years-experience access-alumni-network airfare airport-pick-up assistance-with-application-process community-service-placement continuous-support cultural-trips domestic-transport emergency-support field-trips global-competence-certificate grade-transcripts host-family-placement housing individual-contact-person internship-placement language-instruction meals medical-insurance orientations-during-your-time-abroad other pre-departure-orientation product-materials re-entry-orientation school-dipolma school-materials school-placement school-transport school-uniform stipend teaching-materials vaccinations visa-and-passport-fees visa-application-assistance world-wide-presence

Dette projekt tilbydes i samarbejde med organisationen CTL fra Irland og nedenfor kan du læse deres beskrivelse af programmet:

The Eco-Centre is a non-profit organisation focusing on ecology and sustainability. It is a residential venue for events such as workshops, courses, conferences and for individual/group retreats and holidays. The centre includes an organic vegetable and fruit gardens, a nature trail, a stone circle, a wildlife pond, two rush labyrinths, a chicken coop, an orchard and recently planted native woodland areas.  It is located in 50 acres of land which incorporates the main house with a cosy and warm atmosphere, two beautiful halls for group activities and accommodation blocks.

The centre’s mantra is reduce, reuse, recycle and its ethos is based on creating an environmentally sustainable activity having a minimal impact on the earth.

The Centre is a residential workshop centre. Guests are varied and include:-

  • Visiting tutors with groups of workshop participants
  • Visiting individuals both hostellers and Bed and Breakfast guests
  • Individuals attending our own Boghill organised events, tours, retreats and workshops including traditional Irish music
  • Community groups, school groups and local community workshops/events

Workshop activities are wide ranging usually linked to music and healing and include yoga, meditation, dancing, Tai Chi, djembi drumming, music workshops, singing, sweat lodges, retreats, parties, weddings, concerts, training sessions, meetings, conferences etc.

The Centre endeavours to create a community atmosphere and encourages and relies on volunteer throughout the year.  At any one time there may be up to 11 volunteers. Volunteers are expected to work together as a team.

Other Centre facilities

  • There is a small pottery on site which uses its own clay that is dug up on the centre’s land.
  • Bike hire can be arranged locally.
  • Volunteers may have some opportunities to join in workshops (for visiting workshops a fee is required) and activities taking place at the centre and can make their own opportunities to play/learn music and join in informal sessions.
  • There is an extensive library of paperbacks in the living room and plenty of games, jigsaws and puzzles.
  • Free internet access is available for laptops. There is no computer available for use on site except the printing of boarding passes.
  • There are always English and Dutch speakers at Boghill.
  • Smoking is only allowed outside the buildings as everywhere else in Ireland

The volunteer workVolunteer work at the Eco-Centre is varied and interesting. The project staff members describe themselves as a  “friendly bunch” and they endeavour to create a community atmosphere. They accommodate and cater for volunteers from all over the world. No experience is necessary just a willingness to learn and help. There is also a range of opportunities that volunteers can engage in as well as work – walking, nature study, music, pottery, self-development and loads of books, games and jigsaws.

There are around 10 volunteers staying at the project.  Volunteer work hours can be expected to average out at approximately 25 hours per week. This will often incorporate weekend work. Where possible the work will be matched to individual skills and abilities, however everyone will be expected to be flexible depending on the weather and the work required. At quiet times there is the opportunity to take days off for touring. Flexibility and negotiation on both sides is encouraged.

Example of tasks

Work will be outdoors in the Centre grounds or kitchen garden and indoor jobs linked to catering for guests. There are more opportunities to do outside work in the spring and summer month with a strong emphasis on gardening in March, April and May.

Outside work may involve:    

  • Gardening  – both heavy digging and light weeding
  • Planting – trees and vegetables
  • Composting
  • Land clearing
  • Ditch digging and clearing
  • Fencing
  • Tending to chickens
  • Path laying
  • Stacking and preparing wood for the boiler
  • Building natural structures
  • Tidying and general ground maintenance

Inside work may involve:

  • Cooking
  • Dishwashing
  • Cleaning
  • Maintenance
  • Recycling
  • Laundry

Objectives for Volunteers:

  • Develop awareness of environmental impacts and how to minimise these within the Centre complex
  • Become immersed in the ethos of reducing, recycling, reusing and repairing
  • Gain experience of working in an organic vegetable garden
  • Develop insights into vegetarian cooking through preparing vegetables for meals
  • Acquire the skills of eco household management through laundry duties, cleaning and room preparation
  • Experience a variety of activities associated with minimal impact site maintenance
  • Learn about the efficient operation and ethical practices of an ecotourist venue
  • Develop interpersonal skills through interacting with guests  and fellow workers.

What a Volunteer can expect

  • An opportunity to gain experience of working in an Ecotourism venue with a strong environmental policy.
  • A bed within the complex. We cannot guarantee that it will always be the same bed in the same place.  Full board. At times when there is a cook employed, meals will be prepared, otherwise Volunteers will cater for themselves – there is a wide range of vegetarian ingredients in the kitchen and garden.
  • An induction to the Centre, its practices, its eco policies and activities and its health and safety requirements.
  • To join in some of the activities taking place, when opportunities present themselves and work schedule allows. There are more opportunities in the summer months.
  • An opportunity to experience life in County Clare and explore the surrounding region and local culture.
  • In summer  – an experience of working within a team in a busy ecotourism business.
  • In winter a quiet and homely place for contemplation, recuperation or personal development with flurries of activity at weekends.
  • Time and space to enjoy the tranquillity of the estate and the biodiversity it presents.

 

HER kan du læse mere om ansøgningsprocessen, din interkulturelle forberedelse, hvilke kompetencer du får, rejsebreve fra vores deltagere,  aktuelle tilbud, hvordan du mixer dit eget program og meget mere.

Programdetaljer

  • Programtype
    • Volunteering
  • Sted
  • Program for individuelle eller grupper
    Individuel eller gruppe
  • Program highlights
    • Enjoy international company in rural Ireland

Hvad er inkluderet i programmet

  • Indkvarteringsform
  • 24/7 nødkontakt
  • Måltider
  • Hjælp til ansøgningsprocessen
  • Global Competence Certificate
  • Løbende støtte og support
  • Orientering før afrejsen
  • Orienteringer undervejs i opholdet
  • Orientering efter hjemkomsten
  • Du bliver en del af hele AFS netværket
  • Verdensomspændende organisation
  • 70 års erfaring
  • Individual Contact Person
  • Afhentning i lufthavnen
  • Fuld sygeforsikring
  • Community Service Placement

Hvad skal du selv sørge for?

  • International transport (fly)
  • Visum og pas gebyrer
  • Vaccinationer