UNAREC - SFERRA

Il risque d'être trop tard maintenant d'organiser un voyage (obtention du visa etc...) vers la Russie pour l'été 2008. Cependant, pour des volontaires très motivés et qui ont déjà une expérience de voyages, il reste des places sur SF-01-2008, SF-02-2008 et SFER 14, SFER 19 et SFER 21 : des projets en septembre.

SFERA - interregional you social movement of support of voluntary initiatives has been created in 2006 on the initiative of youth voluntary organizations from different Russian regions. Firstly all organizations were united by Nizhny Novgorod Voluntray Service (NNVS) which had been active in the field of international voluntary movement since 2001. SFERA has a headquarter in Nizhny Novgorod and branches in 10 other Russian cities, furthermore it realizes projects in other regions throw partner organizations, one of the workcamps is organized in Kazahstan.

The mission of the organization is to create equal opportunities for self-realisation and for satisfaction of social needs of all people through volunteering and charity. The general kinds of activities are: International voluntary programs – international workcamps and LTV projects; National voluntary and charitable events for helping disadvantaged people; development of charity and volunteering – educational and informational campaigns on all-Russian level; internships for NGOs, social responsible business, representative of Russian voluntary and charity movement on the international level; lobbying of interests of charitable and voluntary organizations in government and on the international level. Nowadays there are 5 people in staff of SFERA, 11 regional branches, and more than 500 volunteers regularly participate in different activities.

NB! NEW! ONLY FOR EU CITIZENS!

Since the 1^st of June 2007 according to the agreement between the European Union and Russian Federation on the simplifying the visa issuing to EU and Russian citizens SFERA as other Russian public and cultural organizations could invite EU citizens to Russia by its own organizational invitations for the period up to 90 days. The agreement is really working only since the beginning of 2008.

It means that for this season 2008 we do not have to apply to the Migration Service for the invitations for volunteers coming from EU countries and can print our own invitations in our office. But we still need the same data of volunteers as before!

As the result visa process for EU volunteers has become easier and faster and takes only about a week for the post delivery of the invitation and a week for the visa issuing in Russian consulate. Thus deadline for applications to camps in Russia is only 1 month before the start of each workcamp. We really hope that these changes would really allow more volunteers from the EU come to Russian workcamps as well as we believe that once our country will be more open for all citizens of the World!

Republic of Karelia is situated in the north-west part of Russia . The most of the territory is Taiga area and half of it is covered with forests of pines and birch trees. It is often said that Karelia consists of stones, lakes and forests. The region is famous for its high ecology and diversity of flora and fauna.

The camp takes place in Petrozavodsk – the capital of Karelia republic which has been found by Piter the Great simultaneously with St.Petersburg in 1703. Initially it was a small settlement supplying the weapon factory. Nowadays it is a very nice, modern and clean city with highly developed industry and very active social life.

The project is organized in cooperation with youth organization “Centaur” which is active in the field of work with disabled children especially using the method of horsing therapy.

Work: Volunteers are expected to help to conduct the work with disabled children in a day-to-day life as well as during the horsing therapy as horse-breeders. Furthermore participants will look after the horses - help with cleaning, feeding and taking care of them. Also volunteers will be involved in renovation of fans of the riding-hall for horses, cleaning the territory for the new riding hall and probably in construction of the consumer services building.

Study: Volunteers will be trained with the basic principles of conducting activities with children with disabilities as well as will get to know how to work with horses and use the horsing-therapy.

Leisure time: Excursions round Petrozavodsk city and visits to local museums. Boat trips to islands. Sport activities and games such as football, volleyball, badminton etc.

Accommodation: Volunteers will live in the wood building of the youth organization (3 persons per room). The canteen is situated in the same building, volunteers will be asked to help with cooking. The shower is available in the next building of orphanage. In case of necessity volunteers could be hosted by families of Russian participants of the work camp.

Extra: Don’t forget to take a sleeping bag, warm and waterproof clothes, national music CDs, games and good mood.

The republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is part of Far East Federal district of the

Russian Federation

. The area of Yakutia territory is more than 3 million square kilometers; it is the fifth part of the country. The territory of Republic occupies almost all northeast part of the Asian continent, having stretched with the north on the south on 2000 km and from the west to the east - on 2500 km . Republic of Sakha is not only the biggest region of Russia , but also the most severe on climatic conditions. In the sharp - continental climate of Yakutia the amplitude of fluctuations of temperature of air makes 100°C (from + 40°C in the summer up to- 60°C in the winter). The republic has rich natural resources such as diamonds, gold, stone and brown coal, iron ores, natural gas, tin, tungsten etc.

The camp is organized in cooperation with Yityk Kuel village school #1 on the base of the literary and art museum – reserve.

Work: The general aim of the workcamp is the creation of the Internet website of virtual museum of the culture, traditions and history of the ancient Yakut nationality - Olonkho. With this purpose volunteers will be asked to make digital pictures of the exhibits of the literary and art museum, to translate descriptions of the exhibits for the virtual museum, to research the daily life of the inhabitants of the village in order to write articles for publishing in the Internet and to make a small movie about the life in Yakutia. Another kind of work for volunteers is organizing language workshops and presentations of the countries they come from for local youth.

Study: Volunteers will get acquainted with specific Yakut culture. Also volunteers will participate in handicraft workshops.

Leisure time: Excursions to the unique open-air memorial museum of the political reference. Volunteers will participate in rafting by the river Amga and night show. Also volunteers will have opportunity to play Yakutsk national musical instrument - khomus. They will have meetings with the unique alive carrier of the Yakut heroic epos Olonkho.

Accommodation: building with simple conditions: washstand, toilet and summer showers are outside. The meal will be prepared by local cooker, volunteers will have chance to try national meat and vegetarian cuisine.

Location: Yityk Kuel village, Tattinskiy ulus, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia .

Extra: Don’t forget to bring sleeping bags. The bus trip from Yakutsk to the workcamp place will be organized and will take 5 hours.

Krasnoyarsk is the largest industrial and cultural center of Eastern Siberia, capital of Krasnoyarsk region. The jail was founded in 1628 in the center of Russia between small river Kachi and great Yenisei . The status of the city of Krasnoyarsk has received in 1690 when Siberia has been finally attached to Russia . In 1822 it became the center of the Yenisei province. There are unique landscapes, mountain landscapes, a mighty Siberian wood and well-known reserve "Stolby". This creation of the nature represents exotic rocky eminences among a taiga in spurs of East Sayan Mountains . Territory of reserve is 47 000 hectares .

The camp is organized in cooperation with Ecological - computer center of Krasnoyarsk city which is working in the field of ecological education for youth.

Work: The camp consists of 2 parts – ecological events in the Krasnoyarsk city and rafting along the river Mana. During work in city the volunteers will be asked to help in preparation for ecological campaigns and educational work for visitors of the reserve “Stolby”, park of flora and fauna “Roev Ruchey”, tourist complex “Bobrovyi Log”. During rafting by the river Mana the volunteers will have educational work among tourists, cleaning banks of the river. Also, volunteers will be asked to organize English and German lessons for Russians students – participants of the camp.

Study: Volunteers will get acquainted with specific Russian Siberian culture. Also volunteers will participate in ecological workshops.

Leisure time: excursions round the city Krasnoyarsk , to museums, natural reserve “Stolby”. During rafting by the river the volunteers will participate in carnival, play volleyball, traditional Russian games, walk in the forest.

Accommodation: in Krasnoyarsk volunteers will live in the Russians families of camp’s participants. During rafting along the river volunteers will live in tents, food will be prepared on fire.

Extra: An encephalitis vacation is strongly recommended! Don’t forget to take a sleeping bag, warm and waterproof clothes, crème against mosquitoes, national music CDs, games and good mood. Also it would be great if volunteers can bring a plate, a spoon and a cup (metal or plastic ones to use while rafting).

Northern Osetia-Alania is the republic of Russian Federation situated in the Northern part of Caucasus mountains . The half of its territory consists of middle and high mountains and canyons. It is a very wild land with the variety of flora and fauna.

The camp takes place in one of the picturesque canyons on the base of youth sport camp called “Tajmazi” situated 2000 m above the sea level where students of Taganrog State university spent summer holidays living and working together. The idea of the workcamp is an intercultural communication and promotion of voluntary work among youth.

Work: Volunteers together with students will help in camp renovation: repair summer houses, renovate kitchen, arrange footpaths and local road to the village.

Study: Volunteers will get acquainted not only with Russian culture, but will also learn specific of Caucasus region and its lifestyle.

Leisure time: Volunteers can go hiking to mountains and waterfalls, explore the surrounding and enjoy the beauty of nature, spend evenings near the fireplace singing songs with the guitar, play football or ping-pang. There is also the possibility to visit local mountain village and learn the specific life there. The “bravest” ones could have a chance to try paragliding from the mountains in a pair with the experienced instructor.

RUSSIE 2008