📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
You will work with the Emmaüs community in Escalquens, in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The secular solidarity movement of Emmaüs was born in 1949 to help people in need. Under the leadership and example of the Abbé Pierre, the “compagnons” have been working all around the world in order to help deprived people to find security, dignity, autonomy through work and mutual support.
They collect all kind of objects (furniture, clothes, household appliances etc.) in order to fix them up and resell or recycle them. The profit from the sales is used to help people in need and to encourage people to get involved in this solidarity approach.
💼 What the programme involves
You will work in the “Bric a Brac” with the Companions of Emmaüs and the volunteers: recycling, sorting, renovating, and selling many different objects, and preparing meals for around thirty people...
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will stay under tents on the site of Emmaüs Escalquens. You will have access to the bathroom and showers. You will share meals with the Companions. You will organize yourself in order to keep the facilities clean and to prepare meals.
📍 About the location
You will decide together on what to do during your free time and organise with the locals in order to encourage communication with the young locals.
Escalquens (6000 inhabitants) is located at the gates of the Laurageais area, between sunflower covered hills and small houses. In this beautiful setting you will find a bridge from 1772, a pink brick castle from 1568 in the city center and a 14th century church. At the Cousquille crossroads, you will find local shops and the Sunday market.
During your days off, you can reach Toulouse in less than one hour by bus. Toulouse is a beautiful, innovative, cultural and dynamic student city famous for its rich heritage.
In the area, you will get to discover villages, castles and wine estates, together with the UNESCO World Heritage “Canal des Deux Mers”.
ℹ️ Additional information
You need to write a motivation letter in order to apply to this workcamp.
You will live with the “Compagnons” which may come from difficult backgrounds; they are spending a year in the Emmaüs facilities as part of their integration process. They usually had previous professional or social difficulties, related to their age, health or highly unstable situation.
You will share the same place and therefore the same rules will apply to you in order to live all together. You will work mornings and afternoons (about 6/7h a day), help prepare meals and clean the place. Your days off will be Sunday and Monday. During the day, you will share the companions’ life and will be between volunteers in the evenings or time off. Outsiders are not allowed outside working hours, alcohol is forbidden on the facilities with no exception.