ITALIE  2008

Legambiente

+ 18 ans
Quelques projets pour les 15-17 ans 

WHO ARE WE?  

Legambiente is a leading environmental organisation in Italy formed by 20 regional committees and more than 2000 local groups. Legambiente runs national and international campaigns aimed at reducing traffic and air pollution, pesticides use, or proposing new energy policy, enhancing use of renewable sources, energy efficiency and conservation etc.
We have been organising a voluntary campaign for 16 years, promoting summer-camps in many protected areas both in Italy and abroad, with the aim of  raising public awareness on environmental issues such as forest-fire or habitat degradation, collecting information on natural resources, promoting green tourism, developing sustainable economy, helping people to be active for the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage.
International work camps, promoted by Legambiente, are part of the associations’ main campaigns and volunteers activities contribute to achieve the goals of each campaign.
The common aim of environmental work camps is to improve areas with a distinctive naturalistic and cultural feature and to help solving environmental emergencies of our country. The main activities volunteers carry out are related to paths maintenance or beaches and protected areas cleaning; furthermore, volunteers collaborate in fire prevention or raising awareness on environmental issues.
Some work camps are organized within the campaign “Carovana dell Alpi” (Caravan of Alps). This annual campaign, which was first organised in 2002, photographs the alpine system in detail, reports cases of environmental decay and evaluates experiences of sustainable development and ecological re-conversion of the economy. It also proposes the consolidation of the system of nature protected areas.
The aims of “Salvalarte”, carried out by volunteers, are to awake public opinion, promote the reclaim and restoration of monuments and art works that have been abandoned to decay.
Legambiente also gives the opportunity to discover small villages and local traditions of Italy , protected and promoted by “Piccola Grande Italia” (Small Big Italy) campaign, which aims to increase the value of our great heritage – environment, cultural property, local typical products and traditions – cherished in small Italian towns, the irreplaceable defence grounds of the Italian identity. The campaign has already involved 500 towns with less than 5 thousands inhabitants, mountain and provincial communities.

 WORKCAMPS ACCORDING TO LEGAMBIENTE

Period: Italian international workcamps last from 10 to 20 days, but mostly 15 days. All participants are expected to arrive on the first and to leave on the last day.

Number of participants: between 8 e 20 volunteers.

Age and composition of the group: Minimum age limits is 18yo (except teenage camps) and there is no maximum age. More than half of participants are between 21yo and 35yo; 1 out of 10 is older than 40yo. International participants are usually younger; women are the majority (more than 60%). Participants between 15yo and 17yo can join only teenager work camps;  parents and children (between 4yo  and 10yo) can only join family work camps. People over 50 years old, can also take part to “senior volunteers” specific project.

Aims:  voluntary work camps have 2 main objectives:
- to promote a cultural exchange through a common experience of voluntary service.
- to realize an environmental project, in order to protect the Italian environment and historic, cultural and artistic heritage .

Daily organization: every work camp can be different according to needs.
Way of working can be organized in many different ways and volunteers usually work from 4 to 8 hourse
Sometimes can be necessary to work during weekend or very early in the morning (due to hot weather).
Volunteers are requested to be flexible and adaptable to situations. Furthermore it is necessary to react in a positive way to unexpected events or lacks, and to try to be always open-minded and constructive.
If not specified, special skills are not required, but participation, enthusiasm and motivation are welcome!

Accommodation: school, public buildings, tents, hostels or dormitory. Beds and mats are usually provided. Usually volunteers sleep in mixed rooms. It never happens to have single or double-bed rooms!!!  Shifts for cooking and cleaning are decided during the first day. Every volunteer is responsible for every aspects of the daily life. Animals are not allowed, because other participant could be allergic or they could interfere with local flora an fauna.

Language: language spoken by volunteers and camp leaders is English. In international work camp there are maximum 2 volunteers for each country, in order to create an heterogeneous group.

Economy: local hosting association provide food, accommodation and transports needed. Volunteers are covered by an insurance against accidents and third party liability.

Evaluation: last day of the camp participants and camp leaders meet for a final evaluation.

Access for all: some work camps are accessible to disadvantaged volunteers. To choose the right camp it is better to contact Legambiente voluntary department.

LES CHANTIERS  2008

Leg78  Bosio (Al)         Piemonte                    19/8-30/8 ENVI    
Project: this work camp will take place near the Benedicta Sanctuary, a place surrounded by the “Capanne Marcarolo” regional park. The massive Tobbio mountain overlooks this extremely interesting area, characterized by watercourses and wetlands. This work camp is organized by Legambiente local groups together with the Park authority. Volunteers will help improving the area, cleaning and doing small manual work. Nice excursions will be organised. Work: environmental maintenance Accommodation: mountain shelter Location: Bosio, Alessandria, Piemonte Terminal: Turin international airport

Leg79  Agira (En)        Sicily   20/8-30/8          ENVI       
Project: Agira is an ancient town located in the heart of the Vallone Piano della Corte natural reserve. The most flourish period of Agira was during the Arabic domain, which inspired the city centre architecture. A typical Sicilian vegetation can be found in this valley where it is also possible to find many different animals such as foxes, weasels, barn owls and porcupines. In this wonderful place volunteers will work on paths maintenance and cleaning, removing bushes and weeds from a very thick wood. Work: maintenance and cleaning Location: Agira, Enna , Sicily Accommodation: school Terminal: Catania or Palermo international airports

Leg80  Schio (Vi)    Veneto     20/8-3/9            ENVI          
Project: Schio is the main city around Vicenza , surrounded by pre alpine hills with a peculiar amphitheatre shape. Traces from the Neolithic age shows the ancient presence of land settlement, which benefited from this environment rich of clear water, wool and minerals, which gave local people the opportunity to start an economy based on crafts activities. Volunteers will work on paths maintenance and will collaborate in the organization of “campigolando” a long walking along woods and villages, organized to promote the local environment. Along the walking, garbage dumps that needs to be cleaned will be seen by participants. Work: environmental maintenance Accommodation: dormitory Location: Schio, Vicenza , Veneto Terminal: Verona and Venice international airports

Leg81  Riomaggiore (Sp) Liguria        27/8 - 7/9          ENVI     
Project: Cinque Terre is formed by five beautiful villages located on amazing terraces above the sea, and characterised by kilometres of stone-walls and terraced fields cultivated with olive and vine-trees. As the terraces have been abandoned by local people, Legambiente started a collaboration, about eight years ago, with the Park administration and began to organise voluntary work camps with the aim of safeguarding the area. The Cinque Terre national park, recognized by UNESCO world patrimony list, needs to be improved and valorised: for this reason, volunteers will work on paths and terraces maintenance and cleaning; they will also be involved in food production, such as pesto or other sauces. Work: paths and terraces cleaning and maintenance Accommodation: school Location: Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Liguria Terminal: Genoa international airport

Leg82  Bagni di Masino (So)   Lombardia      31/8-13/9 ENVI    
Project: the work camp will take place within the initiative “Foreste da Vivere” (Live the forest), an initiative promoted by Lombardia region to foster the 23.000 hectare of forests through cultural and sport events, excursions, tastings, and many other. This camp was established thanks to a collaboration between Legambiente and ERSAF (Regional Authority for Agricultural and Forest Services), with the aim of guaranteeing the development of cultural activities addressed to the local community and the numerous hikers visiting the surrounding valleys. Volunteers will work on path maintenance, and will do small manual work, in collaboration with the ERSAF staff. As the camp will take place on the mountains, volunteers will have to walk to reach the areas of work. Work: Maintenance and manual work Accommodation: school Location: ERSAF guest quarter Terminal: Milan international airports

Leg84  Albaredo San Marco (So) Lombardia 7/9-20/9  ENVI    
Project: Albaredo San Marco, an alpine village located in the heart of Orobie Valtellinesi Regional Park , at 950 mt, hosts the "Porta del Parco delle Orobie Valtellinesi", an important centre which promotes educational activities through its eco-museum, a open air educational path. Volunteers will collaborate in restoring the path and supporting environmental education activities. Work: maintenance; education Accommodation: dormitory Location: Albaredo San Marco, Sondrio, Lombardia Terminal: Milan international airports  

Leg85  Soave (Vr)       Veneto            14/9-24/9          ENVI    
Project: an ancient castle overlooks Soave, a small medieval village close to Verona and Venezia, surrounded by a crenellated wall and 24 towers. Its famous wine has a very old tradition and his history is strictly related to the history of its inhabitants. Volunteers will take care of the restoration and the maintenance of the Zanella Park , a beautiful garden in the heart of Soave. Second week, volunteers will build a wood shelter and will do some farming works on a cherry field around Fittà. The work camp will overlap with the 79^th grape festival, which will take place on the 15^th and 16^th September. In this occasion the whole medieval town will be filled by a magic atmosphere, and on the 16^th fireworks will light up the town. During the festival, volunteers will help in the festival organization and will also help dismantling the structures and cleaning the area after the event. Work: environmental maintenance, manual work Accommodation: school Location: Soave, Verona , Veneto Terminal: Verona and Venice international airports

Leg86  Milano–Boscoincittà (Mi)  Lombardia   15/9–29/9  ENVI    
Project: volunteers will be hosted in the Park and will collaborate in cleaning paths and doing manufactured wood or metal works. The work will last about 6 hours per day, from Friday to Tuesday. On Sunday volunteers will collaborate with local people and volunteers, in order to learn Italian and promote a cultural exchange. Volunteers will also take part in “Clean up the World”, the greatest environmental voluntary activity in the world, which involves  every year more than 121 countries, with over 35 million of volunteers! Work: paths cleaning; manual work and environmental activities Accommodation: dormitory Location: Milano, Lombardia Terminal: Orio al Serio or Milan international airports

Leg87  Cuirone di Vergiate (Va)  Lombardia 1/10-15/10   ENVI    
Project: this work camp has been taking place since 2001 inside Monte s.Giacomo, a beautiful natural reserve, managed by Legambiente. This place has a remarkable naturalistic and historical importance, thanks to ancient medieval ruins located under a typical eighteenth-century “Crotto": it is said that this place, called a Nemeton (= holy wood), was a holy place for Celti people. The Varese district is also known for its beautiful lakes and many different kind of vegetation, such as chestnut, beech trees, and peaty-marshy areas rich of animals. Volunteers will work on path maintenance and cleaning and will also be involved in the mushrooms and pumpkin local fair, that will take place on the 5^th October. Work: maintenance and cleaning Accommodation: dormitory Location: Cuirone di Vergiate, Varese, Lombardia Terminal: Milan International airports

Leg88  Parco del Molgora (Lc)   Lombardia   5/10-18/10   ENVI     
Project: the Molgora Park has been created for safeguarding and developing beautiful surroundings: hills, torrents, plains, a wide range of trees, animals and rare flowers species. Volunteers will be hosted in Campsirago, 25 km away from the work places, in a rural medieval village, where Legambiente established a “Permanent Centre for Voluntary Service and Environmental Education”. Volunteers will work on environmental maintenance, such as fences set up and weeds cleaning, in order to develop and improve the environmental beauty of this area. Work: maintenance and cleaning Accommodation: Legambiente permanent centre for voluntary service and environmental education Location: Parco del Molgora, Lecco, Lombardia Terminal: Milan International airports

Leg89  Brivio (Lc)  Lombardia                16/11–29/11             ENVI      
Leg90  Brivio (Lc)  Lombardia                18/1/09 – 31/1/09      ENVI   

Project: The Palude di Brivio natural reserve is one of the most interesting wet areas in the whole Adda Nord Park , listed as Community Important Sites for the conservation of natural habitat, wild fauna and flora species by the European Union. During the camp, volunteers will be involved in some manual work, such as cleaning, reeds cutting and maintenance inside some of the most beautiful areas of the Park. Work: maintenance and cleaning Accommodation: Legambiente permanent centre for voluntary service and environmental education Location: Brivio, Lecco, Lombardia Terminal: Milan International airports

LEGALITY WORK CAMPS

Legambiente has been collaborating, since many years, with Libera, an Italian association born in 1995 whose aim is to coordinate and involve Italian civil society and public opinion against mafia crimes. Libera organizes many actions such as properties confiscated to mafia renovation, legal education in schools,  support to local community. Since 1996, several real estates and fields confiscated to mafia were given to Libera, according to a national law. In 2001, Legambiente and Libera organised an international youth action in Palermo , and that was a great success either for the associations, the participants and the local hosting community.  In 2005, Legambiente, in partnership with Libera, promoted a national and european campaign called “Young people for Legality”: this campaign succeed in raising awareness within local communities and in working on agricultural projects with many local cooperatives.

FOR THE FOLLOWING CAMPS A MOTIVATION LETTER IS STRONGLY REQUIRED.