Help bring to life 1910 railway station and be part of a creative project near Prague, Czech Republic

Details

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  Description

  About me
  Hi, my name’s Jam. I’m originally from Australia but have been living in the Czech Republic for many years. Since 2014, I’ve been restoring an old railway station between Prague and Plzeň. Volunteers have played a big role in bringing life, creativity, and care to the old station. I take volunteers only in the warmer months. Previously it was a full time project.
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  About the place
  The station is located in a quiet, forested region between Prague and Plzeň. A direct train will take you to Prague in about an hour and to Plzeň in 45 minutes. There’s a historic castle in Zbiroh just 3 km away, along with plenty of lakes, walking trails, and cycling routes. The nearest working train station is Kařez, about a 10–15 minute walk away.
  
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  About the project
  The station is a protected cultural monument, and my goal is to bring it back to life while preserving its historic character, this is a cultural exchange as apposed to a paid work position.
  
  
  We cook and share meals together, and I do my best to provide food for everyone. Volunteers are also welcome to bring their own food and contribute to what we cook and eat together. Out of respect for the shared space and its values, all food at the station for volunteers is vegetarian, I also ask people not to have/bring alcohol/drugs onto the premises.    
  
  Getting to/from Prague.
  • Use the PID app for a multi-zone ticket—110 Kč covers 3 hours of travel across Prague’s network, including all the way to Kařez. Even from Prague airport to here.
  
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  Practical notes
  • Please use hot water and electricity mindfully. Energy prices have risen, and we try to live sustainably. We are also on water restrictions due to town not having been modernized for water treatment.
  • As a general guideline, please shower every second day unless you’ve been doing hard, sweaty work.
  • Volunteer accommodation is in shared bunk rooms, with separate sleeping areas for women and men. As there are only two bunk rooms, couples cannot currently share the same room. Unless organised prior.
  • Please respect the calm atmosphere of the place. Families with children often stay in the guest rooms, so a considerate, peaceful/respectful approach.
  • ID registration: All foreign volunteers must be registered with the foreign police. I’ll need to take your ID on arrival and log your stay (a legal requirement).
  • Accommodation: I live on-site. The building includes six flats, private land, and its own water supply. I share the property with four friendly cats.
  • Volunteers are not involved in any of my private business activities (such as bnb or Booking.com). All help is focused on the care, maintenance, and revitalization of the heritage-listed railway station
  
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  Currently I host a Yad Vashem exhibition on the platform. Yad Vashem is an organisation dedicated to preserving the memory of those who suffered under the Nazi regime.
  
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  Important
  When contacting me, please start your message with “Hi Jam” so I know you’ve read the profile. Otherwise, I’ll reply with: “Please read the profile.”

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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

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Hiking

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Winter sports

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Mountain
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Cultural Exchange & Free Time
  Experience daily life at a peaceful heritage site while contributing to its preservation.
  This is a unique opportunity to slow down, live simply, and share meaningful moments with other volunteers.
  Enjoy local sights like Zbiroh Castle, forest trails, lakes, and traditional Czech villages.
  The station is a 10–15 minute walk from Kařez train station (direct to Prague and Plzeň) and also served by the Borek bus stop.
  For maps, tips, and links to my blog about the project and region, just ask.
  
  
  • I can offer a discount code (10–20% off) for a hostel in Prague 7 — ideal for weekend trips.

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  Help

  Expectations:
  • Help 3-5 hours/day, 2 days off,
  Preferably Monday and Tuesday.
  
  What to Bring (and What I Provide):
  I provide clean bed sheets, towels, shoes and clothes if needed (from things mostly left behind/found, so if you come without standards things, don’t expect so much.
  
  
  help might include:
  • Chopping and sorting wood
  • Building simple features using recycled materials (for example, glass bottles)
  • Moving materials when things need to shift
  • Improving the general feel and atmosphere of the station
  • Carrying a bag in the forest and picking up rubbish as you walk
  • Helping document the history of the station and surrounding area in a thoughtful, truthful way
  • Assisting visiting artists if something interests you
  • Developing future ceramic or creative workshop spaces
  • Taking care of the cats
  
  Some of the structures we experiment with may not make strict economic sense — but they make ecological or artistic sense.
  
  Recently I’ve got back into making music in a more serious way, so I’m also interested in having volunteers that are into creative expression, and different forms of direct communication with art, without regular/established frameworks. I’m interested to create a music licensing vehicle that allows artist to directly license what they make where they choose, as appose to having to adapt to where venues and art spaces are. I’m interested in direct decentralised forms of expression, that integrate with the technological change happening around us.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  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.
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  Accommodation

  Bunks, I have 4 cats.
  They are mostly indoor, don't leave them outside unattended please.

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  What else ...

  Nearby Castles & Sights
  • Zbiroh & Točník: bike-friendly trails from the station (≈ 3 km to Zbiroh).
  • Karlštejn & Křivoklát: direct train from Kařez.
  • Lakes: two beautiful small lakes right by the station—ideal for a quiet walk and enjoying nature. These lakes aren’t suitable for swimming, but there are designated swimming spots within easy walking distance (ask me for details). And a good swimming lake 40 minuet walk away.
  
  Transport & Practical Tips
  • Train & bus times: check (search “Kařez,,Borek”).
  • Bus stop “Borek”: immediately outside the station; service is infrequent—arrive a few minutes early, carry exact change, and note which side of the road your return bus will stop on. Local drivers can seem brusque; a smile goes a long way.
  • Path to Kařez station: a 10–15 min walk along an unmarked trail—ask me for precise directions.
  
  Weekend & Excursions
  • Prague day trip:
  • Depart Kařez ~ 15:35
  • Return Prague → Kařez at 23:22 (arrive ~ 00:22)
  • Warning: if you miss that, the next train isn’t until ~ 04:32 (Apr–Oct only; no Sat-night service).
  • Plzeň visit (≈ 40 min):
  • Last direct train back ~ 20:40 (no hostels in Plzeň—plan ahead)
  • Highlights: Pilsner Urquell Brewery tours; depo2015 makerspace & café; Jewish Synagogue exhibitions; tea houses Perlová čajovna & Čajovna u Pekla.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Choo Choo

  Mindy (2008 years)

  cat

  Catcher (2010 years)

  Yorrgi

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