Learning with Permaculture
Description: Boževce is a tiny village community situated in the Eastern part of Kosovo, in the Municipality of Ranilug, hidden behind hills, between forest, rocks, streams and meadows. In this remote village, with help of friends and volunteers, GAIA has been developing a project in a property which will serve as a place for education and practices of sustainable living, natural building, organic food production, communal living, etc. The program includes different activities in the fileds of natural building, mainly with local materials such as earth and straw, food production and permaculture.
Type of Work: The volunteers will mainly work on the outdoor facilities for education, creating different didactic elements mainly from wood, info signs, planting aromatic herbs and decorating the space around the outdoor classroom. The volunteers will also join the kids from the local school in the neighbouring village in clean up action and help a couple of families with seasonal work in their gardens and fields.
Study Theme: The main theme of the project is permaculture education, thus the volunteers will be introduced to the permaculture ethics and principles, composting, natural building and sustainable lifestyle.
Accommodation: The volunteers will be accommodated in a house situated 150m from the project. The house has a tiny kitchen, shower and one outdoor composting toilet with the view of the valley. The volunteers will be cooking in teams, vegan and vegetarian food. There are many animals around (cats, dogs, chickens, gees, goats etc) thus volunteers should be comfortable with their presence.
Requirements: It is important that the volunteers choose environmentally friendly means of transport and that they are interested in environmental issues, permaculture and simple and sustainable living. No previous experience is required, but strong motivation and will for an alternative approach. Sense of initiative and creativity are more than welcome.
Approximate Location: Bozevce is a tiny village community situated in the Eastern part of Kosovo, in the Municipality of Ranilug. The village used to be inhabited by 600 people, but nowadays it has been reduced to only around 50. It is hidden behind hills, between forest, rocks, streams and meadows. It is divided between three neighborhoods and extends 3 km. For bigger shopping, markets and ATMs, there is the possibility to go to Kamenica, a town situated several kilometres from the village.
Notes: This project is funded through the ESC programme and as such is open to young people between 18 and 30 years old from ESC programme countries for which travel costs and pocket money are covered. Others can also apply, but their travel costs will not be covered