📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Following the successful history of workcamps in Mariaberg, IBG and international volunteers are again invited to come to Mariaberg / Gammertingen to realize a small but important construction project. An old monastery overlooks the village from atop the surrounding hills and lush forests of the Swabian Albes. Mariaberg, a quarter of Gammertingen, is not only a village, but also a supporting organisation of the “Behindertenhilfe”, an institution offering homes, workshops and education (kindergarten and schools) for young people with learning difficulties, disabilities or illnesses. A diverse range of people – young and old – come together to live here, learn and work. Mariaberg as an institution was founded in 1847 and is now one of the biggest employers in the area, with several schools for caring professions and a psychiatry clinic for children and youth. We ask you to come with an open heart and mind, as you will be in close contact with the people and become part of the diverse community in Mariaberg! By volunteering in this project, you are contributing to a sustainable and inclusive community (UN SDG 11).
💼 What the programme involves
We invite 12 volunteers to come to Mariaberg and build a bakehouse together with students with disabilities.
Mariaberg is a complex where people with and without disabilities work together. There is an area called the ecological farm where cattle are raised (but also a few pigs, geese and therapeutic sheep) and different grains are cultivated. Students with disabilities from local schools regularly come working on the farm, which is located a bit outside of Mariaberg’s centre.
Your job will be to build a bakehouse on the farm, which you will be doing with and for these people. In 2020 the foundation was already prepared and concreted, which means that you can start building! That includes:
• bricklaying of the oven
• insertion of the baking chamber and the ash pan
• the erection of the roof with wooden rafters and roof tiles.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation will be in a gym hall in the centre of Mariaberg close to all needed facilities like showers and toilets. You will certainly have access to the swimming pool of the quarter and have the opportunity to use other facilities. You will not prepare meals for yourselves since there is no kitchen close to your accommodation. Hence, you will be served in the local Café and restaurant of the “village”.
📍 About the location
Gammertingen is situated 80 km south of Stuttgart, nestled in the Swabian Albes (not Alpes!)– a beautiful mountain chain with spectacular nature. Without doubt, you will find enough to do in Mariaberg itself (swimming pool, barbecue, gym halls, bowling, restaurants and cafés!) but the region also offers its nature, typical Swabian villages and small towns as worthy day-trips. The locals are looking forward to the cultural exchange with you and will be happy to organise trips and other activities for you.
