Description: Tavastkenkä village in the Northern Ostrobothnia region is located between the towns of Oulu and Kajaani. The workcamp is organized by Tavastkenkä village association, which focuses on activities to promote the development of the village and local events. The volunteers will provide much-needed help with the restoration of the local river and the organization of the Tavastkenkä Village Days. The planned restoration aims to improve the reproductive conditions for trout and for recovery of fish stocks in the Siikajoki river.
Type of Work: In the first part of the camp, campers participate in the restoration of trout spawning beds in the Siikajoki river, which flows through the village. The work is part of an ongoing project to restore the Siikajoki River and help local species’ thrive. In the second half of the camp, the volunteers will participate in various ways in the Tavastkengkä Village Days (20 July) together with the villagers. Training, tools and the most necessary protective equipment will be provided by the organizer. A work supervisor will be present at all times. First aid kits are available at the work site.
Study Theme: Volunteers get to learn about local history. Several excursions are organized during the free time, to discover local nature, history, culture and livelihoods. Events with local people will also be organized during the camp.
Accommodation: The accommodation will be in the former village school of Tavastkenkä, which has shared rooms with women and men sleeping separately. There are only enough beds for a few volunteers. The rest will sleep on mattresses on the floor. Dining and leisure facilities and recreational facilities can be found in the Village Hall in the same courtyard. Both facilities have free wireless internet access. The school will also host about 30 seasonal strawberry pickers from the local farm. However, the school is large enough, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Requirements: Since the accommodation space is not accessible and the work is quite physical, the workcamp can’t host people with disabilities, such as reduced mobility.
Notes: Volunteers are recommended to bring their own rubber boots, which are good to have both for work and freetime. Mosquito repellent is also good to have.
We trust that the impact of our travels is a shared concern and if you can, please prefer more eco-friendly options than taking a plane
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Project name: River Restoration and Village Celebration