Watermelon Time | ESC Team Volunteering project in Czechia (Fully Funded)

An exciting people for 20 young people from across Europe to join the ESC team volunteering project "Watermelon Time" for 14 unforgettable days in the picturesque town of Valašské Klobouky in the Czech Republic. This project is organised by "Hnutí Brontosaurus" and funded by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union.

About the Volunteering

"Watermelon Time" is a traditional mowing camp and this year is the third edition of the summer volunteering camp where you will get the chance to help preserve biodiversity in the Wallachia region (Czech Republic). Moreover, Participants  will get a massive opportunity to learn more about the local culture and traditions. 

The event is planned for 20 participants (10 from the Czech Republic and 10 from the rest of the world), who will be selected primarily based on their motivation. The camp aims to suppress prejudices and stereotypes, and Participants will focus on celebrating culture and traditional crafts. Each participant will be involved in creating the program by conducting their own workshops.

Watermelon Time is a great opportunity to meet new people and better understand their origins. Together, we will experience 14 days full of adventures, volunteer work, new experiences, and, most importantly, new friendships.

Volunteering Work

The volunteering work will be mostly consist in cutting grass in the nearby meadows. There are several meadows to be mowed, which are scattered around the volunteering place. Depending on where a particular meadow is located, it will take on average 30-60 minutes to walk there. The organisers might have a car or borrowed bicycles, which might help reduce the commute time, but it's not guaranteed.

Participants will join the 44th year of an annual mowing festival and help the local community to cut grass on nearby meadows. These meadows are mostly inaccessible for agricultural machinery, so it needs to be done manually, in the traditional way. Managing meadows this way might be more demanding, but it is also more environmentally friendly and it helps to preserve biodiversity of the region and the "old-school" crafts, tools and skills necessary for the traditional mowing methods.

On top of that it's an amazing opportunity for people from all over Czechia (and even from abroad) to come together, help the environment and have a great time!

Eligibility| who can apply?

- All the highly motivated young people aged between 18 - 30 years who residing in one of the ESC program countries are welcome to apply

- Ready to join the volunteering activities and willing to stay for the entire duration of the activity 

- You are open-minded person and not afraid of the challenges 

- This event will be in English, so basic English level is preferable

Expenses and Benefits

- Participants will be staying in the Kosénka Eco-centre in a small village in Valašské Klobouky.

-  The accommodation comes with all necessary amenities: you'll stay in a shared sleeping space fully equipped with mattresses (bring your own sleeping bag), a meeting area, a separate cozy wooden cabin with a fantastic stove, two individual toilets, one shower, and a compact kitchen. Everyone will bunk together in the shared room, which is mixed-gender.

- All participants will be involved in the preparation of food and maintaining housekeeping. The meals will be mainly vegan (but if you like to have another meal , the shop is 3 minutes away from the eco-centre)

- Each participant will be supported with 6 euro /day in the form of pocket money (to be paid on the last day of the activity)

- Your travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the distance between your home and the project venue according to the following limits:

• for travel distance between 0 and 99 km: 23 EUR / person
• for travel distance between 100 and 499 km: 210 EUR / person,
• for travel distance between 500 and 1999 km: 320 EUR / person, 
• for travel distance between 2000 and 2999 km: 410 EUR / person.
• Calculate your budget from HERE

• IMPORTANT: keep all your travel must be Green travel (using only trains, buses, and boats)
• IMPORTANT: Please send your travel proposition per e-mail to the organisers and wait for their confirmation before purchasing your tickets!

- Participants are entitled to receive a YouthPass certificate after the project where you are expected to self-assess your own learning and you can add it to your CV.

What to bring?

- ID or Passport or any other document you use for travel.

- Towels, flip flops, hygiene products, and a hairdryer, if you need one.

- Medicine, if you have any specific illness or medical condition.

- Your flight tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, or any proof you have that you came to Spain.

Timeline

Application deadline: As soon as possible

Arrival day: 4th of July 2024

Activity Period: 5-19th of July 2024

Departure day: 20th of July 2024

How to apply?

to apply you need to fill out this online application form as soon as possible

More Details

for more details, check the info-pack of the opportunity or visit the opportunity webpage on European Youth Portal from HERE

Apply Now⇗

Opportunity Website⇗

By applying to this volunteering program, you take responsibility and risks. Inform yourself about the regulation and potential risks. "Opportunity 4U" cannot be held liable for any of the potential risks, and this post is only for informative and popularising purposes.