Volunteer as part of our evolving contemplative community near Poitiers, France

Infos

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  Description

  Who Are We?
  
  We exist as a centre for peace, offering retreats, courses and a sanctuary for healing. The property was bought in 2017 through funds raised from the international network of the WCCM, which is a world-wide community of meditators rooted in the contemplative mystical traditions of Christianity – see wccm.org to find out more.
  
  Restoration of the chateau and farm buildings began in January 2018 and since then a small resident community has been developing, seeding the regular rhythm of life for what is now known as the Abbaye, guest house and retreat centre. Meditation takes place four times a day in a beautifully converted barn.
  
  The community's hospitality and care of the land and buildings is underpinned by the inspiration of Benedictine spirituality. The foundation of this 'rule of life' acts as a context for finding human ways to live together in accordance with nature and the current needs of the world. The coming and going of volunteers is essential to the weave of this fabric. People of all ages, nationalities and faith traditions with an interest in exploring their meditation practice, or learning to meditate for the first time, are welcome to come to live and help as part of the community.
  
  Some History
  
  The Chateau dates from the 1700's, backing onto the remains of an 11th Century monastery. Before the renovations, the other buildings consisted of a collection of farm buildings (a farmhouse, stables and a barn), and a gatehouse and hunting lodge. The land offers 160 acres of grassland, woodland, a walled garden and a huge diversity of wildlife. The river ‘Rhune’ intersects the land which feeds an ancient fishing lake embedded in the south-facing aspect of the Abbaye. There are also marshes peppered with three natural springs and there are 24 ecosystems of local and national heritage. Part of the land is now inhabited by a small organic farm and small-holding, run by two members of the wider community.
  
  Workaway
  
  The Workaway volunteer program began in 2018. Inviting volunteers has been a hugely successful experience on both sides. Together we share beauty of the land, the buildings and the richness of our meditation life and work. It has been a wonderful experiment and learning-curve to see that welcoming volunteers is a vital part of the life and vision. A vessel for mutual learning, the chance for everyone to feel valued and empowered in their specific skills, making a contribution to a greater whole and spiritual development through participation in the day-to-day rhythm of the community's rule of life and meditation.
  
  Our Workaway volunteering opportunities begin with a month. After that an extension can follow a conversation between the volunteer and the community. Please note that stays of a month are preferable / desirable to enable volunteers to find rhythm and integrate with the life of the community. However we will consider volunteers for periods of a minimum of 2 weeks. The requirement is five hours of help a day and a willingness to join at least two periods of meditation a day and other community activities. Wednesdays and Saturdays are days off for volunteers as Sunday is a day of community activity.
  
  We are looking for people who enjoy living on the land in quiet countryside and are willing to offer a flexible open-minded approach to doing what needs to be done, as well as participate in the day-to-day rhythm of meditation, care of guests and meal times. A space to be in relationship with other whilst exploring the nourishment of silence and solitude is at the heart of life here. We aim to encourage varying levels of silence as part of the every day life here and with the support of the community and resident teacher this is an opportunity to discover or deepen your own spiritual practice. Unfortunately we do not currently accommodate families.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about the how work collaboratively with others in running retreats and courses, gardening, land management, house-keeping, cooking, living and helping with others from diverse backgrounds and different cultures, meditation and spiritual writings from Christian and other traditions.

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  Aide

  Our Workaway volunteering opportunities begin with a month. After that an extension can follow a conversation between the volunteer and the community. Please note that stays of a month are preferable / desirable to enable volunteers to find rhythm and integrate with the life of the community. However we will consider volunteers for periods of a minimum of 2 weeks.
  
  Unfortunately we do not currently accommodate families.
  
  Type of help needed
  
  Helping to run a Retreat Centre
  Creating and maintaining a vegetable garden
  Forest clearance and fencing
  Managing wood collection for fires
  Cooking / shopping for the community (not guests)
  Cleaning of communal spaces
  Animal care
  Other
  Small admin tasks
  Filming online events and retreats
  
  We are looking for people who enjoy living on the land in quiet countryside and are willing to offer a flexible open-minded approach to doing what needs to be done, as well as participate in the day-to-day rhythm of meditation and meal times. A space to be in relationship with other whilst exploring the nourishment of silence and solitude is at the heart of life here. We aim to encourage varying levels of silence as part of the every day life here and with the support of the community and resident teacher this is an opportunity to discover or deepen your own spiritual practice.
  
  Typical Daily Rhythm (please note this is adjustable with the change of seasons)
  
  Sunday to Saturday
  
  7.00 – 7:30 - Silent meditation (optional)
  7.45 – 8.35 - Morning meditation
  8.40 – 9.15 - Breakfast in silence
  9.30 – 10.00 - Study / Reading / group sharing (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - Saturday)
  10.00 – 12.00 - Help
  12.15 – 13.00 - Midday meditation
  13.00 – 14.00 - Lunch / Clean-up
  14.30 – 17.00 - Help
  18.00 – 18.45 - Evening meditation
  18.50 – 19.30 - Dinner
  
  Wednesdays are silent days of no work, a chance to read, study, renewal of your inner peace, rest, be creative or in silence …
  Saturdays are days off to have the chance to do some cultural or relaxing activities with other volunteers.
  Sundays are days of community life: eating and doing light tasks together.
  
  The experience of unity among each other enjoying their diversity is an important part of the experience. Just as peace needs to be found within us before we can live peacefully in our personal lives and bring it to the world, so the spring of inner joy needs to be unblocked and set to flow. The daily schedule will focus on allowing this to happen freely.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Courant
  Français: Courant
  Italien: Courant
  Hollandais: Courant
  Allemand: Intermédiaire

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  Hébergement

  Workaways are accommodated in bedrooms in the newly renovated Abbaye. Volunteers will be invited to share in the cooking of meals in the community kitchen, which will be eaten in the dining hall with community residents. Volunteers are invited to join the community for lunch and dinner every day, consisting of a blend of international cuisine, where we will accommodate as far as possible any special dietary requirements. The Abbaye building provides a good WiFi connection.

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  Autres infos...

  Our place is situated amidst beautiful countryside for walking and many places of historic and cultural interest. The nearest village is Marçay, 2 kilometres away and situated along the route Jacque de Compostella, which is a section of the known Santiago de Compostella. The nearest market town is Vivonne with supermarkets and other facilities. The ancient Abbey of St Martins at Ligugé is 6 kilometres to the north. Fifteen kilometers away the medieval city of Poitiers (which has an airport Biard along with local and TGV train links from Paris) boasts one of the most significant gothic cathedrals in France. Further afield there is also the cities of Tours and Saintes and the coastal town of La Rochelle.
  
  When making travel arrangements to our place please note we plan arrivals and departure to allow you as volunteers to settle into the life here with minimum disruption for the life of the resident community. So following your registration and interview, please arrange your travel accordingly. We can arrange pick-ups from Vivonne train station (regional line from Poitiers). Pick up from Poitiers main line station or airport is also possible.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il aimait accueillir les digital nomads.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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