ESC: Ecology and education for change. Community building
Code: 391526601c40be2017 Copied
About the project
ESC: Ecology and education for change. Community building
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Our partner organization was created in 1998 in Sofia.
Main objectives:
- to promote skills and inspiration for sustainable and ecological lifestyle, building a community, sharing these values and inspired by nature;
- to apply and promote innovative methods and practices for education in the sphere of formal and non formal education;
- to safeguard Bulgarian historical, cultural and spritual values, traditions and crafts;
- to assist the creation of European cultural identity;
- to promote volunteering.
Since 2008, our partner has operated a Permaculture demonstration center in the town of Shipka, organizing educational activities. In 2011, a book on permaculture was translated into Bulgarian and published. Since 2014, our partner has collaborated with the local Community Center and other institutions to attract young people to Shipka, strengthen bonds between community members, and foster awareness among people. Activities have been organized to preserve authentic skills, crafts, and traditions. In 2019, our partner established an educational center called "Golden Apple" for children aged 5 to 11 in the town of Kazanlak. The target groups include children and youth (aged 4-18) as future citizens contributing to the global good, along with their parents (aged 18+) who play a role in ensuring that their children's acquired knowledge remains permanent and continues to develop. Another target group is older citizens above 50.
💼 What the programme involves
The volunteers are invited to join a community dedicated to promoting an environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle. Drawing inspiration from permaculture principles, our partner engages in practices such as waste reduction, food production in permaculture gardens and orchards, natural building, and small-scale waste management initiatives in the local town. By participating, the volunteers can contribute to preserving and harmonizing with nature, as well as safeguarding and enhancing cultural heritage, authentic crafts, and traditional practices. They can also assist in raising awareness about permaculture, waste management strategies, natural building techniques, culture, and Erasmus+ initiatives. Furthermore, they can participate in organizing Shipka Fest and connect with like-minded individuals to collectively make a positive impact in the world. The project spans two locations, with volunteers spending four months in Shipka and eight months in Bunovo (DHARMA DAR - near Kyustendil).
🏠 Accommodation on site
🍲 Food
Cooking and meals are arranged on a communal basis with taking turns for cooking. Communal meals are vegetarian. Wood stove heating. There is indoor and outdoor kitchen (BUNOVO - used in different seasons).
📍 About the location
Shipka is a small town located in central Bulgaria, nestled in the scenic Balkan Mountains. Known for its historical significance and breathtaking natural beauty, Shipka attracts visitors with its charm and tranquility. The town is particularly famous for the Shipka Pass, a strategic mountain pass that played a crucial role in Bulgarian history, especially during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. At the summit of the pass stands the impressive Shipka Memorial Church, a symbol of Bulgaria's struggle for independence. Shipka also offers stunning mountain landscapes, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and nature lovers. The town's rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and peaceful atmosphere make it a delightful destination to explore and experience Bulgarian history and mountain scenery.
🎒 Leisure activities
- Permaculture design (building raised beds, perennial plants, observation skills, worm farm, mulching, composting);
- healthy and non-violent living;
- planting endemic and imported plants - nutritional, medicinal, ecological;
- renovation and construction of houses, using wood, clay, stone, straw and other materials;
- restoration of an old workshop and construction of a shared bedroom from natural materials, construction of a natural children's corner in the yard;
- maintenance of eco-farms;
- non-dogmatic spirituality;
- natural living, natural birth.
⚠️ Requirements
Deadline: application deadline: 15/06/2024.
🤝 Meeting point
The meeting point will be indicated in the info sheet.
ℹ️ Additional information
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, volunteers need to enroll themselves at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify their 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.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
📅 Available sessions
BG39152
01/09/2024 → 31/12/2025
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–30 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Gabrovo Center, ul. "Dobri Kartalov" 22, 22 6150, 5300 Gabrovo, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Bulgaria Lev (BGN / лв)
Exchange rate
1 BGN = 0.515905 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Eastern European Standard Time
Local time: 21:35 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken