Amazing people needed to help us with alternative community schooling project in waterfall paradise in Espinhal, Portugal

  • Favourited 862 times
  • Last activity: 21 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a young(ish!) English family that moved to this wonderful part of Portugal to live a more simple and connected life. Our land has a house, an alternative school, preschool, ruins and lots of woodland. A small river runs round the side of it and leads up to a series of waterfalls about 1km away. It really is magical. We are searching for volunteers who have experience of working with children, growing veg, caring for animals and creating magic.

    We have horses, donkeys, ducks, chickens and a dog. They are very friendly! We'd love someone with horse experience as we have two further horses at a wonderful riding centre too.

    We expect help in return for good company, food and lots of life lessons sharing! We all have strong work ethics here but also know how to have fun, party ( a little) and laugh!


    Accommodation is in our volunteer apartment and school 'office' which is in Espinhal village, 10 minutes walk from the school project with perfect internet and a cafe beneath it and very nice views.

    There are plenty of people to mix with as there is a strong alternative commmunity with music nights, monthly market, cafes, art workshop and dance classes , and riding lessons. In winter it can get quiet due to the weather so you need to be Ok with quiet times too. There is always plenty of nature to explore and many kids and a team of 20 dynamic staff!

    Minimum 2 month or ideally more needed but 2 week trial period for both host and workawayer

    Our project serves 10 preschool children, 20 middle school children and now newly 20 secondary aged children in an incredible waterfall valley, with one classroom made entirely by the kids out of mud (cob).

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    NGO skills, education / teaching skills (we have trained Montessori teachers) gardening skills, animal care, growing organically, horse riding and donkey care, cob house building

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    Right now our priority is someone who can work with our preschool age children 3-6 (Sep 2023)
    We are in need of people to help with supporting the preschool children and older children too. The preschool needs 2 days of help and the rest of the project ad-hoc hours. There are always also jobs around the farm with animals and plants.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Portuguese: Intermediate
    Spanish: Beginner
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We can offer a private room in an apartment in the village the village has cafes, cash machine, post office, restaurant and a good shop and bakers. This is 10 minutes walk from our property.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Whilst our place feels like quite a remote rural retreat, it is only 1 km from the nearest small town - which has cafes, bank, shops, post office, buses etc. The waterfall is at the top of our valley and can be easily reached along a track above our house, and there are lots of beautiful river beaches nearby. Also close to us is the white-washed castle town of Penela and Portugal's third biggest city - Coimbra.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 173575211118

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