Volunteer project in Czech Republic

   Horse farm Chmelistna

22/04 – 07/05/2011 ▪ CONS/ENVI ▪ VOLS: 9+2 ▪ AGE: 18+

 Project: The NGO “Horse Farm Chmelistna” is located in a small village at the foot of the Doupovske mountains in environmentally important countryside. The main activities of the local partner are:

- The restoration and improvement of the village, which was nearly destroyed by the totalitarian regime before 1989.
- The breeding of horses and other domestic animals.
- The management of the farm, with respect for environmental principles and rural traditions

- The use of horses in various fields, such as sports, medieval theatre and "Natural Horsemanship".
- Organising activities and events for children, especially children at risk of social exclusion.

For more information, see: (www.chmelistna.eu) - on the web site you can find photographs and other information regarding the workcamp.

 Work: You will prepare the pasture for the horses and build fences around it. The work is manual and will include especially: cleaning the area, the disposal of brushes, making fires and putting up posts.

 Study part: During the workcamp plenty of non-formal educational activities will be planned, for example excursions, lectures, trips, workshops, international evenings and events with local children. An international evening with a press conference will be held in a suitable location in one of the surrounding communities, during which you will have the opportunity to present your culture and your reasons for volunteering. During the workcamp, you will be able to meet with children and young people from the local partner’s target group (children from the neighbourhood, from children’s homes, from a nearby Roma community and the inmates of an educational institution for young people). You will be able to do activities together with the children and possibly prepare a joint presentation. You will also have the opportunity to join a workshop on communicating with horses, horse training, and horse riding.

 Leisure time: ... Horseback riding, hiking in the countryside, making music and other activities around a campfire, etc. For those interested, a two-day overnight hiking expedition in the countryside could be organised. (As the transport possibilities in the region are very limited, please note, that it will most likely not be possible to visit bigger cities during the workcamp).

 Accommodation/Food: You will be accommodated in a simple brick house. The building has hot water, a shower and a kitchen. It is important to bring your own sleeping bag with you! You will cook together with the group using common resources in your lodgings.

 Location: The tiny village of Chmelistna (near Nepomysl), in the district of Louny, in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic

 Note: Smoking is forbidden in the project’s buildings, vegetarians are very welcome. The project is not suitable for volunteers with allergies (pollen, animal dander, insect stings ...).

Источник: Альтернатива-В