Kiidi Farm

CODE: EST GR 01

Project

The charm of Haanja Uplands in South Estonia lies in its lovely hilly landscape, winding roads and numerous lakes. Most of its ancient villages, peculiar dialect, handicrafts and customs have been preserved until today. The whole area, called Vorumaa, is an area of outstanding beauty. It is famous for its diverse and very well preserved nature. Untouched forests with rich wildlife, deep valleys and picturesque hills, 170 small lakes with extremely clean water, streams and fast rivers with sand caves in their steep banks - you can find everything there.

With the support of the state and local authorities the eco- and farm sustainable tourism has been developed in this area. Besides promoting the environmental tourism, this initiative supports rural development which is very important issue for Estonia. Association of Farm Tourism launched several projects and Kiidi Farm, where the camp takes place, is one of them. This is one of the oldest EstYES local partners, who had hosted more than 40 camps and group projects with EstYES in the previous years. More information on Kiidi Farm is on site www.kiidi.ee .You can watch a video from previous Japanese group hosting here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-VV55UACrI

Work

The voluntary working program is diverse. It includes building wooden fence, cleaning hiking, cross-country skiing and snowboarding trails from brushwood, repainting hiking route signs, making firewood (cut woods, pile firewood in ricks), preparing material for rug weaving, cleaning sheep wool for crafts and possibly making woolen carpets.There might be also some light maintaining work in the houses. Depending on weather conditions work will be indoors or outdoors. The work will be around 4-6 hours a day, the rest of the time will be spend to get acquainted with the area, its natural and historical sites as well as with local people. Local people will join the camp for work and leisure.

Type of work and its schedule may change due on weather conditions and actual needs of the hosting project.

Helping to organize Haanja ski marathon (guiding, offering warm drinks to the players, etc.)

A typical day looks like follows:

9.00 - breakfast

10.00 - work

13.00 - lunch

14.00 - work

16.00 – trips in the area, visits, meetings

19.00 - dinner

20.00 – sauna or evening trips in the area

Study theme and cultural/ social activities

In addition to manual work there will be many learning opportunities. In this camp you will have a chance to learn about Estonian traditions, culture and handicrafts. There will be a possibility of studying some local handicrafts techniques (wood, wool,) and try to make your own. Among activities – planned and optional - there are:

Meeting with Rõuge Youth Club http://noorteklubi.ee/
Visiting Rõuge school http://www.rouge.edu.ee/
Visiting local community and town of Võru http://www.voru.ee/index.php?Menu=228&Lang=rus
Visiting local sights (Suur Munamägi – highest point of the Baltics) http://www.suurmunamagi.ee/
Vastseliina castle ruins http://www.vastseliina.ee/linnus/index.php?lang=et
Visiting most spectacular natural sites of the area http://www.visitestonia.com/en/hiking-trail-in-the-rouge-primeval-valley?site_preference=normal ; http://www.visitestonia.com/en/piusa-river-ancient-valley-landscape-reserve?site_preference=normal&site_preference=normal ; http://www.visitestonia.com/en/hinni-canyon?site_preference=normal&site_preference=normal
Trip to Setomaa http://www.setomaa.ee/ru ;  http://www.visitsetomaa.ee/ru
Learning local folk danses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BKoS9CfQPA&list=PLmy1EWSYllYn1LB8-Pwq5u2TqQKnJgJiV&index=1
Short trip to town Aluksne http://www.aluksne.lv/rus03_01.php which is across Latvian border

Location

Kiidi Farm is situated 15 km south of Võru, capital of the County, which has a population of 17 000 people and lies about 270 km south-east of Tallinn, very close to the Latvian and Russian borders. The closest village to Kiidi Farm is Rõuge (3km) with a population of less than 1000 people. More information about Estonia www.visitestonia.com; South-Estonia www.visitvoru.ee, www.werro.ee

Accomodation: 

At Kiidi Farm you will share 2-4-bedded rooms. Sleeping bag is NOT needed. WC, shower, hot water, sauna are available. Hosts will prepare meals themselves, however, participants will be asked to help out in the kitchen.

Terminal

Airport, harbour, bus or train station in Tallinn; public bus to Võru; minivan transfer to Kiidi Farm.

What to bring

Please take appropriate clothes for work and hiking - warm and waterproof outdoor clothes (jacket) and shoes, warm sweaters, woolen socks, winter hats, working clothes and gloves. It is advisable to have some extra clothes to change in case those you wore got wet. Do not forget towel, toiletries, medicine and your personal things.

It is advisable to have International Student card ISIC if possible to get reduction on local transport, museums, etc.

You have to bring own insurance against illness and accidents.

And do not forget your positive attitude and good mood! ☺

Special requirements

No other special requirements, except your motivation, openness, flexibility and positive attitude 😊

Participation fee

For the lack of financial support for the project the participation fee of 245 Euro is requested from volunteers to cover the costs of board, lodging, leisure activities and administration. This fee has to be paid by bank transfer before the beginning of the camp. If you cannot make bank transfer please contact your sending organization for other solution.

Weather

The weather in Estonia is changable and quite unpredictable. It can be nice and sunny, but it can change quickly for snowy, windy and cold. Beginning of March is still  a winter time in Estonia, so the weather is usually cold, especially at nights, and there may be still a lot of snow. But you can see and feel the beginning of spring already. Even if at day temperature can go upto +5/10C, at nights it may drop down to -10C. Better to be prepared for everything. We cannot predict weather during you stay now, pleaser consult www.weather.ee or other sites shortly before your trip.

Meeting point

You have to arrive at Tallinn airport by 19:00 on 5th of March.at latest.

The meeting point on 6th of March is either at 19:45 by the Infodesk at Tallinn bus station (Bussijaam, Lastekodu str 46) or at 19:50 at the Airport exit gallery which leads to the airport bus stop. This is to ensure that all participants will take the same bus leaving from Tallinn bus station at 20:00 and from the airport at 20:05, arriving at Võru at 23:25. In Võru the host will pick you up by minivan and take to Kiidi Farm.

If you take the bus from the airport please buy your ticket in advance here www.tpilet.ee or at www.luxexpress.ee In this case bus driver knows about passengers waiting for the bus in the airport. Please note ticket price reduction of 25% for young people under 26. Do not forget to incert it when buying your ticket.

On the departure day 13th of March you can take a bus leaving Voru at 7:15 arriving at the airport at 10:50.

NB! Those who want to have stay in Tallinn before or after the project have the following options:

A. Arrive 1-2 days earlier, stay in a hostel ESTYES will suggest, enjoy stay in the capital before the group meeting

B. Enjoy sightseeing in afternoon-evening on 11th of March, stay in the hostel ESTYES will suggest, leave later

Therefore, you are welcome to contact us if you come earlier and need an accommodation before the camp or leave late and need accommodation after it. We can help you to book inexpensive hostel in Tallinn. And if any other help is needed do not hesitate to contact us.