Get ready for Life (Berge near Nauen, 45 km from Berlin)
Description: The Brandenburg Youth Centre https://www.jugendhof-brandenburg.de is a development facility for underprivileged young people from 13 years onwards, some of whom refuse to go to school, were in trouble with authorities or suffer from psychological problems. The project offers them the opportunity to (re)integrate into society. They live in family-like structures and are being prepared for jobs through development programmes on ecological farming and construction, kitchen work and in a wood workshop. Therefore the Youth Centre includes an ecological farm with grain farming, meadows, constructed wetland, wind power station and various biotopes that need taking care of. An environmental education seminar house,a multipurpose hall and various sports facilities are also part of the project.
Type of Work: The work camp mainly serves the contact between the young residents of the Jugendhof and the international work camp group. Therefore, the daily routine of the camp on the working days is aligned with that of the young people and you will eat and work together. There will be work in the stables, in the kitchen and housekeeping, in the garden, woodworking, repairs in the house and yard, as well as help with the harvest (probably sea buckthorn harvest), always together with the young people from the project.
Important: Work is done on 4 working days for 8 hours each, but Friday and the weekend are free. This arrangement maintains the motivation of the young people who work 8 hours. On Fridays, the workcamp group usually goes on a day trip.
Study Theme: The camp group can set priorities according to their interests in the field of ecology (ecological agriculture, ecological construction, environmental technology, alternative energy production) or pedagogy (resocialization, therapeutic horse-riding).
For more information on the sub-projects of the Jugendhof see www.jugendhof-brandenburg.de or on facebook "Jugendhof Brandenburg".
Accommodation: In two rooms in the seminar building of the project on camp-beds. On the 4 working days catering by the Jugendhof together with the young people, in the evenings and on the days off self-catering in the kitchen.
Language: Camp language is English. Knowledge of German is advantageous, but not a condition. This workcamp offers a good possibility to learn and improve your German.
Requirements: Willingness to do physical work and to integrate into the camp group and into the processes at the youth farm. Interest in contact and common free-time activities with the youth! A sensitive approach to the young people is required.
Approximate Location: Berge is located about 45 km west of Berlin in the Brandenburg region "Havelland", which is very scenic, with a lot of lakes. Berlin, the capital of Germany, can be reached in about 1 hour by bus and train. Berlin offers a lot of free-time activities in and around the city and is definitely worth to visit, considering its important function during the Second World War and during the time of the Berlin wall.
Notes: Important: alcohol and drugs are prohibited at the Jugendhof! The Jugendhof has a seminar house, a multi-purpose hall and various sports facilities. In addition, the Jugendhof has therapeutic horses that are used internally for regular activities. For leisure activities, bike tours, horseback riding, swimming in the lake, soccer, basketball and excursions to Berlin and Potsdam are possible.
Working hours in this camp are different from normal! You will work 8 hours on 4 days and have 3 days off - instead of just the weekend.
INCOMING FEE for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI: https://sci-d.de/incomingfee
Camp Photographs
