Help a family of six to rebuild a 300 year old house in Sainte-marie-de-gosse, France

Details

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  Description

  In November and December 2024, we still have two projects coming up for which we really need support! See more info in the "Help"-section. We would be delighted if you would like to tackle these two projects with us!
  
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  Located between Bayonne and Dax, and about 20km from the most beautiful beaches is a 300-year-old stone house. Between summer 2024 and summer 2025 we want to renovate it completely, while we stay there with our family for one year (we are originally from Germany). In the long term, we want to turn the house into a place for many people to spend time together.
  If you want to see the house, ask us for the link.
  
  Most parts of this beautiful old house have been renovated in the 1990s, though we want to make some changes to the design, layout of the house, some new windows, new bathrooms and kitchen, insolation of the roof (from the inside), installation of solar panels, gardening, new electrical installation... A lot of different crafts will play a role over time and with some of these tasks we would like to have volunteers helping us (e.g. painting, gardening, preparation work for professionals, maybe some help with homework for the kids if it fits).
  
  We have bought the property and house as three parties. We - the party who will live there while renovating for one year - are a family of six. Our kids aged between 8 and 16 are happy to have more people there and very welcoming for workaways to live there with us.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are a welcoming and open family and happy to get to know different people. Come as you are.
  We have been living in China, Indonesia and Pakistan and both being social anthropologists we can share a lot of cultural experiences. Our kids are very eager to get to know people from all kinds of backgrounds.
  Located half an hour from the Atlantic, you will have the possibility of going to the beach/surfing.

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  Help

  In November and December 2024:
  
  Firstly, we want to build our new kitchen where the bedroom used to be. This includes two openings in the exterior walls (with the help of a bricklayer) for two new patio doors, removing built-in cupboards, adding tiled flooring, restoring walls, water and sewage installations. And of course the installation of the kitchen with its cupboards, worktops and appliances.
  
  We are ambitious!
  At the same time, we also want to completely remodel one of the bathrooms this year. This will involve breaking through a wall and moving a door, ripping out the old bathroom installations and replacing them with new ones, redesigning the floor and tiling the walls. The skylight also needs to be replaced.
  
  I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of details in these lists.
  
  
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  We are happy to welcome people to help out with whatever projects are currently pending and assist us. If you are experienced in any craft area we are happy if you share your experience with us but this is not a necessity!
  
  These areas of help will change over the year. Contact us for more information.

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  Languages spoken

  Danish: Fluent
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Chinese (Mandarin): Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner
  Hindi: Beginner
  Indonesian: Beginner
  Urdu: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Shared room in house.

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  What else ...

  We provide vegetarian/vegan food with occasional meat garnish.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have space in the garden for campervans with water and electricity.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

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

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