Help us out in our community-run school and farm in the countryside of Latvia

Details

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  Description

  We are an intentional community-run christian school situated in rural Latvia (We welcome people of all faiths, but take this fact into account). Our school has 20 pupils ages 7-16 which allows us to maintain a close-knit family atmosphere. Most children stay in our school dormitory during the week. Next to the school is an apple orchard and almost a thousand bushes of currants.
  At a distance of 30 km from school (6 km from local municipality Madona), we have a small organic farm where we grow food for our own consumption. Children are also involved in community life and farming activities, learning how to grow plants and take care of the animals. We cook our meals using mostly our own home-grown fruit and veg. Everybody's favorite is the home-made ice cream made from our milk and school garden grown berries.
  The buzz and activity in the school and the peace and serenity of the farm provide a nice contrast. In the farm, we have cows, chicken, and a dog named Rāma. We have a dog and some goats next to the school.
  Besides farming, children are involved in other activities like music (brass instruments, piano, guitar etc.), arts and crafts, sports (cross country skiing in the fields next to the school and ice skating on the local pond).
  So whatever your passion and preference (Be it teaching, arts and crafts, music, construction, gardening, sports, animal care etc.) we will find ways for you to contribute and express yourself, and in the process enrich the lives of everyone here in the school.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Workawayers would be able to learn various gardening, farming, construction, food preparation and conservation, and child care skills and make their valuable contribution to a community and school that has been running for more than 30 years (We are the first private school since Latvia's independence from the USSR!). We have many friends from Norway, Germany, Russia, Finland, the US and other countries so you'll be able to meet them.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Help

  We have 4 main work segments. School, Farm, Construction work, and Maintenance. Workawayers can work with children in school and plan after-school activities and teach;
  Work on the farm, take care of the animals and tend the garden;
  Do construction work helping us to improve our living conditions and build our new community center;
  Perform various maintenance tasks such as cleaning, or chopping wood for heating. All four segments are somewhat intertwined.
  Our teachers also work in the kitchen and do farm work. You'll be doing mostly one thing, but you'll be asked to help out with other things too, like in any household. We also have a garage and woodworking equipment. So if you're technically inclined that can be done too.
  You will have a seat at the school table eating 4 meals a day.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Latvian (Lettish): Fluent
  Russian: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Dutch: Intermediate

  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

  We have multiple guest rooms in a 2 storey building near the school. There are two bathrooms and showers, one on each floor. You might be asked to help heat it in the winter. We have another room for 1 person or a couple near the farm.

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  What else ...

  School holidays are quite long in Latvia. If you want to work with kids make sure you're with us from September until mid-June. In the summer we mostly do construction and farmwork. We do organise multiple camps in the summer though so you could contribute to some of them.
  
  Getting here: Volunteers can buy a bus ticket from Rīga to Barkava. Bus fare at the time of writing (11.2018) is 7.90 €. Buses on this route depart from Rīga bus station twice a day at 15:25 and 17:40. Someone from the school will pick workawayers up with a car. The school is about 6 km from Stalidzāni bus stop where you should step out.
  
  Another option is to go to
  the closest town to school - Madona approximately 2.5 h (3h by coach) from the capital Riga.
  This is public transport schedule for weekdays
  Holidays and weekends have different schedules you can find on the same website.
  Every day there's also a train to Madona from Riga at 7:01 PM.
  Again someone from school can pick you guys up in Madona. So if you fear you might miss a small bus stop such as Stalidzāni, just go to Madona. All Intercity coaches in Latvia have onboard WiFi.
  
  Cross-country skiing, biathlon, and orientation are popular activities in our region.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

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

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

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

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Minimum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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