📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
ELIX volunteers have been organising projects in Ancient Olympia since 2003. After the great fire of 2007, which destroyed large parts of the surrounding hills of the area, ELIX volunteers were involved in several reforestation projects at the Galani Hill, which restored the natural environment. In the summer of 2021, a new fire burnt down everything on the Galani Hill and ELIX volunteers, will again be engaged in new reforestation next winter, in cooperation with a local environmental Group.
💼 What the programme involves
An important part of your experience is a Community Service Project that is much needed in Olympia. The aim of the project is to restore parts of the Botanical Garden, located near the Archaeological Museum, in order that it is accessible again to lovers of Nature. The tasks involved will be cutting down outgrown vegetation, pruning and thinning bushes of indigenous plants and digging ditches around each one, adding fertilizer and watering. Some planting of new plants might also be organized.
The work offered is very important, not only for the local community of Olympia, but as contribution to the cultural heritage of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, a place of great historical and cultural importance.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Participants will stay in the premises of a big hotel, situated a few hundred yards from the sacred site of Ancient Olympia. You will be hosted in the HOTEL NEDA (https://www.hotelneda.gr/) which is located
in Ancient Olympia. You will be in shared rooms of three people.
📍 About the location
In western Peloponnese, in the beautiful valley of the Alpheios river, lies the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. Dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods, it sprawls over the southwest foot of Mount Kronion, at the confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos rivers, in a lush, green landscape. During this project you will live, share experiences with people from different places of Europe, visit important historical sites of the area and offer some time in a community service project.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience the everyday life of Olympia; they may attend different events during the period of their stay like excursions, hiking, guided tours, speeches, empowerment exercises, familiarity with the local community, group activities that will help foster socialization among the participants and give a special identity to the programme.
Volunteers during this work-camp will have the opportunity to interact with young people of the local community in round tables, brainstorm and exchange ideas and find ways to making them more aware on local and environmental issues. Part of the experience in this project is to get to know more about other people’s countries, culture, and background. We will organise Circles of Interest during some evenings where you will have the opportunity to participate in team building activities and games
