📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project is organized in cooperation with Solovki State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve, which is well-known due to Solovetsky Monastery. Since 15th century Solovetsky Archipelago with its monastery was a religious citadel in the Russian North before being closed by Soviet government in 1920 and turned into a special Soviet prison and labour camp (1926–1939), the Gulag, - for some people the site still reminds of this horrible period in USSR history, a symbol of Stalin’s repressions.
💼 What the programme involves
The project aims at assisting in preservation of the World Heritage site by doing environmental physical work at the Botanical Garden that is a part of the Solovki heritage. Volunteers themselves will learn about history and uniqueness of the Solovetsky Islands Ensemble and help enrich biodiversity of the Islands’ ecosystem. During the project volunteers will work at the Botanical Garden founded by the monks in 1822, namely: digging ditches, plant, weed and fertilize trees, herbs and flowers of cultural and historical significance (more on that will be provided in the information list). Additionally, international volunteers are welcome to organise raising awareness activities on the importance of heritage preservation among locals, tourists and visitors.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will live in tents in a well-equipped camping of the garden. Food will be provided; volunteers will cook by themselves as a group: every day we will have a cooking team, which will cook on the fire; products will be provided. Please, bring your sleeping bag!
📍 About the location
The Solovetsky archipelago comprises of six islands in the western part of the White Sea less then 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle. They have been inhabited since the 5th century B.C. and important traces of human presence from as far back as the 5th millennium B.C. can be found there. Since 15th century Solovetsky Archipelago with its monastery was a religious citadel of the Russian North, there are several churches dating back to 16th-19th century.
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers are going to live on the campsite of the Botanical Garden. There you’ll need some regular clothes for work and rest. But as soon as we decide to have an excursion and visit some monastery or church you will have to follow the rules of the place. Girls should wear long skirts, which should cover their knees. Their heads should be also covered by headscarf or something like this, also your arms should be covered with long sleeves. Boys shouldn’t wear T-shirts and shorts in the monastery, their legs and arms should be covered. They don’t have to cover their head while visiting church.