ALLEMAGNE 2008

VJF 2008

VEREINIGUNG JUNGER FREIWILLIGER (Union of Young Volunteers)


BACKGROUND
VJF was founded in March 1990 as an independent, non-governmental workcamp organisation, obliged to the ideas of solidarity, humanism and mutual understanding among young people from all over the world. Common work and other activities should make young people think about such problems as the maintenance of peace, the preservation of the natural environment, solidarity with developing countries and the fight against old and new fascism, against racial hatred and all forms of discrimination; social, racial, sexual, political or religious.

ACTIVITIES
The VJF organises international workcamps, seminars and projects corresponding to the ideals of voluntary service mentioned above for youth between 18 and 26 years old and trilateral teenage camps for youngsters aged 16 and 17. We also participate in similar activities, which are organised by our partners in foreign countries all over the world. However, VJF is not just about workcamps. One of our other activities is an annual ecological programme in Berlin. During a 12 month period 50 volunteers study and work in ecological centres and on experimental projects.
We also have a “project and meeting centre” situated in the forest on the bank of the “Langer See” in Berlin. This centre is used for many different purposes: workcamps take place there, meetings are held and it is also used as a holiday resort for school children and families.

WORKCAMPS
Our workcamps are usually during the summer and last for 2 or 3 weeks. These camps involve environmental projects, monument restoration, especially historical sites; clean up of rivers, parks and protected sites; restoration of historically significant buildings and the organisation of activities for children and handicapped persons as well as antifascist and study projects about special topics. The work can be done by international groups of 8 to 20 (untrained) volunteers, who will work mostly 5-6 hours per day (weekends are free). Tasks are not separated according to sex because men or women can do most jobs with equal ease and no special skills are required. A camp leader who is a volunteer like the other participants makes sure that the camp runs smoothly and coordinates all activities. There is also quite a bit of free time. The participants can take advantage of this to discover the region and its inhabitants. They can organise short trips, discussion groups and social events. Though the camp leader can make suggestions, the cultural program is always the result of the inspiration and initiative of the participants themselves.


LODGING AND FOOD
Accommodation during the project is free. Participants are housed in youth centres, schools or in tents. Usually the accommodation is quite simple.
Food is also free and volunteers usually prepare their own meals (in a few camps meals are provided).


CAMP LANGUAGES
The official camp language is English or German.


APPLICATION FEES
Participants coming from our partner organisations do not have to pay an application fee except for our teaching camps.


SHORT DESCRIPTIONS
Important: The projects were arranged according to their location that means they are numbered by federal countries:

1... Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
2... Brandenburg
3... Berlin
4... Sachsen-Anhalt
5... Sachsen
6... Thueringen

LES CHANTIERS  2008

VJF 2.1     KiEZ Hoelzerner See         16.08.-30.08.08      RENO/ENVI          Age limit: 18-26

Work: The KiEZ Hoelzener See is set within the wildlife park of Dahme-Heidessen , on the shores of the lake Hoelzener See. Your will be involved in small renovation and environmental works on the site.

Accommodation: You will live in the centre in small bungalows, showers and bathrooms, and all linen is provided.

Language: English

Location: The Erholungszentrum Hoelzerner See is just 15 minutes drive by bus from S-Bahn Koenigs Wusterhausen. You will need about an hour by S-Bahn from the city of Berlin to Koenigs Wusterhausen.

Terminal: Berlin

Special Requirements: None

Special Remarks: None

VJF 2.5   KiEZ Frauensee   01.09.-15.09.08        ENVI/ARTS        Age limit: 18-26  

Work: You will renovate the rooms of the buildings and clean the areas surrounding the houses. Another task will be to support the staff organizing the “Autumn Spectacle”, a party for children and their parents.

Volunteers are also asked to create a circus program for the children who are in the centre. It will be shown at the “Autumn Spectacle”.

Accommodation: You will live in bungalows of 2-6 persons

Language: English

Location: The next biggest town is Koenigs Wusterhausen.

Special Requirements: None

Special Remarks: None

VJF 4.7 Deetz 3      25.08.-05.09.08     ENVI/RENO              Age limit: 18-26 

Work: You will work on the Europa-Jugend Bauernhof, a farm that caters for school classes who want to experience farmlife. You will work in the garden, undertaking tasks like weeding, harvesting and planting. Changes are planned to make the place more attractive for the visitors and your ideas will be central to the improvement of the farm. It is possible that your help will also be needed renovating a horse stable.

Accommodation: You will live in a house, the former vicarage, with rooms for up to 8 persons, a kitchen and a big yard behind the house.

Language: English

Location: close to the city Dessau

Special Requirements: Volunteers should be able to ride a bike.

Special Remarks: This is a remote area

VJF 6.5         Ilmenau          15.08.-05.09.08         ENVI/KIDS           Age limit: 18-26  

Work: In 2007, the hurricane “Kyrill” destroyed wide parts of the forest around Ilmenau. The participants of the workcamp will help the local forester with the reforestation of several parts of the destructed areas. It is planned to repair trails, to work on several measures of nature protection and landscape conservation and to plant new trees.  Besides, there will also be other possibilities to get active.

Social part: There will be a project together with kids of the local primary school. They are curious about getting to know new, different cultures and their traditional food, clothing, dances, music and so on. It is planned to cook together and to taste the prepared food, to sing and to dance together.

Accommodation: The group will be accommodated in a cosy lodge only five minutes from the working area. There will be a group of 4- 5 persons sharing one room.

Language: English

Location: Ilmenau is situated between the towns Erfurt and Suhl

Terminal: Halle/Leipzig

Special Requirements: None

Special Remarks: None

VJF 7.1 Lauenstein   25.08.-06.09.08   ENVI   Age limit: 18-26  

Work: Your working place will be the border between the two former German countries, now the border between Thuringia and Bavaria . This is a project for nature lovers. Your tasks are all environmental works, like removing trees or maintaining paths.

Accommodation: in a Youth hostel

Language: English

Location: Lauenstein is part of the city Ludwigsstadt, very close to Thuringia . The next biggest city is Saalfeld.

Terminal: Halle / Leipzig

Special Requirements: None

Special Remarks: This is an isolated area.