📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
CONCORDIA is a non-profit organisation for Youth and Popular Education founded in 1950 with the aim to promote international exchanges of young volunteers. Concordia's objectives are :
- To contribute to the animation of the social life by the participation of French and foreign volunteers in the realization of civil works of general interest.
- To promote the circulation of people and ideas through international exchanges in order to develop knowledge, mutual understanding and peace.
- To promote an education project, encouraging an active citizenship of people for a democratic, united and participatory society.
Concordia has a national headquarters and 11 delegations spread throughout France. The delegations carry out various projects responding to the needs of their local territories and can rely on the experience of the national headquarters, and especially the team of the international sector, to coordinate them. Currently, the association has a permanent team of 35 employees. This team is enlarged from time to time for the implementation of specific activities (seasonal animators on international projects, facilitators or trainers on Erasmus+ projects).
In terms of structure, the regional delegations are secondary establishments of the national headquarters of the association. Each entity (head office and delegations) has its own budget, which are however consolidated in the annual accounts of the association. The regional delegations depend directly on the national management of the association with autonomy in the setting up of projects and collaborate with the teams of the national headquarters on different aspects, which can be linked to the functioning (accounting, payroll, communication) or to the activities (in particular with the international sector for the question of European projects). See attached the organization chart.
The national headquarters and the various regional delegations have their own accreditations linked to European programs (previously YiA, Erasmus+ and ESC). Hosting and sending activities are organized by the regional delegations in conjunction with their local partners. They also manage the financial aspects (grants and budget management). The head office, through its international sector, coordinates all the activities carried out (relations with international partners, common tools, reporting, training, advice, etc.). The head office directly manages some European projects, especially those requiring the mobilization of the whole network of regional delegations (previously annual project of short term EVS) or multiannual projects in the framework of the KA2 actions of the Erasmus+ program. See attached "specific ESC" organization chart
Concordia’s headquarters located in Paris, is in charge of :
- Supervising and coordinating all the European projects implemented by the regional delegations
- Concordia’s representation within our networks
- Sending volunteers in European Solidarity Corps projects
Historically, the main activity of Concordia is the organization of international volunteer workcamps. Each year we propose a program of about a hundred international workcamps in France and more than a thousand possibilities of departure abroad for projects set up by our partners.
The association has developed other mobility activities and medium or long term volunteering in France or abroad. Thus, we propose volunteering activities apart from institutional programs (projects of 2 months to one year set up by our partners abroad without any specific financing), but we are also involved, since the creation of the system, in the implementation of the French Civic Service (mainly in France with local partners and in intermediation).
Moreover, Concordia is strongly involved in European projects. As part of the European Youth in Action Program, now Erasmus +, the association organizes and coordinates youth exchanges, training for youth actors, hosting and sending volunteers and participates in various national and international seminars. Since 2018, the association has been involved in the European Solidarity Corps and continues to accompany young people on short and long term volunteering projects and team volunteering projects.
Our action favors the diversity of the public, notably by the implementation of social inclusion programs (Youth with less opportunities on international workcamps or European programs, specific projects in the framework of the Civic Service). Most of our actions are addressed to young people from 15 to 30 years old, but we also welcome adults regardless of their age in our international workcamps for we believe in the added value of intergenerational exchanges.
Concordia is a member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service at the UNESCO, a founding member of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations, a member of the C.N.A.J.E.P. and of the Cotravaux network.
💼 What the programme involves
Come discover the legendary Templar town of La Couvertoirade! In the heart of an enchanting natural setting, on the Larzac plateau, stands this medieval town, proud of its 1,000 years of history, welcoming you to its ramparts.
The association ‘Les amis de la Couvertoirade’ wants to carry out this first workcamp to restore an old path between the town and the old mill on the hill.
Your mission as a knight, if you accept it, will be to work on the path so that walkers can use it in complete safety.
Set out to conquer this old medieval path and make yourself useful to the town!
Founded in 1968, ‘Les amis de la Couvertoirade’ aims to help safeguard the historical, landscape and human heritage of the town of La Courvertoirade and to promote its cultural and historical life. One of its major achievements has been the restoration of the old mill, which it is putting back into operation with an event called ‘Les enfarinades’, which you are invited to attend.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Come discover the legendary Templar town of La Couvertoirade! In the heart of an enchanting natural setting, on the Larzac plateau, stands this medieval town, proud of its 1,000 years of history, welcoming you to its ramparts.
The association ‘Les amis de la Couvertoirade’ wants to carry out this first workcamp to restore an old path between the town and the old mill on the hill.
Your mission as a knight, if you accept it, will be to work on the path so that walkers can use it in complete safety.
Set out to conquer this old medieval path and make yourself useful to the town!
🎒 Leisure activities
The medieval town of La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau in Aveyron. Surrounded by legends and a history of chivalry, La Couvertoirade, recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France, awaits you in an area classified as a World Heritage Site.
In the heart of its narrow streets, and at the bend of its artists' stalls, it might just reveal its secrets to you...
Whether you're a nature lover or a history buff, you can take part in the many outdoor leisure activities on offer on the site.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: Remember to bring gloves, clothes and shoes for work. Nights can be chilly, so bring a good warm sleeping bag. It is strongly recommended that you are able to swim, if you wish to enjoy the river. Feel free to bring something you would like to share with others (a speciality from your country, a musical instrument, an object from your culture etc.)
The nearest airport: MPL in Montpellier,France
The nearest terminal (train-, bus-, taxi station): CAYLAR bus station
Meeting Point and Time: Meeting point at CAYLAR bus station at 5PM on the 9th of May.
Deadline: 09/05/2025 00:00
ℹ️ Additional information
The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project
- Health insurance during your project
- round-trip travel reimbursement
- accommodation and food
- pocket money
- language course
- Return Week-end
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (
https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.