Contribute to the development of the Ecocenter “La Cité S’invente"
Description: La Cité s'invente is an environmental education association. Its mission is to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote sustainable lifestyles. Since 2009, the Cité s'invente has developed an ecocenter, located in the Coteaux de la Citadelle in Liège. Each year, the participative workcamps (volunteer projects) are an opportunity to raise awareness, share and experiment a set of techniques and practices that respect the environment in various fields: eco-renovation, construction, space planning, development of low-tech tools and systems, horticulture, permaculture… www.lacitesinvente.be
Type of Work: The main task of the volunteers will be to help with the exterior development of the ecocenter. More precisely, for this year 2024, the landscaping projects have been thought according to the needs and priorities of the association, but also in order to allow each and everyone to find a task that suits him or her and to discover different activities too. The main project will consist of creating an access road, earthworks and laying of limestone and sandstone gravel; a light roof will be put on our outdoor dry toilets; the construction of different outdoor wooden furniture (benches and chests); maintenance activities of the green spaces and the vegetable garden will also be possible on a daily basis: clearing, pruning, weeding, sowing, harvesting and preparing the soil for new plantations.
Study Theme: Sustainable development and ecological transition.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in tents on the grounds of the ecocenter, in an area set up for this purpose. We invite them to bring their sleeping bags and a mattress if possible. In case of bad weather, it is possible to set up an indoor sleeping area. A shower is available for the volunteers as well as dry toilets inside and outside. An indoor and outdoor kitchen is available to volunteers, and they will prepare their own meals. Preferably, the food will be organic and local with a vegetarian tendency.
Language: English. French is a plus to interact with local people.
Requirements: This project is for volunteers who are interested in learning about the philosophy/spirit, practical applications and techniques of eco-building and a healthy lifestyle which enhance food and personal autonomy. It is important that volunteers are fully engaged in all activities.
Approximate Location: In Liege. There will be possible visits in the area (museum of the Walloon life, Curtius Museum, Collegiate church Saint-Barthélemy, Archéoforum, guided nature walks...).
Notes: Additional fee: Many SCI workcamps will have an additional fee of €50.00. This will cover - local hosting costs; International insurance costs of the volunteer; a small travel fund to enable disadvantaged volunteers to join projects; administration costs of SCI International. If you apply through an SCI branch, the fee will be included in the fee you pay to your sending branch. If you apply through a partner organisation you will pay the fee on arrival at the project; direct to the hosting branch or through a PayPal transfer system. When accepted on the project the host branch will give you more details of the various payment options.