ESC: Greenovation 5.1 Volunteering Teams

Code: 45601680770deaeb51 Copied

Greece Environment European Voluntary Service Social work Environment European Voluntary Service +1 Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

"There are moments, when the inner voice is heard, that you cannot go back," says Family Counselor Erato Hatzimichalaki, its inspirer and creator . "Elpidochori began to be created within me knowing firsthand how dysfunctional the family can become, how education fails to inspire a love for learning and how society develops unhealthy models of reproduction. Searching for solutions led me to….".

In a project that aims to develop actions related to the Environment , Tradition , Culture and Personal Development , applying methods that promote sustainability and viability . It wishes and seeks to become a model of self-sufficiency at all levels. Natural construction, natural cultivation, recycling, respect for nature by minimizing the ecological footprint , are some of its main objectives.

It is located on a 31-acre estate in the Argolida region just 130 km from Athens, with centuries-old olive trees, fruit trees, almond trees and many herbs. It borders a forest and boasts five oversized holly trees (declared protected by the local Forest Service), as well as a 400-year-old oak tree . Its strategic location between important archaeological and tourist destinations such as Mycenae, Nafplio, Argos, Ancient Nemea, Tiryns and others makes it a great destination for groups from Greece and abroad who wish to live, work and exercise in nature.

The vision
Elpidochori began with the intention and vision of becoming a place where parents and children coexist in nature for short or longer periods of time , learning simultaneously on various topics, with the aim of unanimity, good relationships, equality, mutual respect and love for the environment.

💼 What the programme involves

To have a full overview of the project, please read the info pack: bit.ly/G51_info. To apply, fill in the form: bit.ly/G51_apply. Greenovation 5.1 is a 5-week volunteering experience at Hopeland, an educational eco-community in southern Greece. Along with 14 other volunteers from across Europe, you’ll live communally and support the development and sustainability of the space. The project focuses on two pillars: hands-on work and connecting and expanding. You’ll take part in eco-building, gardening, landscaping, woodworking, and maintenance tasks, while also sharing daily duties like cooking, cleaning, and caring for animals. You’ll connect with local initiatives through visits, clean-ups, and collaborations with communities like Liveloula. Tasks rotate weekly to give you a complete experience, with the chance to go deeper into what interests you. You can also propose and lead your own mini-project. Greenovation 5.1 is a space to learn, contribute, and grow together.

🏠 Accommodation on site

*Accommodation is mostly outdoors in shared teepee tents (4 people in each) equipped with pallet bed and small furniture for personal items. There are 2 outdoor toilets and 2 outdoor showers. Additionally there is 1 compost toilet around the estate. More details for the accommodation you can see in the infopack. There is a van for transportation upon communication with the coordinator.

🍲 Food

*There is a separate kitchen building and a roofed dining area with all the necessary equipment for cooking and dining. During the week, we are cooking and eating our main meals communally. *

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: We are offering this opportunity to 15 participants to ensure the intercultural dimension of the project. There are several requirements from the programme itself and a profile that we would like to focus on. - 18-30 years old (not older than 31 on the first day of the project) - Legal residents of one of the Erasmus+ programme countries with no visa needed to enter Greece - Ready to live in a rural environment with basic conditions - Eager to be challenged into aligning together with people from different cultures and open to sharing space, responsibilities, and decision-making with others in a communal setting - Enthusiastic with hands-on activities and practical tasks like gardening, building, cooking, cleaning - Eager to show commitment, take initiatives and create opportunities for themselves and society - Priority will be given to those that are facing or faced any kind of troubles in life - We are also looking for a couple of volunteers with media skills such as photography and filmmaking for documenting this whole experience for everyone but also support Hopeland activities, digital marketing and promotions. *Important note* At Hopeland, we want to make sure the experience is a good fit for everyone. Please keep in mind that this is not a healing retreat or therapy space. If you're going through something that feels too much to handle on your own, we encourage you to seek professional help before joining us. We also aren’t a place for managing addictions, whether related to drugs or alcohol, as we don’t have the resources to support those needs, neither it’s our focus. The work here can be physically demanding. Tasks like gardening, eco-building, and other hands-on activities require a certain level of fitness so check if you are ready for it. We also ask for personal responsibility, this means taking care of yourself, being mindful of your time, and doing your part as an active member of the team. This is not a vacation. It’s a chance for personal growth through physical work and shared experiences, so be prepared to engage fully. We want everyone to have a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, please think about these points when deciding if this is the right fit for you.
Deadline: 31/05/2025 12:00

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.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📅 Available sessions

EL45601

20/07/2025 at 00:00 → 28/08/2025 at 00:00

Closed

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♂ 0/1 ♀ 0/1

Deadline: 31/05/2025

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

Epar.Od. Koutsopodiou - Monsastirakiou, Koutsopodi 212 00, Greece

Greece

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)

Timezone

Eastern European Summer Time

Local time: 21:34 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Greek