Help with co-construction while enjoying St-James, Jamaica

Details

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  Description

  ABOUT ME:
  
  I am a mother of two wonderful children aged 21 and 16. I used to sing, dance and produce shows in Canada. Coming from a family of artists, I don't need to tell you that music is very important in our lives.
  My other passion is working with people and especially children. I worked as a social worker for teenage girls and helped them find jobs, do their homework, build their self-esteem, self-confidence, solve daily problems, do household chores, give them positive energy and help them find what is important for their life.
  Despite my contentment within my work, I lacked something to be totally happy. So I left everything to settle in Jamaica.
  
  8 years of happiness, in Jamaica, I had a wonderful project, I received
  hundreds of people who have contributed to the success of our projects.
  The pandemic has changed everything. I had to leave everything to go back to Canada😔
  
  After 3 years of absence, I am finally ready to resume my activities on the island 😁. Indeed, I have a marvelous piece of land where I wish to build marvelous constructions. But we have to start at the beginning. So I'm looking for super interesting and almost crazy people who want to share this adventure with me and my team.
  
  We love life and the people it allows us to meet. Our motto is honesty, love, respect and listening.
  
  We look forward to welcoming you and for you to be part of our growing international family!!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You will learn the real Jamaican life, the difficulties, the simplicity and more.
  And we offer lots of love and smiles and a real Jamaican experience with local food directly in the community.
  
  If you are a party person, trust me you'll be happy, especially at nights. There you can socialize with fellow workers, tourists and locals. If you are more of a relaxed person, the ambiance will be as enjoyable, as you can stay on the site read, contemplate stars, sit at a fireside, sleep, hang your hammock etc.
  
  * Remember, Jamaica is a expensive country, you might think things are to much but it not when you understand. Let us help you
  * Don't change your money in the airport, my driver will help you.
  ....

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  ABOUT THE PROJECT:
  
  The first project I created was 10 years ago in a different location, with the idea to connect the simple Jamaican country lifestyle with community work, beautiful nature, and tourism. Since then, I’ve worked hard to bring the real Jamaica to tourists while supporting local farmers and the community, and give volunteers the time of their lives!
  Since then, we recruited community members, former volunteers, guests and friends from all over the world to help continue this idea in the NEW project now located near Anchovy city.
  
  But since I'm starting again, the project is new again and needs a lot of help… that’s where YOU come in!
  
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  TYPE OF HELP NEEDED:
  
  • CLEANING LAND
  - Cut the grass and stumped
  - Pick up grass burn it
  - Rake...
  
  • FENCING THE LAND
  - Mark the territory and fence it
  - Cut post
  - Install the barbed-wire
  
  • SEPTICAL TANK
  - Digging the soil
  - Install pipe...
  
  • BUILDING
  - We will be building cabins.
  
  We have to build teepees, build the outdoor toilet and shower, and keep the place fresh and exciting! There are lots of crazy machines and materials to recycle so bring your tools and creativity.
  I have many ideas which I just need help to be made real. Tree houses, outdoor kitchen, chill out area, furniture, decorations… Everything is made by hand with as many natural resources we can find.
  We want to be creative together!
  
  (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Please see packing list below as we are very short on tools for building and please bring what you can*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️)
  
  
  It's a lot you will say, not at all. We don't do anything without having fun. It's always the party here!!!
  
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  ALL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME:
  Everyone is welcome, I need all kind of skilled and willing workers. I don't just want to take qualified workers because I think we all learn from each other and every person will bring something new and good into the project.
  
  If you have any random skills let me know and we can get you started on all types of work around the project.
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  WEEKENDS / FREE TIME:
  After your 5 days of work, you will get 2 days free time/holiday
  I sometimes, suggest to work more hours in one day to get more days free to travel.
  
  In the evenings feel free to walk into town, take 30-minute taxi to the beach in Montego Bay, or hang out at Bar with the locals... Then on the weekends you can travel around Jamaica, go to beaches, visit attractions etc. We can also organize tours for you. When there are many workers you can organize trips as a group, which means more fun and less spending.
  
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  PACKING LIST:
  (To feel more comfortable)
  
  - Sleeping Bag
  - Blanket (it can get very chilly some nights)
  - Towel
  - Work Gloves
  - Bug Spray
  - Sunscreen
  - Water Bottle (we might ask you to buy spring wata if tap water don't suit you)
  - Flashlight
  - Coffee if you are a coffee drinker (as it is very expensive here)
  - Tobacco if you roll your own cigarettes (its difficult to be found in Jamaica) * in Negril but $$$
  
  AT THE PROJECT WE NEED:
  (If you have old ones you don't need)
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Tools for building*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
  *️️️️*️️️️Things we need*️️️️*️️️️
  - Cups and bowls
  - Christmas Lights
  - Old Phone/IPhone with SIM
  - Telescope (since we move to our new site, the stars are prettier)
  - Boxing gloves (we want to build a boxing ring for as an activity for the kids)
  - Laptop
  - Any electrical/ gas tools
  
  Feel free to suggest things you think of bringing, trust me anything is appreciated in Jamaica.
  
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  IMPORTANT INFO FOR YOUR ARRIVAL:
  
  I can organise a taxi to pick you up from Montego Bay airport. Let me know before arrival to schedule and I will let you know the cost ( its normally 20$US each)
  
  - after few funny experiences-
  Starting on the day of arrival you will be on probation for 5 days if there is something that does not please us, such as your attitude, your behaviour, work not done, etc. we will kindly ask you to leave our project - but we'll help you find something else in the same city or elsewhere.
  
  If you are interested, reply and include your email and add me on whatsapp always easier to communicate)) ), I'll send you more info. After receiving the additionals information, if you accept wonderful, otherwise please send me a message still if you are not coming.
  
  +++ Very important
  Since I started this project i met wonderful people, we actually are still friends and i love it! Others lived with a funny vibes. I will explain, jamaica is different than the entire world. If you travel please be open and please less critics. You come here to learn and share and locals are here to share and learn as well but the way of doing it have to be respectfully please. If you don't understand something, the best thing is to come see me and we will resolve the problem but going side and talk to the wrong person, very easy a bad energy can just appear and put the entire group in mystery and the vibe just drop down and trust me it is the worst feeling ever, so lets respect each other. Be the best memory that we will have in the project. Trust me when you act positively, people will talk about you for years with so much love and this is what you want an positive impact!
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  With all the neighbouring communities, the volunteers and love and respect for one another we want to build something great so we can show the world what a beautiful country Jamaica is.
  
  I look forward to meeting you!!
  
  Feel free to contact us for further Information

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Haitian Creole: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Where ever you come from you are welcome. We wanna learn all languages 🤪
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  Accommodation

  The facilities are simple: we cook together. We clean toguether..
  
  Water is often a challenge for us in the country side – please understand that a long hot shower like you are used to will not be possible here. We must share the water for the group and recycle rain water at all times!
  
  All volunteers go to the river and get their shower (15 min walking)
  
  You'll stay in a shared room in a wood cabin on the land
  - mattress, sheets... provided
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  MEALS:
  
  I provide 3 meals. We will all cook together if i need help, learning traditional recipes from Jamaica and around the world! We share the responsibility of cooking and cleaning. *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️ Some of my volonteers said they gained weight being here 😄 yes we eat good!
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  THE AREA:
  
  Montego Bay is the main city, around 20 minute drive by taxi. Everything can be found here from beaches and bananas, to banks and buses!! Anchovy (10-minute taxi) is our closest town: very small and friendly with just a few essentials shops for groceries, WiFi and ATM (make sure you withdrawthe max each time cause the service charges are high). This will be your home away from home and a nice place to make local friends.
  
  *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Because the project is located in rural Jamaica some city comforts like - internet, TV, everything walking distance, easy access to drinking water – are not available all the time. Please understand before you arrive in the simple country circumstances we live.
  
  Our home is to disconnect from stresses of normal daily life, and reconnect with nature and simple living
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  WILDLIFE:
  
  Here we are surrounded by goats, cows, rabbits, laying hens and other animals. We wish to have more and create a pleasant environment for them.
  
  We are also 'in the bush' - the true nature of Jamaica. There are many bugs that share our daily lives. With bug spray and a good attitude, they are not a problem!
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  What else ...

  Our business is located here in the district Mafoota - a paradise. Located in the mountains in the parish of St James in Jamaica. Here you will be able to do several activities and have tours like Mayfield falls, weed, garden farm and cave tour, Glistening water, skate landing, swimming in the Great river 15 minutes driving. Or Zip lining, bamboo rafting, tubing in Lethe 15 min from us. Not too far away, you have the birds sanctuary where birds are fly free and you can feed them. Closer still, we have the Animal Farm where you could see several animals.
  15 minutes by car, you have the joy of the sea and the entertainment district of Montego Bay.
  
  Being with us is definitely the place to be!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  If you have a van we can facilitate our place for you.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Let us know ow which animal you have and we sill see

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours/ day 5 days a week

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