and working in the social area with volunteers, through exchanges in the local space.

The work will consist in restoring houses in the district of Ciutat Vella in Barcelona. During the mornings from Monday to Friday participants will work on the housing restoration (cleaning and desinfection of spaces, painting, etc.)

Special requirements: Motivation letter is needed. This is not "party Barcelona". You come to collaborate to a serious project.
There's no need to have knowledge or experience in renovation, but interest in social inequalities is needed.

Language: English

Free time activities: Different leisure activities, to be decided together with the participants during the project, like: visit to museums, parks, villages around the city, etc.

Accommodation: In a public school in Ciutat Vella District. Volunteers shoud bring their own mat and sleeping bag.

Location: Barcelona

Nearest airport: Barcelona

Age range: 18 - 30 years old
 

 

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