Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
19 Feb 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
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Details
Description
The foundation is an NGO in public benefit and we work mainly in training soft skills in people 17-35 years old. Of course, sometimes we works with a little younger and little older.
Since 2016 we have grown to having a little office in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and ongoing activities spread over the annual calendar like: youth exchanges, training courses for social and youth workers, therapists, teachers, educators etc. We hold Erasmus+ accreditation in the field of youth and we are holder of Quality label for Lead organisation in the context of European Solidarity Corps - ESC (previously know as EVS).
In 2023 the accumulated circumstances of initiative, experience, credibility and reliability, track record and some luck got altogether aligned and we got the chance to start a rural educational centre.
For that location we need help mainly in the profile of:
- construction
- maintenance
- gardening
We prefer people with experience who can have a positive impact on the project of revitalizing the village by improving the conditions of the old building and its garden.
Those are the people with practical hands-on skills like:
- working with hand tools
- working with power tools
- knowing how to paint
- knowing how to cut wood and assemble wooden parts
- knowing how to work with drywall and other simple masonry
- knowing how to fix tiles, and other minor things.
Of course, we will show and orient you, yet the expectation is for proactive and interested person in this kind of activities. Just because it seems interesting and you want to try it doesn't mean it is a good idea or good fit.
We are not expecting a one-man-show, yet these are some examples of skills that will make you a good fit for this WA placement.
The foundation currently has 3 youth workers, 5 international volunteers thru ESC and we are hosting 3-5 times a year 10-day workshops / training courses with about 40 participants. We know how to organise things, how to manage things and we love our work.
The village project is not financed by any program, donor, or grant and is purely rough and needs hard skills, and also soft skills, as the local people sometimes see our work as disturbing the usual vibe.
As a vision, this village school building is to be an educational (training and volunteering) centre, where people of diverse background, cultures, and interests will cooperate and co-exists, while enriching the locals and breaking stereotypes. Our presence definitely brings intercultural dimension in the village of ~60 elderly people. And much work is to be done also to show the locals that we mean no harm, and actually want to be useful - to ourselves and to them.
In a perfect world, the place will be able to host 60-70 people and have enough space for different ateliers based on topic, method, materials used etc.
We want to continue working with grants, yet we want to make a breakthrough into cooperating locally with diverse stakeholders (authorities, business, NGOs, local people), including raising money so people can also feel ownership.
IMPORTANT
1. Consider that this is learning opportunity in rural area. Comforts are available, yet limited and this is NOT like living in a city. No ATMs, no shops, no pharmacy, no bars, no clubs in the village. The closest are 20 km away.
2. If you get tired easily, this is not for you.
2.1. If you like scrolling social media, and spending hours on netflix - unfortunately, this is not for you.
3. If you have fear of bugs, well the village and the living conditions provide lots of bugs, which is actually great!
4. Living conditions include small village cabin, and non-renovated 200 years old house. Power, water, internet is available, yet might be limited.
5. Self-organised cooking with provided supplies in exchange of your working hours. The place is great escape, retreat, asylum away from city buzz.
6. We provide certificate for participation and acknowledgement to those who join and dedicate their time and effort.
7. Nearby are available hot mineral water, mountains, swimming, rivers, lakes, mountain springs, mountain biking, horse riding, paragliding, temazcal etc. opportunities and centres.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Yes, definitely. We want to revitalise the local community by enriching it with international spirit. We also host international work camps in the same place, doing the same things in larger groups.
That way locals can benefit in many areas - intercultural exchange, voluntary actions and initiatives, support and care. The village has about ~60-80 inhabitants. In our team of the foundation we are 6-10 people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and nationalities.
We offer life-changing experience and provide learning and personal development opportunity to those willing to contribute.
Help
For that location we need help mainly in the profile of:
- construction
- maintenance
- gardening
We prefer people with experience who can have a positive impact on the project of revitalizing the village by improving the conditions of the old school and its garden.
Those are the people with practical hands-on skills like:
- working with hand tools
- working with power tools
- knowing how to paint
- knowing how to cut wood and assemble wooden parts
- knowing how to work with gypsum and concrete
- knowing how to work with drywall and other masonry
- knowing how to fix tiles
And anything related. We are not expecting a one-man-show, yet these are some examples of skills that will make you a competitive.
For 2024 we are making an action plan with tasks what we want to achieve before 15 May.
Then 27 Ma7 - 18 June we will host a 40 people group from all over as part of our work camp this summer. Then we will have another sprint to fulfill several tasks until 15 Aug, because then again between 2-24 Sept we will host a second group of 40 camper doing lots of gardening, renovations, and community work.
Languages spoken
Bulgarian: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Turkish: Fluent
Serbian: Intermediate
Accommodation
Living conditions include small village cabin, and non-renovated 200 years old house. Power, water, internet is available, yet might be limited. Self-organised cooking with provided supplies in exchange of your working hours. The place is great escape, retreat, asylum away from city buzz.
Camp site is also available with limited access to comforts. Bring a tent, or we can borrow you one.
What else ...
We are hosting voluntary projects.
We can provide food and accommodation in exchange of 5 hours per day of work. Actual physical labour kind of work.
The areas is rural and offers solitude and natural beauty of nature, forests, brooks, waterfalls etc.
In the nearby surroundings there are plenty of sights - within 1-3-5 hours of walk you can reach dolmen, Roman fortress ruins, local landmarks - lakes, rivers, peaks. Within longer travel of about 1 hour by car, or less, you can reach towns and cities, as well as the starting point of 6-8 hour hike to the highest peak on the Balkan mountain - Botev peak, 2376 m. Bulgaria is rich in mountains so if that is what you like, there are plenty of opportunities. Our seaside is about 4-5 hour drive up east.
Nearby are available hot mineral water, mountains, swimming, rivers, lakes, mountain springs, mountain biking, horse riding, paragliding, temazcal etc. opportunities and centres.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are fixing an old school in rural area in Bulgaria, 1 hour drive from Plovdiv. There we are planning to establish a training and volunteering centre, away from the city noise and pollution. That also comes with some limitations in comforts, yet we are working on it and we also need help from WAers to make things dignified and as comfy as possible. Internet is available on a quite fast and reliable connection, yet it is a remote village, consider that, GSM coverage is very limited.
Space for parking camper vans
For campers we are having a big garden that could take up to 3 campers, yet we are not ready with camper connections to power and water. We are working on it.
Can possibly accept pets
We are in a village, and conditions are basic. Pets should are welcome as long as they behave in a way not disturbing others and neighbours. And definitely, no pets inside the living spaces.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
