Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger

 CONCORDIA FRANCE

 

Solidarités Jeunesses (SJ)


What is Solidarités Jeunesses?

A national association of youth community development

Solidarités Jeunesses is an international association for the development and education of youth, and is recognised by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
We organise short and long-term international workcamps, actions of social integration, training activities, international solidarity actions, and run small community centres in rural environments.
Through these actions Solidarités Jeunesses aims to promote:
* The voluntary participation of everyone, particularly young people and those in socially disadvantaged situations, on local, national and international levels.
* Local development that respects the needs of the individual, the environment and cultural heritage.
* The breaking down of barriers between generations, cultures and nations.
* The concrete construction of peace.
Solidarités Jeunesses works to shine a light on the value of tolerance and respect for all human beings without aligning itself with any particular policital or ideological philosophy.

A regional movement

Solidarités Jeunesses conducts workcamp activities Small groups have been created little by little as a result of the various workcamp activities in the area.  They include people from all backgrounds - young and old, local representatives, social workers - who desire to work together to bring to life their aspirations for a harmonious development of their region.
These local groups have since then been organised in regional delegations and been joined by local or regional associations who would like to find, within a national and international movement, an opening, a richness, exchanges, and  reflections.
On the basis of objectives decided in common and in solidarity with the others, the regional delegations develop their program of activities and their ability to act and organise the associative life in the region.
Today, seven regional delegations of Solidarités Jeunesses exist all over France. Organizing various activities, especially international workcamps, they are engaged in the local development of their area. Furthermore, most of them have the possibilities to host international volunteers and people taking part in integration programs.

An international movement

Solidarités Jeunesses has its origin in the French branch of YAP (Youth Action for Peace).
YAP was founded in 1923 by the French officer Etienne Bach who was based, at that time, in the occupied part of Germany. He discovered that: "...  people totally ignore each other and their hate is based on an alarming sincerity. Still they are instigated against an image of their enemy and not against the actual people (...) It's our challenge therefore to promote everything that helps an understanding..."
YAP was initially created in France and Germany in order to work towards peace and reconciliation between countries formerly at war, particularly with the younger generations. Over the years the movement has remained with its original vocation of striving to avoid conflict, and as a result has aquired much knowledge and different stratgies to help young people get to know each other on a real level.
Since Second World War, as times change, YAP has integrated other basic goals into its mission. In particular, the movement had increased its interest in the fight against social exclusion and the support of people in their struggle for freedom and self-realization.

On an international level Solidarites Jeunesses is member of CCSVI (platform of workcamp associations world-wide) and of AVSO (Association of Voluntary Service Organisations).

What is a long term voluntary service?

* The voluntary service is an exchange between:
One person who offers her/his time, work and energy to a project of a public interest.
One hosting organization that offers the volunteer the possibility to learn and to develop his or herself

* The voluntary service is a full time activity:
The volunteers are not employed, they do not receive any salary. Therefore, they do not have the possibility to "earn a living" moneywise. This is the reason why no special qualifications are required. Though there is no money involved, contributing yourself to a project of public interest will be an enriching lifelong experience.

* A social and pedagogic project that is open to everybody.

* A tool for local development

* A new educational experience:
The voluntary service gives the possibility to confront new information and insights.

* Voluntary service is not a humanitarian action:
The volunteers take part in projects for a limited time, allowing them to discover a new way of life in another country. This is not an attempt at relief action, but an intercultural exchange. This clarification is very important as it pertains to the work, the applied methods, and the approach with the local population.

Become a long term volunteer ...

... by being open to :
* discovering a new culture;
* creating new relationships with people from different countries;
* living within a team or a local community;
* understanding the goals of the projects.

You will be an integral part of your project. This is more than a  professional training program or an internship; this is a real life experience, a real eexchange between the volunteer and those involved in the project.

It is important to understand that becoming a long term volunteer means 1) leaving your familiar environment and 2) adopting a new way of life. This means new working methods and eating habits, a different time schedule and the possibility of misunderstandings due to language differences.

A voluntary service at Solidarités Jeunesses?

Workcamps are the main activities that the volunteers will organize within their hosting projects. The physical work varies from camp to camp, but can include things such as renovation, masonry, carpentry, joinery, and painting, all activities aimed at the development of the surrounding area.
Local development is the main goal of these workcamps: renovation of the local heritage (ancient walls,  fountains, etc.) and the reanimation of the cultural heritage (reports and exhibitions aimed at highlighting the importance of cultural identity and heritage). Projects like these help to build good relationships between the volunteers and the local population.

All of the hosting centres are located in rural areas where only very basic services are present. Most of the systems for these services are in need of re-working, and the volunteers will be able to assist in this.
Though the centers are generally very isolated, the presence of 10-20 people on site makes up for this. The group is composed of staff members, international volunteers and young people following social integration programs with whom the volunteers should come prepared to share their daily lives.  There will also be varying levels of contact with the local population through the environmental and cultural activities. 

Throughout their stay, volunteers will be involved in workcamps on a daily basis. When they feel ready to take on more responsibility, they will have the chance to be leaders for the camps.  This will take place primarily during the busy summer season.

Everyone pitches in to help in the daily life of the group both in the activities and in the basic necessities such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc. The project welcomes 12-20 young people from all over the world, and each person will be given the freedom to share their personal culture and pursue personal goals, such as learning a new language or skill, at their own pace.
Our main objective is to have a collective project, to show that even with our differences, we can live together and build something concrete. The nature of the project makes it possible for the personal development of the volunteer to occur, and for them to integrate personal projects into the collective context.

The lodging and food will be provided by the hosting project. Volunteers share a bedroom with four to five other volunteers, and all share in the household tasks (cooking, cleaning, etc.).
No specific experience or skills are required; all that is required is your willingness to be an active participant, your enthusiasm, your spirit to discover and adapt, and your good attitude toward working in a group and learning from and being accepting of others. Volunteers should be motivated and ready to share an interesting and rich experience, one that is sure to be intense!

SOLIDARITÉS JEUNESSES

NOCH FREIE PLÄTZE VON NOVEMBER BIS DEZEMBER!!!

 

 SJOPEN 04 - Vaunières

PROJECT : Vaunieres village is a national and international meeting centre. Our project aims at bringing together people from very different social and cultural backgrounds. Every year, international volunteers, families, handicapped people, youngsters with social disabilities or tourists come during their free time to take part in the restoration of the village, to take a holiday or to organize a specific project (theatre plays, seminars…).

The participation of international volunteers in our project is a unique chance for all the participants to discover new cultures and promote volunteering. For international volunteers, the Vaunieres open workcamp is an original way of discovering our social project. In order to make the most of your stay, we encourage you to stay at least one month. However, you are welcome to join us for a shorter period if you have no other possibilities.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: Our project is situated in a very rural environment. Most of the houses of Vaunieres date back to the 17th century, at a time when pastoral activities were thriving. Since the 1950’s, most of the families had to leave the countryside to find a better paid job in town. However, many people in the villages around work hard to maintain a social and cultural life in their village. The best way to meet with them is to join their local festivals!

GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT: Vaunieres village is situated in the low Alps (alt 1200) and is set in the heart of a splendid circus of mountains. The weather is the one you get in the south of France, it is sunny and dry although it gets quite chilly at night since we are in the mountains.

WORK: In 2010, we will continue the creation of foot paths around the village, restore the roof of one of the buildings and do environmental work in the river along the road that leads to the centre. You will take part in collective life, in the intercultural and musical evening gatherings and in local festivals taking place in the villages roundabout.

THE GROUP: There are up to 8 international volunteers in the lowest part of the season (April-May; September-October) and up 15 international volunteers in the heart of the season (July and August). However, we strongly encourage you to meet with the other residents of the village who come to work and meet with you (families, young people etc.) instead of creating a separate group.

We expect volunteers to be quite autonomous in everyday life as there is no specific life group leader for this workcamp. The permanent staff, including the long term volunteers, is there to support you and help you out and we hope that you will take on responsibilities and become part of our team!

LANGUAGE: Although many people understand English, we hope that you will try some words of French. Most of the people that you will get to meet have not been to University and cannot speak a foreign language!

ACTIVITIES: We hope that you will join our staff in the organisation of activities for all the residents of the village! There is a large range of possibilities to do so (barbecue, thematic evenings, organising a concert, a party etc...). You will also be able to discover and visit the region. Finally, the natural environment is splendid and there are many possibilities of trekking in the mountains, visiting the shepherd up in the mountains etc...

ACCOMODATION: You are usually host in a small dormitory (unless you prefer a tent). However, you may be host in a tent if all our rooms are booked. You will have all necessary sanitary facilities. This is the phone number where you can be called: 0033-4.92.57.20.24. For any extra questions, please contact: villagesdesjeunes@free.fr

POCKET MONEY: We give financial support to volunteers who would like to get involved for a period of more than three months. In this case you get 100€ pocket money from the 1st month.

DON’T FORGET: Rucksack, sleeping bag, a raining coat, warm clothes, working clothes, good shoes, a swimsuit, a torch, your music, energy and documentation or pictures of your country.

TRANSPORT: Only transportation linked to the workcamp or to collective outings will be organised and undertaken by the host organisation.

INSURANCE: Your registration includes civil responsibility and accident insurance. This insurance does not cover illnesses that may arise during your stay.

Europeans please don’t forget your European Insurance Card, available from the health service of your country. It is recommended that you make sure your vaccinations are up to date (especially tetanus).

MEETING POINT: It is better if you can arrive on a Monday, or otherwise another day if the week, not during the week-end. We will come to collect you at the station Lus la Croix Haute, and we will go to Vaunières together. It is essential that you confirm your arrival a few days in advance (mail is the best). When you arrive at the station, please call us on 0033-4.92.58.15.54 to let us know that you are there. Don’t forget to take some change and a telephone card.

 

HOW TO ARRIVE

1° By plane

The airport with the best train connections are: Marseille Marignane, Lyon Saint Exupéry, Paris, Grenoble.

There will be busses between the airports and the train stations. We wouldn’t recommend changing at Nice because connection services to Lus la Croix Haute are not frequent.

2° By train : You need to get to LUS LA CROIX HAUTE . Please check the times at http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

 

 

 

LTVSJ01-La Maison des Bateleurs - (2007-FR-14)

    Being an association of youth and popular education, "La Maison des Bateleurs" is the regional delegation in Poitou-Charentes of the national french movement "Solidarités Jeunesses". It aims to promote peace between people by organising voluntary work and intercultural encounters.

One of our main values is the appreciation of each individual in a group, so one can develop oneself while respecting and being considerate of one's fellow being. It is our wish to build a collective project, in order to demonstrate that we can live together, every participant being provided with a different cultural background, and use our potential in a constructive way. The association believes in values of tolerance and respect, she opposes every form of exclusion et discrimination. The entire of the actions of the association aims to facilitate the encounter of people with diverse horizons,  in order to provide them with the opportunity to contribute to the construction of an open society, where all generations, cultures and nations can live in peace. 
           
     The " Maison des Bateleurs " is situated in the Haute-Saintonge, in the municipality of Montendre, a town with 3200 habitants. Montendre organises differents activities which imply the hosting of young europeans for already 10 years.  Montendre is strongly implicated in the work of the different associations located in the town and is interested by the international dynamic of the "Maison des Bateleurs".

              
    In a rural environment, the most important branch of economic activity is the production of "pineau" and "cognac". Furthermore, green tourism is about to develop recently, due to the proximity of the ocean (70 km). Being relatively hilly, the scenery is enjoyable and wooded by stone pines. The inhabitants of the region are mostly labourers, but the development shows that many employees working in Bordeaux -the 6th biggest city of France- settle in the region.

The arrival in Montendre is quite easy, by car, bus or train. Bordeaux, Angoulême, and Saintes are at the same distance- about 60 km, whereas the seaport La Rochelle is at a distance of 140 km.

During the year 2009, the association decided to orientate her key activity towards environmental and ecological  projects, in order to gain a reputation of a location of alternative and experimental living in terms of sustainability.
In fact the association supports a considerate style of living, in respect of the nature (consumption, economisation of water and energy, conscious food, waste separation...)                                Source : Google

All year long the " Maison des Bateleurs " hosts long term volunteers (VLT), a minimum of four or five VLT so as to assure the continuity of our activities and the cultural mixture of our group. The group consists of french, european and international volunteers from other continents.

The volunteer wants to contribute to the collective life of the house (cooking, washing up, cleaning...) but he also realise practicals activities to learn manual tasks such as masonry and last not least the french language. The motivation of taking responsibility in the functioning of the " Maison des Bateleurs ", and in the carrying out of creative and artistic activities.

Furthermore, the volunteer has the possibility to develop a personal project. It is therefore important that he knows -or learns- to evaluate and appreciate his interests, his goals, his limits and also the means to achieve his personal objectives in the end. This approach is a iterative means of the philosophy of the association: by developing an active citizenship and a distinct sense of responsibility it aims at the concrete construction of peace.

The activities organised with and by the volunteers are generally activities of manual work, artistic activities (painting, theatre...) and activities of local development in partnership with local associations and people of all ages.

The majority of the organised activities take place in the "Maison des Bateleurs", but some also take place in Montendre or neighbouring villages, or in other delegations of "Solidarités Jeunesses".

Typical week:

From Monday to Friday :

07h30-08h00 : Breakfast
08h00-08h30 : Collective cleaning
08h30-10h30 : Work
10h30-10h45 : Break
10h45-13h00 : Work
13h00-14h00 : Lunch
14h30-17h30 : Leisure time or cultural activities
19h30-20h00 : Diner

Saturdays and Sundays will be devoted to the discovery of the region and French culture.
In a general manner, working times are during the morning. They consist in the house's upkeep (carpentry, masonry, joinery) or environmental projects (medicinal and aromatic plants, vegetables gardening, ...). This year, volunteers will work on the building of dry toilets, a greenhouse, a little wind wheel, and a filtration system which cleans water.
Furthermore, a workcamp is organized with the objective of turning the scene of an ancient refugee camp in the town of Montendre into a convivial place with a monument, and of developing an exposition on the history of the place. Another workcamp will work on the renovation of the walls of the castle of Montendre.
The afternoon is devoted to artistic, musical, linguistic or social activities according to the proposals of the inhabitants of the "Maison des Bateleurs" and of its partners and visitors.
Another branch of the association's work is the hosting of groups: for example, the " European Week " (a week of encounters between young Europeans, which deals with a current topic) but social worker trainings and groups of young people in difficulties which need special monitoring and company (social centers, reinforced educative centers, ...).
Moreover we are actively involved in the local development via activities in partnership with the associative network of Montendre. Each inhabitant is asked to work with other associations and local institutions. The "Maison des Bateleurs" also participates regularly in artistic and cultural events like for example the city's carnival.
In spring and in summer, the association organizes about 15 international workcamps with international volunteers all over the region. These workcamps take place in three weeks periods and mostly in a rural environment. It can consist of renovating local patrimony (old wells, ancient bread ovens, ancient fortifications... ); the valorization of cultural heritage (events like reports or exhibitions around historical and cultural themes), environmental projects (renovating the banks of a river or building a nature trail) or artistic animations (e.g. organisation of a festival). One of the basic interests of the workcamps is to weave social links between the participating foreigners provided with completely different cultures and the people living in a rural context with few or no contact with the 'outside' world. For the volunteers hosted by our association, it is also an opportunity to become animators during one of these international summer workcamps.

The volunteer service is an experience for everyone. Our only wishes to new arriving volunteers are :

* His or her motivation and will to help us in our projects
* The recognition and support of our values and the acceptance of the hosting conditions

During his or her volunteering, the volunteer is granted two days of vacation per month, and more if it is really needed and on a decision taken by common agreement.
The associative project of the "Maison Des Bateleurs" gives volunteers the opportunity to learn to exchange and share their culture, to learn new skills and to live in collectivity. It is a way to comprehend democracy.

LTVSJ02 - Centre de Beaumotte

 The Centre de Beaumotte was founded in 1979 and is a non-formal educational association.  It is the regional delegation of Solidarités Jeunesses' in the Franche-Comté region. The aim of our centre is to support people who have fewer opportunities and to encourage them to take responsibility for their own lives.

The project
One of the most important things we do at the centre is to simply participate in the everyday exchange that occurs when people from different social and cultural backgrounds live together. There are about 20 people who live and work at the centre, and 10 more who come to work during the day. The centre hosts teenagers and adults who are facing social and professional problems, and who often have difficulties functioning in society and perhaps do not have support from their family. They live at the centre from 6 months to one year. The exchange between the volunteers and those living at the centre is extremely important, and together we  focus our efforts to realise specific projects around the centre and in neighbouring villages. The residents also participate in seminars covering subject such as alcohol and drug addictions and help with employment or other life skills. The volunteers are welcome to participate in these if they would like, for example to give a presentation about your country. Throughout the year we also organise different social and cultural events, such as concerts, theatrical productions, workshops, and the like. This project requires no specific knowledge or skills. You do not have to be able to speak French but it is important to be aware that not everybody living here can speak English. There is the opportunity to have French lessons while you are here. All long term volunteers receive 105 Euros every month and have 15 days holiday per year.

OUR WORK:

We work approximately 7 hours per day, sometimes we are based in the house, other times we work outside the house. The outside work could be:

* Renovation of the centre (masonry, carpentry, etc.)
* Preservation of the grounds
* Renovation of the local heritage (fountains, ancient wash-houses, etc.)
* Environmental projects (preservation of the river, gardening, etc.)

PLANNING:

After breakfast we all clean the house for 30 minutes. The work day ends around 4.30 pm and we have a morning break and an hour for lunch. Each day 2 or 3 of us work in the kitchen and prepare the meals for the day. Residents and volunteers work together on these tasks.

GROUP LIFE:

Volunteers and residents live together in one part of the house. Our house is very big! The staff and their family live in another section of the house but we all eat and socialise together. It is important for volunteers to take part in the communal life and to try and get to know the residents because we live together as one group. The volunteers share their bedrooms with residents and usually another volunteer; there maybe 2 or 3 people in one bedroom. The rooms are mixed gender so male and female share the same room.

       
As stated above, the daily intercultural exchange is a great way to achieve some of the goals of the project. The lives of both the volunteers and the residents are enriched as they confront their similarities and differences, and this produces some very powerful moments.
 
As can be imagined, it can be difficult to get things running smoothly when you are living with 25 other people. To make things easier and more comfortable for everyone, there are a few rules that must be respected at the centre. The first is that, with the exception of organised special occasions, no alcohol is allowed at the centre.  This is out of respect for residents who have had alcohol problems in the past. Also mobile phones are forbidden in the house. Volunteers are allowed to bring their phones but they will be kept in the office. You can use your phone when you need to but we just ask that you don't use it in the house. There is also a fixed phone that is available to the volunteers (you will need a phone card) and internet is also provided so you can stay connected with family and friends. The final rule is that we expect all those who live at the centre to respect night time quiet hours.

Once a week everybody from the house (and those who come here to work but do not live here) participates in a meeting where we discuss how we feel about our week and plan for the week ahead. There is also a separate meeting every 2 weeks just for the volunteers and here we discuss anything you would like to raise. There is a person here who is responsible for the welfare of the volunteers (Paola) and she also has responsibility regarding the work that the volunteers do here.

The Centre de Beaumotte has been hosting medium and long term volunteers for the past 30 years, and each of them have left their mark. At any given time the centre hosts 8 international volunteers. As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to live a unique life experience, to develop your own projects, to learn French and discover the culture here, and to be a positive influence in the lives of those at the centre. You will work at times with local youths on projects in the surrounding areas. During your time here you will also have the opportunity to lead one or two of Solidarités Jeunesses' international work camps and to participate in events such as training seminars and general assemblies.

Why do we host international volunteers?

* To provide an intercultural exchange and dimension to all of our projects
* To enrich the learning process of the residents by mixing different people.
* To stimulate local development by working in collaboration with the community and local associations. 
* To give young French people the opportunity to be confronted with new ideas and cultures, and to allow the same for the volunteers.

The Social Environment:
The centre is located in a small, rural village where there is not much social activity. This, however, does not mean the volunteers will be either lonely or bored! At any given time there are around 30 people in the centre, with many more passing through.
The Geographical Layout:
The Franche-Comté is a beautiful region well known for its wines, sausages and cheeses. The centre is situated on the edge of a river in the village of Beaumotte (pop. 380), in the countryside of the Haute-Saône. The nearest large towns are Vesoul (25km) and Besançon (30km), though the small town of Rioz rests just 12km away.  Trips into town are organised every week based on the activity schedule. A large garden surrounds our building, and we have an activity room we call "le Bateau". In "le Bateau" we arrange cultural activities with the young residents of the centre, and also organise events that the locals can come and participate in. 

LTVSJ03 - Le Créneau

Created in 1993, the association 'Le Créneau' is the delegation of Solidarités Jeunesses in Auvergne/Rhône-Alpes.
Its objectives are the following:
* To have a meeting and hosting structure where the dominant theme is intercultural exchanges through group life and .
* To help enliven and develop the region by working in cooperation with the local government and education centres (recreation centres, clubs, schools, etc.).
* To support projects sponsored both by our association and the community by organizing international work camps.
* To help people with social and professional difficulties get back on track.

The Créneau keeps it's doors open to everyone. in doing this we hope to enable all types of people to meet and live together, learning from each other in spite of linguistic, social, and economical barriers. We feel that these kinds of exchanges are crucial in fighting prejudices. The Créneau encourages active and responsible citizenship through promoting values such as solidarity, justice, respect and peace.

The project is based out of the Château des Prureaux, in the village of Montcombroux-les-Mines in the centre of France. The nearest towns are those of Vichy (45km, pop. 26,000), Moulins (50km, pop. 22,000) and Roanne (60km, pop. 40,000). Clermont-Ferrand is the nearest city (90km, pop. 250,000).  The château is surrounded by fields and forests, and itself rests on a piece of hedged farmland.  Montcombroux-les-Mines is a small village with around 400 inhabitants, and both the name of the town and the architecture reflect it's mining past. The region is rich in natural and architectural beauty, but marked by an ageing population. With little to no industry, the locals here rely on green tourism, the sale of artisan goods and quality farming dominated by cow breeding. There is little public transportation, and the closest train stations are St. Germain-des-Fossés (35km) and Digoin (25km). The château itself is located in a very isolated spot, 6km form the nearest services. However, the presence of the permanent team and the groups that we host regularly make up for the relative isolation.

The Château des Prureaux is a bourgeois mansions that was built in the 19th century over the foundations of an old farm. In addition to the main building there is a small forest, a farmyard, a vegetable garden, and several smaller buildings that make up a courtyard. Since 1993 the association has been devoted to the restoration, maintenance and revival of the area by promoting the artisan traditions of the region (basketry, bread making, etc.) and other local actions and organizing international work camps that host volunteers from all origins.

There are some rules that the members of the association, the volunteers, and all hosted groups are asked to live by, namely the schedule, the sharing of daily responsibilities (cooking, cleaning, etc.), break making, ecological awareness, and the fight against all forms of waste.

The association is made up of two permanent staff members, around 15 active members, a number of individual and collective partners, and the French and foreign volunteers who frequent the centre regularly.  In addition to this, Le Créneau is a member of several local associations, and as a result volunteers have the opportunity to participate in many local events such as La Zoreille Festival with the General Council, the association forum, environmental days, and the like. The volunteers are also encouraged to participate in international work camps that are organized each year (12 in 2006), either as a volunteer or a leader.  This is an excellent way for them to meet local youth, and for the youth to gain a knowledge of the possibilities that await them at Le Créneau.

The work :

1) The main part of the work consists in restoring the buildings and keeping them in a good state, as well as laying out the gardens, farmyard, etc.

2) Throughout the year groups of people will join us at the Château, many of them with social difficulties. Volunteers will help in planning activities, workshops, etc. according to their personal
   interests.

3) Other opportunities may include organizing workshops in the schools, participating in and/or
   leading an international summer work camp, gardening, and promoting the association through   
   local events.

4)Individual project :
We strongly believe that is important for the volunteer to implement, during his/her voluntary service, one or several personal ideas in accordance with the values and the project of the association. We think voluntary should also be an opportunity to reflect, to experiment and to take initiatives. Time is set aside each week in order to allow to the volunteers to dedicate themselves to their personal projects.

The collective life :
The volunteer will participate in the group life, together with the staff, the official members and the guests.

His/her accommodation will be in a shared house close to the mansion, and he/she will contribute:
* to the general renovation: masonry, painting, maintenance;
* to the daily tasks: cooking, cleaning, shopping, bread making;
* to the general organisation: weekly meeting, host and transportation of the guests;
* to the activities implemented: video projections, debates, games, happenings, trainings.
The volunteer will work an average of 30 hours per week and will take his/her free time in accordance with his tutor and the needs of the association. We do not have any specific criteria of selection. We want to offer an opportunity to share in the experience here to all kinds of people, regardless of their age, their social origin, their level of French language, or their skills.

We just ask that the volunteer :
* to participate to the whole project, which will at times include evenings and weekends;
* to have the willingness to join other people, share impressions and ideas and to live a sometimes hard but very rich collective experience for several months;
* to note that Le Créneau is situated in a very remote place, in the middle of the countryside, without any public transport.

Villages des jeunes

Village des jeunes is the Solidarités Jeunesses local office in the Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur, in the south-east part in France.
It is located in the Hautes Alpes region, between Grenoble (80 km) and Gap (45 km), 12 km away from a small town called Veynes.
There are three different centers: Le Faï, les Crots et Vaunière.
These structures are all in isolated areas where you will have the opportunity to be very close to nature. Modern technology should not make us forget that recycling, management of water use, and the maintenance of our natural heritage are integral parts our daily life and our prospects for the future.

LTVSJ05 - Le Faï

The association Village des Jeunes, the regional delegation of Solidarités Jeunesse in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, is an informal education association recognized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Through its actions, the Villages des Jeunes aims to promote :

> The voluntary participation of everyone, especially the youth and the underprivileged, in local, national and international life.
> Local development that keep in mind individuals, the environment and cultural heritage.
> Communication between people from different countries and different generations.
> The concrete construction of peace.

Toward this aim, the association organises short and long-term international programmes, integration actions, trainings, international solidarity actions, and manages three hosting structures in rural environments, including the farm called le Faï. Le Faï is a old farm, located 3 km from the village of Saix (80 inhabitants), in a rural area with a declining population.

Collaborating closely with the SIVU (Dedicated Inter Community Union) of the villages of Saix and of Saint Auban d'Oze and the local authorities , the association promotes actions in the above areas that foster activities in the following areas:

 Local action: By transforming the farm into a hosting centre and international meeting place, by youth projects in nearby villages to promote local projects, and by social utility actions such as rehabilitation courses for the long-term unemployed, retreats for adults and adolescents, hosting of families, groups and handicapped persons.
 
 Cultural action: The geographic situation of the farm at the foot of a natural circus led to an acoustic project unique in its kind, using speakers to transform the cliff into a genuine natural organ. Here we hold many cultural gatherings, and we also help to organize events in the surrounding region.

Environmental action: Located in a sensitive natural area, the different installations of the farm are also didactic tools. They can make the public aware of the protection of nature (sorting the garbage, dry toilettes, reflection over renewable energies).

Throughout the year, the farm is managed by two permanent employees and a team of volunteers (4 persons including two EVS) who help implement the project. The association also includes 15 administrators and about thirty volunteers who come to help in the organisation of the different activities on a regular basis.

Permanents, volunteers, administrators and hosted public are all responsible for the daily life in the camp,  and to  ensure that the rules are respected. This means that everybody takes part in the maintenance, upkeep, cleaning and cooking. Volunteers who wish may also attend board meetings.

The association les Villages des Jeunes aims at welcoming different types of people, especially the young and the underprivileged. As the association evolves, the continued presence of volunteers of all nationalities, along with the presence of French people from different social backgrounds has become essential to the association. It ensures an intercultural exchange which is the foundation of our association, and represents an important lever for our local development actions.

The objectives which lead us to welcome EVS volunteers are the following :
* Enriching our actions and starting new ones;
* Promoting peace by confronting different ideas;
* Proposing a real intercultural exchange to the hosted public;
* Fighting deep-rooted prejudices in the local population, through actions developed externally;
* Giving the hosted volunteers the opportunity not only to give but also to be on the receiving end of exchange as they meet the local population.

The volunteers will participate in the following activities :
* The project/work camps: This category describes the ongoing work that occurs at the farm. It is the area in which education takes place, and where people can exchange through work. It concerns environmental projects (cleaning rivers, clearing brushwood), cultural heritage projects (working on a old Chalaisienne abbey), restoring and improving projects of buildings in villages or in the farm.
In agreement with the paid staff, the volunteers who want to may become pedagogic activity leaders on these projects.
* Hosting: The ferme du Faï has space to welcome groups, families and individuals who are on holiday and/or desire to participate in projects. The volunteers will be encouraged to participate in leading these activities (cooking, organising cultural nights, games, hikes in the mountains).
* Cultural activities: We strongly encourage the volunteers to join our team in organizing the cultural activities which take place in the farm or in the nearby villages. Examples could be music festivals, farmers markets, parties around a traditional baker's oven, shows, etc.

Personal projects are seen as a way to reflection, discovery and personal enrichment for the volunteers, and to this end, after an initial period of settling in, the volunteer will have the chance to carry out one or more individual or collective projects that go along with the goals of the overall project.

French lessons can be arranged according to interest.

To take part in this project, the volunteer must:
* have a genuine interest in the proposed activities;
* be willing to live in a group for several months;
* be aware that the ferme du Faï is located on a mountain in a very isolated place.

LTVSJ06 - Vaunières

The association Village des Jeunes, the regional delegation of Solidarités Jeunesse in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, is an informal education association recognized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Through its actions, the Villages des Jeunes aims to promote :

> The voluntary participation of everyone, especially the youth and the underprivileged, in local, national and international life.
> Local development that keep in mind individuals, the environment and cultural heritage.
> Communication between people from different countries and different generations.
> The concrete construction of peace.

Toward this aim, the association organises short and long-term international programmes, integration actions, trainings, international solidarity actions, and manages three hosting structures in rural environments, including the hamlet of Vaunières.

In the early 1960s, Vaunières was an abandoned village. Thanks to a renovation project and international youth work camps, the hamlet has become an national and international meeting centre. Vaunières is situated 7 km from the village of Saint Julien en Beauchêne at the bottom of a valley in the Alps, at an altitude of 1,200 m. The hamlet is made up of 6 buildings on 80 ha, which allows us to accommodate up to 150 people at a given time.

Collaborating closely with the community of Saint Julien en Beauchêne and the local authorities, the association promotes actions in these areas that foster activities in the following areas:
 
 Fighting social exclusion: The goal is to have a hosting and meeting centre for people of different social and cultural backgrounds. Vaunières is for many an important passage in their lifetime, a place where citizenship is learned and demonstrated. The centre welcomes many people who are marginalized and in difficult situations, enabling these people to participate in day-to-day life, to maintain and renovate the centre, giving them the possibility to have a role in other people's lives. Toward this end, every year, the village welcomes many groups, families, young people in difficult situations, isolated people, international volunteers and hikers who come to participate in the life of the hamlet for various periods.
 
 Cultural action : Thanks to the presence of international volunteers and to the many residents, Vaunières is the ideal place for organising cultural gatherings, artistic projects, concerts, balls, shows, and country parties attended by people from the villages nearby.
 
 Acting on the local environment : The renovation and maintenance of the site is ongoing, and is the means by which hosted people are led to meet each other and carry out something useful. In 2005, Vaunières began to organize and host international work camps in the surrounding villages in order to support local projects. The revival of this hamlet and the special care given to its maintenance protect the area both from an environmental point of view and from the standpoint of the architectural heritage.
 
Throughout the year, the hamlet of Vaunières is managed by three permanent employees and a team of volunteers (5 persons including two EVS) who help implement the project. The association also includes 15 administrators and about thirty volunteers who come to help in the organisation of the different activities on a regular basis.

Permanents, volunteers, administrators and hosted public are all responsible for the daily life in the camp,  and to  ensure that the rules are respected. This means that everybody takes part in the maintenance, upkeep, cleaning and cooking. Volunteers who wish may also attend board meetings.

The association les Villages des Jeunes aims at welcoming different types of people, especially the young and the underprivileged. As the association evolves, the continued presence of volunteers of all nationalities, along with the presence of French people from different social backgrounds has become essential to the association. It ensures an intercultural exchange which is the foundation of our association, and represents an important lever for our local development actions.

The objectives which lead us to welcome EVS volunteers are the following :
* Enhancing current actions and starting new ones;
* Promoting peace by confronting different ideas;
* Proposing a real intercultural exchange to the hosted public;
* Fighting deep-rooted prejudices in the local population through our actions;
* Giving the hosted volunteers the opportunity not only to give but also to be on the receiving end of exchange as they meet the local population.

The EVS volunteers will participate in the following activities:
* The project/work camps: This category describes the ongoing work that occurs at the farm. It is the area in which education takes place, and where people can exchange through work. It concerns environmental projects (cleaning rivers, clearing brushwood), cultural heritage projects (working on a old Chalaisienne abbey), restoring and improving projects of buildings in villages or in the farm.
In agreement with the paid staff, the volunteers who want to may become pedagogic activity leaders on these projects.

* Hosting: The hamlet of Vaunières has space to welcome groups, families and individuals who are on holiday and/or desire to participate in projects. The volunteers will be encouraged to participate in leading these activities (cooking, organising cultural nights, games, hikes in the mountain).
* Cultural activities: We strongly encourage the volunteers to join our team in designing and organising cultural activities which  take place in Vaunières or in the nearby villages. The team of the hamlet has put specific tools in place which will enable the volunteers to appropriate this aspect of life on the site.

Personal projects are seen as a way to reflection, discovery and personal enrichment for the volunteers, and to this end, after an initial period of settling in, the volunteer will have the chance to carry out one or more individual or collective projects that go along with the goals of the overall project.

French lessons can be arranged according to interest.

To take part in this project, the volunteer must:

* have a genuine interest in the proposed activities;
* be willing to live in a group for several months;
* be aware that the hamlet of Vaunières is located on a mountain in a very isolated place.

LTVSJ07 - Réseau d'Entraide Volontaire REV (2007-FR-220)

SOLIDARITES JEUNESSES LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON

Description and geographic situation of the centre :
The house in located in the centre of the village of Beauvoisin (pop. 3000), 15 km from Nimes and 40 km from Montpellier. A bus runs between Beauvoisin and Nimes 3 times per day. The sea is just 35 km away, and the surrounding areas are very rich and diverse, offering visitors the chance to see the plains of Camargue, the mountains of Cevennes, the Mediterranean Sea, vineyards, olive groves, natural reserves and local monuments.
The house is currently being renovated. It has 12 rooms:  A large garage, an office, 5 bedrooms, 2 showers, 2 toiletts, a kitchen, a dining room and a living room.

Description of the activities:

The hosting of LTVs:
The group of Long Term Volunteers is made up of 8 individuals who begin their projects mid-September and finish at the end of August each year. They work on renovation site around 30 hours per week. They learn French, participate in cultural activities, and use their talents to enhance the project.
LTVs are lodges in the village house, and they manage their daily life amongst themselves (cooking, cleaning, budget, activities, etc.), with the help of the permanent staff and the elected officials of the association which live in the vicinity.
They are here:
 - To give another point of view of the world to those working toward integration
- To bring a dynamic of animation in and with the village (intervention in the schools, participation in local events, organization of intercultural evenings with topic, etc.)
 - To discover the area, in all its facets (cultural, tourist, culinary, etc.)
- To live autonomously and responsibly in a serene environment
- To invest themselves in the project, and to enrich it.

The short term work camp:
The Association organizes between 15 and 20 work camps per season, from May to December. A work camp brings together ten young international volunteers over a period of 3 weeks who work together to complete a project. Work is generally 30 hours per week, and is aimed at local development. The volunteers organize everything with the help of a leader, including daily needs of the group, meetings and exchanges with the locals, and outings to discover the area.

The reception of people with less opportunity: A place in each short term work camp is reserved that we may host an international volunteer "in difficulty". These volunteers are not labelled in the project, and participate the same as everyone else. Great care is taken at the regional, national and international levels to insure the volunteer has a good experience.  The same is true in the area of long term volunteers, the difference being that as an LTV these volunteers are hosted for up to 3 months.

A project in  the sustainable  development:
The association look for a place to build a hosting center with the carachteristic of the sustainable  development (construction or renovation with ecological materials, renewable energies, batiment low consumption) and to develop activities of hosting, training courses and reflections around the education to the environment and around the education to the peace.

Description of the carriers of project
Regional delegate: develops the projects and the actions in the area with the other staff members in accordance with the national movement.
Manager " short term work camps"
Manager " long term voonteers"

LTVSJ08  -  Vir'Volt (2009-FR-49)

Vir'Volt is one of the regional delegations of the movement Solidarités Jeunesses. Vir'volt stands up for the same values as the national movement. Defending peace aims at the international and national level, our local project is meant to develop similar activities .

To reach those goals, the movement is implementing the following activities :
- Organizing international workcamps (long and short term) in cooperation with the local communities or partner organizations
- Hosting different groups (schools, community centers but also offering free leisure for different kinds of groups).
- Organizing trainings and seminars but also supports activities for members of our organization
- Sending volunteers on international workcamps but also to short or long term projects or trainings and seminars.
- Supporting local projects
- Organizing and participating to activities on social, economical and working integration involving participants with less opportunities.
- Organizing(training sessions for volunteers (France and abroad) with less opportunities.

How was the Ile de France delegation created?
In 1995, a group of friends involved as volunteers in Solidarités Jeunesses at a national level has decided to create a delegation in Ile de France.
At first, this group wanted to develop the dynamics of the international volunteer workcamps. It was also the opportunity to work with new partners on organizing activities mixing volunteer work, international mobility and insertion for people with less opportunities.
Today, Vir'Volt, the delegation of Solidarités Jeunesses Ile de France, organizes about 10 international workcamps in 5 different departments of the Ile de France region.
Vir'Volt has developed the AMJ project. With the support of the region Ile de France and local partners, our organization has sent about 50 young people from undeserved districts to international workcamps in France and abroad every year.
At a local level,Vir'volt implement local projects in La Ferté sous Jouarre where the offices are located.

Project environment:

The volunteer will integrate the team of Vir'Volt, regional delegation of Solidarités Jeunesses Ile de France. The staff of Vir'Volt has 4 employees. We host regularly interns and long-term volunteers (civil service, OFAJ, ...). 8 people are on the board, some living in La Ferté, some other in other areas of the regions but they're meeting regularly at La Ferté.
The headquarter is at La Ferté sous Jouarre in the North of the Seine et Marne district. La Ferté sous Jouarre has 9 500 inhabitants and is at 45 minutes by train from Paris and 15 minutes from Meaux and also close to the Champagne region. The town has one swimming pool, a public library, many associations and is on the bank of the Seine which allow to do many activities.
Vir'Volt is involved with many organizations in the local community and the volunteer will meet and work with other organizations of the region. We especially work a lot with social (Germinal), cultural (Studio CREAM, Amitiés sans frontières), sport (boxing club, Sport Loisirs Fertois) associations and with schools.

The volunteer will be hosted at the site of Vir'Volt and will live with other volunteers. The site has a bathroom, a kitchen and a shared bedroom fit to host volunteers. Staff will be available to talk with the volunteers to be sure the volunteers will be able to gain all the benefits of his/her volunteer experience in a collective housing. The collective aspect is an important part of the project. The rules of the house will be discussed with the volunteers.
Vir'Volt will be hosting 3 to 5 long term volunteers.

Proposed activities for volunteers:

Through their involvement in local activities, the volunteers will be able to get a sense of responsibility, to get involved actively in the local community and to think when they return to their country, about new ways of becoming active citizens in their every day life.
We believe that volunteers, by running projects and activities in Vir'Volt, will learn to be more responsible, and to take initiatives, which will be useful in their social and professional life.
For the short-term and long-term volunteers hosting a weekly evaluation will be organized with the group to give feed back about the projects and the collective life.
Times will be organized for trainings and discussions but also to assess motivations of the volunteers, objectives and results of the activities. The volunteer will be able to request individual evaluations whenever he/she wants. Volunteers of the association (especially board members) take an active part in the implementation and support of the project. As a result, they will be involved in the support of the volunteers.
During the national events, the volunteers will be able to discover the French territory and will have a better understanding of French association's life especially the Solidarités Jeunesses project.
Many organizations have been created by volunteers when they return in their country, others have become project leaders in partner organizations
Vir'volt implements several projects in the social, cultural and integration fields. As for an organization based on people's education, it is highly important that they should work on projects with people coming from different cultural backgrounds.
In this framework, volunteers bring the very necessary intercultural touch to our projects. In all our actions, they help us to keep an intercultural distance, to work on our prejudice, to cross our looks and views on the world.
Thanks to their status and commitment, the volunteers bring along deep thinking about each one's responsibility and about one's involvement as a person and as a citizen. In every action, they draw people's attention about voluntary work and promote it.
They are the stamina of our organization and they keep us aware.
They make proposals, they have their external point of view and they ceaselessly question our project, to make it progress and get better.
Local community :

Pre-qualification activity (starts in April and last 6 months) : this action based on mobility and will alternate workcamp activities and training activities will host about 10 people in difficult situations. The volunteers will take part in the workcamp with the participants. They will also take part to some training activities as well and will talk about their country and what it is to be volunteer. Because of their presence, they will guarantee a social mixture in the group. By working in the workcamp, they will get more responsible. For the volunteers, this is a real learning opportunity as a mixed-social group and intercultural experience.
N.B. : on this activity, the volunteers will never be responsible for the activity. This project will be lead by 2 staff members.

Permanent workcamp (all year long) : it will be organized in the town of La Ferté sous Jouarre. Different sites are scheduled in the town. The technical aspects can be wall building, restoration of social apartments, gardening.
The site where the organization is needs also some restoration and will be part of the permanent workcamp. There are some work in the garden which adds value to our project and group many people. This is also a site where initiatives can rise (one volunteer is actually organizing a project on painting walls).

Moreover, to promote our project based on sustainable development and respect of the environment, the volunteers will maintain and develop the vegetable garden. This garden is considered as a tool to raise awareness on ecological issues. We use this garden to work with children and with groups coming to the structure.
Because of the partnership with the town, Vir'Volt is participating to events of the town and the volunteers will get involved in the following projects : " Fête de la Musique ", Ferté-plage, festival " les mains bleues " (street art festival), public debate on actual issues (we developed this activity with a partner organization " Matière Prise "). We're working also on an exhibition about the " meulière rock " (interviews of older generations, etc...)

We will be able to host groups soon as the organization will be in charge to run a park (before it was a camping site). These groups will come from different backgrounds : youth groups, community centers, ... We plan to offer cheap accommodation, close to Paris, but " in the green ". The groups will be able to participate to the daily activities : (workcamp, garden, cooking, cultural visits...) and also benefit of the local sports organizations Organizations are regularly asking for these type of projects. The volunteers will work with these groups.

Frequent interventions in junior high and high schools of the area : language courses. The volunteers are able to attend the French classes in these schools. Usually, it's about one day per week.
Regional activities:
International volunteers will be offered the chance to be an activity leader at work camps for young international volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for the daily life of the group during the summer camp. As described above, they will have undergone training as activity leaders in May. This experience is in many cases a chance for volunteers to pass on the skills acquired during their volunteer experience. It is certainly a very rich experience in terms of responsibility and initiative.
Our association, due to its regional spread, is often asked to promote volunteering in various salons, forums and meetings dealing with youth, and organized by General Councils, the Region and municipalities. Our volunteers lend a more dynamic character to our interventions. It is an opportunity for them to become aware of other initiatives and to better understand the context of the French system, as well as to report on their own experiences.

LTVSJ09  -  CITRUS (2009-Fr-75)

Created in 2003, the association CITRUS, represents the project of Solidarités Jeunesses in Midi-Pyrénées. Solidarités Jeunesses consists of seven local associations in rural areas with their own structures of reception and animation. Solidarités Jeunesses organises international workcamps, activities of insertion, trainings, actions of international solidarity, awareness-raising activities in citizenship and the voluntary service, in the international mobility...

Ambitions
The association CITRUS aims to :
* Support local projects within municipalities and/or within associations by the mobilisation of young volunteers, particularly by organising international workcamps;
* encourage animation in the local development of the region by working in co-operation with regional and local authorities, with structures of animation and education (associations, schools etc.);
* encourage everyone to participate in the local life and the actions in favour of an active and responsible citizenship;
* contribute to the sustainable development of the region by awareness-raising activities in the protection of the environment;
* mobilise and accompany persons who are in difficulties to be socially and professionally included.

Actions
The main activities of the association CITRUS are the organisation of workcamps with international volunteers, the organisation of workshops raising awareness of the environment, and the promotion of  volunteering.
    The workcamp consists of a group of around  fifteen young people involved in the realisation of a concrete work of public interest. The implemented works concerns three domains:
*  Restoration of heritage : renovation of washhouses, reconstruction of dry stone walls...
*  Transmission of the cultural heritage : working on the memory of sites or historic events, participation at the organization of festivals...
*  Exploitation of the natural heritage : arrangement of municipal gardens, hiking trails ...

The reception of young international volunteers in small rural areas allows the facilitation of local dynamics, by suggesting everyone can be involved in collective actions.

    In the frame of the activities, a collective garden with social and educational uses was set up in the municipality of Septfonds, where the association CITRUS has been since 2008. This garden, situated in the heart of a village with 1800 inhabitants, is equipped to receive different kind of people who come there to learn, try or exchange about gardening. This place allows a raising awareness of the natural heritage, trough running workshops which aim to promote a respectful attitude towards the environment (compost, toilet sandbanks, recovery of rain water, etc.) The garden is also a place of permanent exchange for the inhabitants and it is the centre of social links between the generations (children, young people, old people.)

Finally, the association CITRUS participates regularly in forums and information days in the region and the department, especially for youth (in secondary schools, universities, festivals etc.) in order to promote European and international voluntary service, and workcamps. To mobilise the local population, the association regularly organises cultural events : concerts, dancing evenings, thematic meetings, workshops of discovery... During the year, the association would like to develop these type of events (around subjects as citizenship, Europe, sustainable development, etc.) with the cooperation of the volunteers.

Members
    Since its creation, the association CITRUS has hosted approximately 400 volunteers on international workcamps, and bring together about forty members today. Around ten active members regularly take part in the association activities (organisation of events, follow-up and participation in workcamps, meetings, forums). These volunteers have diverse backgrounds. This mix of different people creates a rich and interesting dynamic.
    Currently, the team of permanent employees consists of the following :
- a regional delegate, who is responsible for the structure, organisation and co-ordination of the international workcamps and collaboration with the national association Solidarites Jeunesses;
- a responsible for the " collective garden " and the association activities : animation of the workshops, collaboration with local partners;
- a person in charge of the project " reception of the long term volunteers " and communication : monitoring and further follow-up of the volunteers, collaboration with regional partners;

    The association CITRUS works regularly with international and French volunteers within the framework of short term workcamps, people who are in the process of reintegration, composed groups, and inhabitants of the municipalities of all generations.

Project's surrounding : profile of the organisation and the local municipality

Local surrounding
    Situated around Quercy, the calcareous trays shape the landscape, which consists of numerous beech and oak, groves and rivers (Gorges de l'Aveyron). The local architectural heritage is characterised by typical medieval buildings (les Bastides) and the utilisation of natural materials, such as stones and earth. The diversified landscape and the lot of natural and historical places characterise the region, where agriculture and green tourism are the main activities. Hence, the possibilities for the young population concerning work and cultural activities are often seasonal (basically in summer). The presence of young  volunteers and the existence of projects allows the proposal of activities during the whole year, represents an important stake for the local dynamic.

        Reception for the project is in Laguépie, a small village with 730 inhabitants, in the region "Pays Midi-Quercy", situated in a rural and isolated area, about hundred kilometres north-eastern of Toulouse. This territory of Occitan traditions is covered by an associative net, which organises social and cultural activities, in an environment marked by weak economic activities and the ageing of the population. Laguépie is at 35 minutes by car from Septfonds (head office of the association Citrus), and it is about thirty kilometres from the towns of Albi (50 000 inhabitants), Gaillac (12 000 inhabitants), and Villefranche-de-Rouergue (12 000 inhabitants), and also about 70 km from the city of Montauban (55 000 inhabitants).

Formalities of reception
    The association CITRUS wishes to welcome a group of international volunteers during the whole year in a common place of life, in order to facilitate the meeting and the multiplicity of exchanges. The volunteers will be accommodated in collective housing, in a big house in the centre of the village, which is provided by the municipality. All the hosted people participate in the tasks of daily life and are requested to respect the collectively established rules of life - schedules, sharing out daily tasks, etc - everything that concerns the intercultural exchange.
    The association CITRUS makes a commitment to facilitate communication for the volunteers by assuring a regular and free access to Internet, also by opening a telephone line in order to receive calls at the hosting place, and by looking out for possibilities of transportation according to needs (bicycles, minibus, public transport possibilities by bus in the local area, and train station in Laguépie : one hour by train from Toulouse).

Proposed activities for the volunteers
Volunteers will work 30 to 35 hours per week and take their holidays in consultation with the team, according to the season and needs of the association. Two half days per week are given to the conception and realisation of a personal project and language support. By participating in workshops and meetings organised by the association, volunteers are actively involved in the associative life, contribute to the general organization of the implemented activities, and can propose their own ideas.

The activities
The hosted volunteers are welcomed in the heart of our structure and will participate in two sectors which are part of our activities: workcamps and local animation.
    1. Workcamp
    Participating in workcamps will be the main activity of the volunteers. This includes renewing and reconstructing the place : an old farm and its buildings, which is called "La Mayounelle", in order to create a centre of reception and intercultural meeting, as well as the restoration of the small buildings in the surrounding municipalities. The work is undertaken in a team, and managed under the responsibility of a qualified leader.
    The association endeavours to transmit the traditional manual know-how, which is the link between the generations. The methods of construction and restoration are realised within the objective of using local materials and the traditional techniques (dry stones, cherts etc.). The environmental quality is another important aspect of the project, which  the association CITRUS wishes to promote by choosing ecological elements.  An example would be the landscaping and the maintenance of green places or a kitchen garden are part of the activities program. It can also mean the installation of tools to reduce energy consumption (solar showers, baker's oven, etc.) or to use ecological materials for construction.
    Long term volunteers may become pedagogical leaders of workcamps during the summer in other villages of the region, under the support of the team of employees. Every year, a collective training of one week is organised by Solidarités Jeunesses to enable them to acquire the necessary skills to function as workcamp leader. They can also invest themselves in the preparation of workcamps (prenegotiation meetings, logistic support, establishment of tools, selection of the location etc.)
   
    2. Local animation
    The volunteers will participate regularly in activities of local animation, in cultural events or in activities with educational character in partnership with the municipalities, institutions and the local associations. The association supports for example the local schools to set up workshops regarding the environment, within the framework of the project of the collective garden. During the international workcamps, discovery workshops with cultural or linguistic themes are organised. In these activities, the international volunteers bring an intercultural dimension, which is highly appreciated by teachers and public schools.
    Substantive work has begun to build relationships with people, municipalities, associations and other structures to facilitate the installation of new projects. The hosted  volunteers will be encouraged to imagine and realise activities of local animation, which engage the intercultural dialogue.
    3. Intercultural dimension
    The aim of our work is to build a social Europe in terms of peace, respect and tolerance. Therefore we encourage meetings and exchanges of others who have different social, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. Volunteers might be asked to work with people with fewer opportunities, within the role of providing an international and cultural exchange. For example adults who are in situations of reintegration may be present on the workcamps. The meeting and the achievement of a common work, with the involvement of both, international volunteers as well as disadvantaged or less mobile persons, is an excellent way to achieve this aim.
    Our fields of action relate to cultural, social and environmental issues and for which we encourage citizen participation. Our actions intend to promote solidarity, tolerance, openness and multiculturalism.

Support during the voluntary service
    Long Term volunteers will be an integral part of the association's team. Each week they will participate to the meetings and the preparation of activities. The association's members will facilitate the integration of volunteers in the local community by offering to participate in a multitude of activities and meetings.
        To encourage the initiative and independence of long term volunteers, lessons in French will be given once a week by the permanent and volunteers members of the association. In fact, dialogues with storekeepers, inhabitants and partners are often in French, and are the best way to learn this language.
        After getting to know the actions which are conducted by the association, volunteers will develop one or more personal projects, which can be individual or collective, insofar as it will be in line with the project of the association. Volunteers will be encouraged to imagine and organise actions which involve the local environment - depending on their interests and how they want to contribute to the project. Examples for possible actions are the organisation of debate evenings, an art exhibition, the construction of a solar oven, offering dance workshops, etc.
        The volunteers will be monitored by a tutor, responsible for welcoming volunteers, whose role is to facilitate their integration, promote adoption of their own project, and assist them in achieving personal project(s). If necessary, other members of the association may provide support.

    We expect that the volunteer has a good understanding of the global project, and that he or she wants to be part of  the group dynamic of and the collective life. We consider volunteering as an act of exchange between a volunteer, who offers his or her time,  work, and energy for the benefit of a project of common interest and a host community that offers the volunteer a field of learning, testing and personal development. We ask that volunteers are motivated, open minded and ready to make concessions in order to work as a team and live with other people very different.

If
you have come to help me,
you are wasting your time.

But if
you have come
because you think
that your liberation
is linked to mine,

Then,
let us work together.

(Lisa Watson, Australian aborigine)