Building Youth 2

CODE: JAVVA26-04

Work:

This eco-construction workcamp with "L'Enfance de l'Art" aims at renovating the building hosting kindergartens and a school following Steiner principles for children of the neighbourhood using only ecological materials and techniques. Volunteers will work on the renovation of a building in order to transform it into a welcoming place for kids.
The aim is to create a welcoming and well-equipped place with lavatories, kitchen, dorm, game room, etc.
Volunteers will work from Monday to Friday, from 9 to 12am and from 2 to 4pm. Depending on the needs, they will work in teams to take care of the school: Improvements, renovations and maintenance of the school premises. Also some demolitions!

Accomodation and food

Dormitories in the school with access to shower, bathroom and a washing machine. The meals (light at lunch: sandwiches, salads, soup,etc. and hot meal for dinner) will be prepared by a member of the organisation with the help of two volunteers. A focus will be put on a good management of the collective cooking to have quality meals with as less waste as possible.

Location and leisure

The building of “l’Ecole de la Providence” is located in Templeuve which is a small village close to the French border (2 km) and 20 km from Lille and 10 km from Tournai. There is a market and small shops in the village. A bus line makes the connection with Tournai (every hour during the day). The countryside is flat, which makes it easy to bike (a few bikes will be available). Tournai is a touristic place for old stones, history and museums lovers. Its cathedral is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Project hosted by

This workcamp is organised by "L’Enfance de l'Art", an association founded in 1997, which aims to help parents in their education role. The organisation aims to gather people willing to bring to their children a creative learning environment where they can find the joy in learning and experience the richness of childhood rather than early specialisation or academic hot-housing. Parents and professionals work together in the structures created by the organisation: leisure workshops, nurseries, schools, kindergarten. To do so, the association follows the principles of Steiner-Waldorf pedagogy.

Altogether, those activities gather a total of 155 children. The nursery, the kindergarten and the primary school, which are all recognized by the authorities, are located in a former boarding school which was abandoned in 2004. This building in now in a process of renovation which the volunteers will take part in.

Directions to meeting point

Tournai Train Station

Additional comments

This workcamp is open to anyone interested in meeting and sharing with others but keep in mind that is physical work !

Please bring :

Sleeping bag. Sheets are provided, as are extra blankets ;-)

Safety shoes: essential!

Music and playlist: very useful on site, but also for parties!