Join our social project working with the elderly in a beautiful ecological farm in Marvão, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  I am the founder of a social-cultural project that trough social clown brings hapinness, warm feelings, and hugs to old people (specially those who live in social loneliness) and works regularly with people with special needs. We work trough arts and are specialized in theater and clowning, but also do a lot of gardening, pottery and the always needed administrative work.
  
  Now we run 3 places: a 0,5 hectar land in a beautifull ecological farm in Portagem, Marvão (where there's also a forest school project and we take profit of the daily presence of kids around), an old tiny house in the historical center of Castelo de Vide, also needing your help, and our office in Castelo de Vide.
  
  The volunteer is always with one of our team, normally me, and absolutely guided by me. And if it’s needed a driving distance, I’m always the driver. In this case, it’s 6 km distance from the farm to the other 2 places. Some previous volunteers wanted to learn and help in our social clowning visits. That means, they can go with me to visit elderly in the retreat houses. On this cases, they might want to learn that technic, but also I ask to do photos, videos, report and give feedback so it’s always a win win
  
  URGENT NEED in painting and carpentry tasks (tiny house) and with gardening and organizing events with old people and kids in the farm, and digital marketing and administrative work at the office.
  
  In this project, our dreams are still bigger than our hands, and that's why... we'd love to share our project and ideas with yours and find our own way to change the world with love, art and laugh. Feel welcome to join our team at Maria d'Alegria :-)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance

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

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You can learn portuguese, spanish, french and english. you can take experience in theater, social clown, clown, drawing, knitting, forest school methodology, vegetarian food. Sometimes, we invite other teachers / artists and friends and you would be able to learn from them a lots of other skills, if you wish. We work a lot with old people and love to learn from their old traditions and costumes, from their past days. We can be your translators if you need.

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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 need help in gardening and wood building (compost toilet, outdoor kitchen, decks), taking care of the trees (old olive, cork and oak trees, and other fruit baby trees), cleaning, starting an aromatic herbs garden, help with maintenance of fences, gates, watering. Decorating, painting, creating artistic installations,
  
  We also need help working with people with disabilities, special mental needs and when we receive old people or other visits, preparing our regular cultural activities, cultural guided tours, welcoming the audience and the artists, help in kitchen, and accomodation with social turism. You will also find a space to share your own skills specially if they can be made with/for children.
  
  In the tiny house, we need help to finish some carpintery work, still have painting work to do, and preparing events.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Esperanto: 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.
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  Accommodation

  we have a caravan in Terra d'Amor Humor (Portagem, Marvão) or You can bring your own tent
  and, sometimes, we can host you in a room in Maria d'Alegria house (Castelo de Vide)
  
  we have a community kitchen where volunteers can cook their own meals. Sometimes, we can provide some ingredients (vegetarian food). Other times, we can cook or offer one meal in the school canteen, for the volunteers (per working day) but by now we have not the possibility to ensure that commitement as we work in some other places at the same time.

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  What else ...

  Around you can do beautiful walks in a Natural Park (Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede), with waterfalls to find. You can visit a lot of precious historical heritage places (like Castelo de Vide, Marvão, Portalegre, Nisa and the spanish Valência de Alcântara or world heritage Caceres (Spain) - only 1 hour distance).
  You will be surprised with the megalithic presence or old roman city Ammaia. You can swim in a big lake almost savage, or in the closest Sever river. You can taste new flavors made with local and ecological products, and take part in a lot of cultural happenings all year.

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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

  In the farm, we have internet access in exchange of a small donation, in the co-working place.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There's a campervan parking really close-by our place and a river for good baths in summer hot weather.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Normally yes! We love animals. It's all ok to bring your own tent but inside the house or caravan we can not accept cats due to avoid allergies ;-)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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