Building a local culture and learning center in Hästveda, Sweden

  • Favourited 78 times
  • Last activity: 24 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are an international non-profit NGO with a base in South Sweden. Our main focus is on
    empowering women and youth, discovering hidden competencies, social entrepreneurship, and culture. It has both local activities and international projects, even though at the moment there is very little life due to corona…There are two places for that: one is a social initiatives incubator in an urban environment and another one is a vocational training location is in the rural forest area. The organization is 100% run by volunteers. The core of organisation and the motivation to join it is faith in experiment and courage to face the changes in one’s life: all activities and project in one way or another are oriented to question the normality, be positive and constructive about one’s options in life.

    However, whatever blurry or humanitarian the description above sounds, we want to be clear about what we are. Mostly women, we all have come to the point in life where expectation of someones protection, help or support has been replaced with own initiative, positive thinking and preparedness to meet any challenge with a smile and a joke.
    A lot of stress and psychological violence comes from people trying to keep up the appearances and fulfill someones idea of a good "normal" life. We host women who have decided to take a different path in life, go together choosing unknown future rather than familiar abuse. Accepting whatever life story you come to us with, we support each other and work together to strengthen and develop each one of us, within whatever "normal" it can be.
    In that, bigger part of work is physical and includes cleaning, moving stuff, simple carpenting, painting, sorting stuff, simple animal care and all diverse tasks that appear through life and work. Part concerns intellectual efforts and contribution to better organisation of ourselves, planning and conducting of activities with cultural and learning contents both in Helsingborg and Hästveda, eventually participating in international activities that we organize. Part is contribution with own idea or project that can be implemented with basic resources in our premises, that can help to develop the organisation and people who work in it.

    Please observe that the place where you will be staying, is chilly and dusty! There are ongoing smaller tasks of renovation, people and the dog passing by so order and harmony is not a word from our vocabulary. This is pretty much the reason why we need your help, if you decide to come and join us.

    We live more like a collective than a formal organisation: meals are very basic cooked for everyone and most of the time vegetarian, sometimes fish and other seafood can be used but common rule, if you want to cook/eat meat you will have to do it on your own expenses.

    Working schedule is generally Monday - Friday 9-16 but it can be adjusted according to needs and agreements. Often resulting in more work... Please observe that chaos and change is something we constantly deal with, and while it does provide a solid training of one's adjustment capacity, it may be difficult for some people to cope with. Unless you have already experienced the road to hell and back in your life and you are not easily scared anymore, then welcome.

    We hope you are comfortable with animals as there is a cat and a dog in the household. Also Wifi but not TV so bringing your laptop if you have it, would make your evenings more enjoyable. Both locations are somewhat away from the bigger cities so communication by bus is possible but often hard-to-persuade-my-lazy-tired-self.

    About COVID: please take care fo yourself and others. We do not demand full vaccination but we do not support antivax-movement either; in case of getting sick please make sure you have a valid health insurance for your journey and all the occasions, we don't provide any. If as a non-vaccinated you get sick in covid19 we do not provide any compassion either. Since 1 of December there is a green pass-demand (with 2 shots of vaccine) at nearly all public entertainment establishments in Sweden, please have that in mind.

    In general, every day is different. Don't be afraid to break your routine! 😉 Warning: lots of changes and moves, both physically and mentally.
    This may seem destabilizing, so it may take some time to adapt to the intensity of our rhythm. We are attentive to your needs, so don't hesitate to ask questions or express your concerns in order to distinguish early if any constructive changes can be made. Please don't expect that your needs will be placed in the center but we do all in our power to adjust both the environment and the premises, to facilitate everybody's inclusion and comfort. We do appreciate self-going, brave and initiative taking persons who are humble due to own experience of hardships.

    Whether it's work or free time, there are lots of different activities on offer. If you wish you will be meeting international people and plan international projects, but if you wish you can be left to your music or podcast with a simple task to complete, as well. All we are different and we all are parts of a bigger plan here on Earth :)

    No skills are required for work at our place: we practice sharing of skills and learning from each other. A common sense and common courtesy are expected and reflected in our house rules, please request those before you arrive.

    We prefer long stays because it always takes time to introduce a new person to the venues, activities and work. But life happens while we make our plans...

    Do not hesitate to ask and get in touch with us!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • 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

    Sweden is a country of nature and the outdoors. Solitude and mindfulness are best practiced here, where old villages and towns are kept preserved through centuries. Safe area for discovery and travel, commonly respected rules of gender equality and political correctness.

  • Help

    Help

    We constantly plan activities and carry around project ideas but lack help with administration and logistics around it, all from cleaning and cooking to making posters and delivering them around the city.
    In the rural house, we are dealing with a long-term renovation/building where learning by doing has been a motto for the last two years so some physical help will be required.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Russian: Fluent
    Swedish: 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.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Hästveda: A room in a collective house in a village in the middle of South Skåne, nearby the train station.
    Food: Provided/Cooked in the house.

    Please ask us about the "Rules of the House"

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Tell us your interests and we will try to help you find the way to execute them, meet people, get more contacts and ideas about what to do in your free time. There is some outdoors equipment that you can use if you want to go camping.

  • 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.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 252238791677

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