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Host rating
65 %
Last replied
28 Sep 2023
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Description
Hi there, we are a Dutch family (Mirla Klijn and husband Olaf Boswijk and our 3 year old girl), and we live in a little house in a remote valley in the Chilean Andes from where we run a non-profit project and we organize group programs, public activities and self-guided residencies centred around regenerative culture. A place for artists, scientists and other creatives to come and reflect, research and work, all around the theme of man-nature relation.
A little bit about us: Previously, Olaf was owner/founder of TrouwAmsterdam and De School, and the creative director of 11, three of the most well known and revered clubs for electronic music and contemporary art in The Netherlands in recent years. He now also works as a coach for creatives. Mirla used to work as an independent documentary and filmmaker for amongst others Dutch national broadcaster VPRO and international media company VICE.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are located in Wallmapu (Araucania), the heartland of Indigenous Mapuche-Pewenche communities and have a lot of good relations with communities and individuals. Besides that, the rural Chilean traditional culture is strong and vivid with a lot of farmers markets, harvest festivals and traditional events. We are living and working in a small rural community that is growing and becoming.
We also often invite artists and scientists from all over the world as well as local guides for our residency programs. We have good contacts with curators, universities and other cultural organisations in Chile and abroad.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
At the moment we are specifically looking for an extra pairs of hands that have some experience with building/woodwork, to help us with building a little and simple artist workplace. (We have some preliminary sketches but are always very much open to creative ideas and smart solutions/cool designs, so you could be involved in a part of the creative process if you are up for that). For all professional construction we will employ local builders, however there is always a need for extra help in the support of the construction process, such as assisting with finding materials as well as the actual building process. Apart from that we are also plotting a compost toilet and outdoor kitchen and we would like to do some updates and maintenance on our greenhouse and outdoor shower. There would also be room for someone who likes to work in the organic garden-preferably with knowledge and experience of creating raised beds- and/or someone who can help us create simple (living) fences to keep cattle out, is very welcome too :) In general people that are interested in helping to create a food forest, permaculture systems, living fences, little construction projects, regeneration and assisting with artist residencies are welcome to contact us.
We always encourage to have a Skype or Zoom session to get know each other first and learn what our expectations, special needs, or wishes are.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
German: Beginner
Accommodation
You will be sleeping in a beautiful big yurt on our premises, in a comfortable double bed, with a working stove, a desk, wifi (Starlink) and running water (cold) close by. Hot showers, washing machine and toilet are all free to use in our house. Being in a remote and mountainous area, there is no phone signal and at times electricity (along with satellite wifi) can be cut off by storms or high winds. We have a back-up generator that will be switched on which charges two household batteries. We will offer all your meals and we will take you to asado's in the community!
All food is provided/paid for and on most days we will have communal lunch and diners. We will do shopping twice a week in nearest town of Curacautin. We will have shifts in cooking together.
You are able to enjoy all spaces in and around the house, the garden, the outdoor lounge area and our greenhouse, although we do respect some privacy as we are with a small kid. There's also a beautiful trail going up behind our house to a spectaculair viewpoint of the Cañón del Blanco.
What else ...
We are within walking distance to the natural thermal hot springs of our neighbour, where we like to go often. On free days you can explore all kinds of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, horse-riding, cycling etc. We also have a car available for trips.
We are surrounded by ancient volcanic landscapes with a high level of biodiversity and bordering one of Chile's most beautiful national parks Conguillío , which is also home to Llaima, the second most active volcano in Chile. Really worth exploring are the extra-terrestrial landscapes, enchanting native forests, alpine lakes, wild rivers, remnants of lava streams and black volcanic sands of the other national parks and reserves of Tolhuaca, China Muerte and Malalcahuello-Nalcas.
The area surrounding this valley part of Kütralkura UNESCO Global Geopark, the first, and so far only, geopark in Chile. A geopark is a defined area with a significant number of landscapes and sites of geological importance, rarity or aesthetic significance, highlighting its historical and cultural qualities. Kütralkura contains six protected areas, five volcanoes and an outstanding level of globally recognized bio-and geodiversity. The geological history of this area spans the last 250 million years and represents the memory of the Earth. It is part of the greater UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Araucaria; an integrated protection, education and sustainable development concept.
Exploring these territories is something we love to do and go as much as we can in our free time!
Should you want to visit surrounding places of interest on your own, there is limited public transport:
- from Curacautín there is a bus half way into the Rio Blanco valley, that stops 7km from the Cañon del Blanco, twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday.
- from Curacautín there are buses every half hour to the regional capital of Temuco.
- from Curacautín there are several buses per day to the surrounding communities of Malalcahuello and Lonquimay.
If you want to rent a car, rental cars are available in Temuco and from Temuco Airport.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a (mostly) really fast internet connection with Starlink. We also work from home :)
Space for parking camper vans
You could also park your campervan (we have one ourselves as well) and plug it into power and fill up on water.
Can possibly accept pets
Yes, cats, dogs, rabbits, turtles are all welcome, as long as they are kid friendly :)
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
