Hands and history

09/06 – 30/06
ENVI
Vols: 12 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: The workcamp is organized in cooperation with the local non-governmental organisation Hartenberg o.s., which supports the development of volunteering in Westen Bohemia and takes care of the remains of castle Hartenberg. The castle was purposely set on fire several times and is now in a very bad state. With the help of volunteers it is being gradually reconstructed. Today, parts of the castle (mainly the big courtyard) are being used for cultural, ecological and educational activities.

Work: The three week project will take place at three different location of North Western Bohemia. You will help with various manual tasks according to your interest and abilities. This can include: recultivation of the landscape, help with renovation of the castle and maintenance of the suroundings, preparation of educational activities for local children. 
Bring warm clothes, working boots and rain-gear.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the mountainous countryside, visit some of the famous spa-towns in the region, go canoeing, do some sport activities and play music. During the weekends there will be time to go on whole-day trips, too. Take some games, pictures, musical instruments, films and other items, which represent you and your cultures.

Accommodation/Food: The accommodation will be very basic; please don’t expect any bigger comfort! You will sleep in different locations of the region, sometimes in a cottage, sometimes in tents. On several days, the toilets and showers will be provided in a container. Take a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat with you. The participants will cook from common resources in a small kitchen. Bring your local recipes.

Location: The castle ruin is situated near the village Hrebeny in western Bohemia and other villages in the region.

Note: We are looking for flexible volunteers with respect for the environment. Please take good walking boots, warm cloths and raingear with you.

18/06 – 01/07
RENO
Vols: 18 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: The project will take place in Chudenice, a small village in Western Bohemia. It was founded by an old Czech aristocratic family in the 12th century and has about 700 inhabitants today. The volunteers will cooperate with the local non-governmental organization Otisk (“footprint”), which focuses on the conservation and renovation of many historically important sights in and around the village.

Work: The volunteers will help to conserve a historically important part of the village including the ruins of the former church of St. Wolfgang. The work will be manual and involve i.e. building stone-walls, moving rubble and earth, preparing a natural amphitheatre, constructing fences from branches and birches. Some work will also consist of smaller improvements of the look of the village centre.

Study part: A workshop on handmade pottery is planned. It’s also possible to organize an intercultural evening, so take some pictures and music that represents you and some interesting recipes with you.

Leisure time: You can go on trips in the surrounding countryside, have a campfire, visit local pubs, go swimming and play games.

Accommodation/Food: The volunteers will be accommodated at a former kindergarten on mattresses. Please take your own sleeping bag. The accommodation has a bathroom and a kitchen. You will prepare your own meals from common resources.

Location: Village Chudenice, 45 km from Pilsen – European Cultural Capital 2015

30/06 – 21/07
ART
Vols: 12 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: The site of the workcamp is the ruin of the Hartenberg castle with its neglected park.
The castle was purposely set on fire several times and is now in a very bad state. With the help of volunteers and the non-governmental organisation Hartenberg o.s., the castle is being gradually reconstructed. Today, parts of the castle (mainly the big courtyard) are being used for cultural, ecological and educational activities as well as for the support and development of volunteering.

Work: Between 2006–2010 a total of 5 art projects took place at castle Hartenberg. The participants creatively documented the castle and its surroundings, historically important people and the nature around the castle. The results of the work can be seen at the castle. This year 12 volunteers will have the chance to create their own works and complete some work from the past years. The results of their work will be exhibited for the public at the end of the project. The volunteers will also help to create promotion materials such as leaflets and informational signs.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the mountainous countryside, visit some of the famous spa-towns in the region, go canoeing, do sport or play music. During the weekends there will be time to go on whole-day trips, too. Take some games, pictures, musical instruments, films and other items, which represent you and your cultures.

Accommodation/Food: The accommodation will be very basic; please don’t expect any comfort! You will sleep in a cottage near the castle in two common rooms. Take a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat with you. The toilet and showers will be provided in a container. The participants will cook from common resources in a small kitchen. Bring your local recipes.

Location: The castle ruin is situated near the village Hrebeny in western Bohemia, not far from the town Sokolov.

Note: We are looking for volunteers with respect for the environment and cultural values. Please take good walking boots, warm cloths and raingear with you.

15/07 – 29/07
RENO
Vols: 10 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: Svojsin with its baroque castle is an ancient village located in Western Bohemia 40km west of Pilsen (Plzen). It was founded in the 12th century. The region has a very long and striking history. Czech, German and Jewish people were living here for centuries. World War II, the eviction of the German population and the communist era led to the negligence and devastation of many cultural and historical sites. In the last years the village is trying to renovate and preserve some important local cultural sites such as the castle with its park.

Work: The volunteers will work mainly in the park of the Svojsin castle: they will help to renew the park and some of its buildings and maintain those parts, which are already restored. In case of bad weather conditions the group will work inside the various castle buildings, performing maintaining tasks.

Study part: Learn more about the preservation of historical sites. It’s possible to organize an intercultural evening, so take some pictures and music that represents you and some interesting recipes with you.

Leisure time: Trips to the surrounding countryside and to some historical towns nearby.

Accommodation/Food: Directly in the castle (shared bedrooms with separate showers and toilet). As the castle’s walls are thick and cold it can be a bit chilly inside even during hot summer weather so don’t forget to bring your sleeping bag and warm clothes. Meals will be partly prepared by the participants, partly served in a family run Bohemian restaurant in the village.

Location: Svojsin, 40 km from Plzen – European Cultural Capital 2015

15/07 – 29/07
RENO/ENVI
Vols: 12 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: Grabstejn is a former medieval castle, which was later rebuilt as a renaissance chateau. It was severely damaged under the communist regime, but has been reconstructed during the last years. Now it holds some exhibitions, there are guided tours and during the summer, festivals and concerts take place here. Staying in the castle is quite romantic. It is surrounded by a beautiful mountainous countryside, which is perfect for hiking. The camp is therefore suitable for people who do not mind long walks and who enjoy being in the countryside.

Work: The nature of your work depends on what is actually needed to do according to castle revitalisation plan. This includes cutting and removing of the invasive vegetation on the sheer slope surrounding the castle, some basic reconstruction work, cleaning inside the castle, building fences and a stone wall, repairing pavements, etc. The work is manual and physically demanding.

Study part: Learn more about the castle and get access to the parts, which are normally not open to the public.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the beautiful hilly countryside surrounding the castle and climb a famous mountain Jested (1012 m) with a hotel on the top representing typical socialist architecture. It’s possible to go swimming in a nearby lake (don’t forget your swimsuit) or play some games and music (please take some musical instruments with you if you can play on them). The nearest city is Liberec with a zoo and a botanical garden. The Czech Republic is famous for its delicious beer and it is possible to visit a regional brewery. You can meet local people and do some activities with them.

Accommodation/Food: You will sleep at the castle. Staying in an old castle means living in basic conditions. You will be sleeping on the floor of one big room on foam mattresses. Therefore you will need to bring a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat (or a bed sheet) and a pillow. There is a toilet, a shower with hot water and electricity. Next to the bedroom there is a small kitchen where you will prepare the meals by yourselves, so please bring some interesting recipes that are easy to prepare and not very expensive with you. You will need to bring your own eating set (deeper plate, fork, knife, spoon, cup).

Location: Castle Grabstejn near Chotyne in Northern Bohemia. Public transport is rather limited in the area. There is only one local train, so the main means of transportation will be your feet :-). Be prepared to walk about 30 to 45 minutes to buy food in the nearest town!

Note: Don’t forget to bring working clothes which you can afford to destroy and a torch (flashlight). We recommend you to take good and durable shoes for work and for hiking and some warm clothes not only because the weather can change but the castle can be quite cold inside too.

22/07 – 05/08
ENVI/RENO
Vols: 11 + 2 team leaders
AGE: 18+

Project: The workcamp takes place at the site of the famous castle Kynzvart, which belonged to the councillor Metternich in the 19th century. The neo-classical castle has a charming park and an amazing history, which goes back to the 13th century. It is situated in the westernmost corner of the Czech Republic, near the spa towns Karlovy Vary - Marianske Lazne - Frantiskovy Lazne.

Work: The volunteers will work in the castle park and in the surrounding forest park. They will mainly perform maintenance and gardening tasks such as cleaning paths, weeding, removing fallen branches and leaves, making wood etc.

Study part: By joining this project you will become a part of the 30th Alliance Anniversary CAMPaign! Almost 80 member and partner voluntary organisations form the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations network from all over the world, organising various voluntary projects during this year. They all have the same aim: promoting intercultural education, understanding and peace through voluntary service!
Be one of the thousands of volunteers worldwide who will contribute to this initiative and help to raise awareness about international volunteering and its benefits.
Join the party and celebrate the 30th birthday of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations! Find out more about Alliance at www.alliance-network.eu and about the campaign at http://allianceanniversary2012.blogspot.com

Leisure time: Guided tour through the castle Kynzvart. We plan an intercultural evening, so take some pictures and music that represents you and some interesting recipes with you. Different kinds of sports, swimming in the nearby ponds, trips to the nearby spa towns and the surrounding countryside. Take some games for the evenings after work.

Accommodation/Food: In the castle area in a house. Take your sleeping bag and sleeping mat. A bathroom and a small kitchen are available. The volunteers will prepare their meals on their own.

Location: Lazne Kynzvart (area of castle Kynzvart), about 11 km from the well known spa town Marianske Lazne.

04/08 – 18/08
RENO
VOLS: 15 + 2 team leaders
AGE: 18+

Project: The site of the workcamp is the ruin of the Hartenberg castle with its neglected park.
The castle was purposely set on fire several times and is now in a very bad state. With the help of volunteers and the non-governmental organisation Hartenberg o.s., the castle is being gradually reconstructed. Today parts of the castle (mainly the big courtyard) are being used for cultural, ecological and educational activities as well as for the support and development of volunteering.

Work: Help to prepare events, which will take place in the autumn of 2012 and in 2013 (includes creation of info panels, preparation of material, writing of articles and creation of presentations). The volunteers will also assist with the reconstruction of the castle and maintain the surroundings – mainly at the garden terraces of the castle. Your tasks will include various forms of manual work such as preparing flower beds, planting and taking care of a greenhouse. This part of the work will be physically demanding.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the mountainous countryside, visit some of the famous spa-towns in the region, go canoeing, do sport or play music. During the weekends there will be time to go on whole-day trips, too. Take some games, pictures, musical instruments, films and other items, which represent you and your cultures.

Accommodation/Food: The accommodation will be very basic; please don’t expect any comfort! You will sleep in a cottage near the castle in two common rooms. Take a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat with you. The toilet and showers will be provided in a container. The participants will cook from common resources in a small kitchen. Bring your local recipes.

Location: The castle ruin is situated near the village Hrebeny in western Bohemia, not far from the town Sokolov.

Note: We are looking for volunteers with respect for the environment and cultural values. Please take good walking boots, warm cloths and raingear with you.

06/08 – 18/08
ARCH/RENO
Vols: 10 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: The project is held in the outdoor museum of the village Modra in the beautiful region of South Moravia. The museum shows every-day life and agricultural production in one of the most remarkable periods of the Czech history. It offers scientific presentations and educational programmes (like pottery and experimental melting of metal). In the area archaeological exploration is done continuously.

Work: The work takes place outdoors, mainly in the archaeological open-air museum. Help with the construction of new buildings for the open-air museum, archaeological exploration (diggings), help with the organization of local cultural events and participating in them, help with gardening works in a newly created area nearby the outdoor museum, other manual work according to the current needs of the museum.

Study part: Learn more about local history: An excursion to the Great Moravian Empire Monument in Stare Mesto, which offers an exhibition documenting this important era of Czech history and a professional guided tour of the open air museum held by Ludek Galuska, Ph.D., will be organized for you.

Leisure time: Sport with the local kids and youth, trips to the surrounding sights like castle Buchlov, the basilica of Velehrad, the towns of Uherske Hradiste and Kromeriz, intercultural evening with a local band and people from the village Modra.

Accommodation/Food: In the community house on mattresses, bring your sleeping bag! The volunteers will cook together from common resources.

Location: Village Modra, near the small town of Velehrad and about 6 km from Uherske Hradiste

10/08 – 24/08
RENO/CULT
Vols: 8 + 2 team leaders 
Age: 18+

Project: The project takes place in Holesov, a small Moravian town, known for its large prewar Jewish community. The community was wiped-out during World War II and has only very few members today. The workcamp supports the work of the local organization Olam, which maintains the local Jewish cemetery and organizes a festival of Jewish culture during your stay.

Work: The volunteers will work on the local Jewish cemetery (about 90% of the working time), where they will liquidate invasive plants and ranking plants. Furthermore, they will help with the technical preparations of the festival “Jewish Culture Week”, which is taking place in Holesov during the workcamp (10% of the working time). Bring suitable working clothes with you. The work might be physically demanding, weekends are usually working days (because of the festival) but you will get days off during the week.

Study part: You can learn more about Jewish culture and visit concerts, performances and films during the festival. Visit to local monuments.

Leisure time: Trips to the surroundings, free entrance to cultural activities organized by the local cultural centre, free access to the local swimming-pool.

Accommodation/Food: In the former gamekeeper’s lodge belonging to the local castle. Please bring a sleeping bag. The participants prepare their own meals.

Location: Holesov

Note: Volunteers interested in Jewish culture are especially welcome!