ESC: Individual Volunteering at Trinoga, Bulgaria

Name: ESC: Individual Volunteering at Trinoga, Bulgaria
Start: 2024-04-09
End: 2024-11-30
Location: Zhelen, Bulgaria

Code: 99a73320-f65f-11ee-aae3-fa163ef8d720 Copied

Bulgaria European Voluntary Service European Voluntary Service Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Our partner is a Bulgarian association dedicated to fostering community engagement and social cohesion through various initiatives and activities. Founded with the aim of promoting cultural exchange, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment, our partner focuses on creating opportunities for personal and collective growth. Through its programs and projects, the association seeks to address social challenges, empower individuals, and build resilient communities. Our partner is known for its inclusive approach, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds and fostering collaboration and cooperation among participants. With a commitment to positive social change and community development, our partner plays a significant role in promoting solidarity and civic engagement in Bulgaria.

💼 What the programme involves

With the help of our team, volunteers will engage in mastering the biorhythm and timetable of the place, including healthy nutrition, morning practices, work-life balance, relaxation, and creative time. They will assist with maintaining the place by cooking and cleaning, caring for animals, tending to the vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and plant nurseries, as well as hosting guests and short-term volunteering camps. Volunteers can also choose activities from various options, such as eco-construction, landscaping, and helping the local community. These activities align with three ESC priorities: developing key competences, developing green skills, and agroforestry farming. The four individual volunteers will provide support in implementing tasks in two main areas: helping the eco-community and local population with seasonal occupations and preparing for an ESC group activity. This includes tasks like campsite preparation, planning and purchasing food supplies, offline dissemination of the activity, and maintaining photovoltaic and solar systems while documenting the progress through photo and video diaries and social media.

🏠 Accommodation on site

The volunteers will be accommodated in 2 rooms (2 persons from the same gender per room), in Trinoga's second volunteering house, located 5 minutes away from the main houses of our community center.

🍲 Food

The volunteers will be responsible for cooking and providing for all participants and team members 3 meals/day, warm and cold drinks, healthy snacks during breaks.

📍 About the location

Zhelen is a village located in the Danube Valley region of Bulgaria, surrounded by lush green hills and extensive forests. Its history dates back several centuries, marked by its rich cultural heritage and rural past. Zhelen is also home to a dynamic associative sector, with several local organizations working on community development projects, environmental preservation, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. These initiatives are often carried out in collaboration with national and international partners to maximize their impact and reach. The diverse geography of the region provides an ideal setting for these activities, with picturesque landscapes conducive to ecotourism and nature conservation awareness.

🎒 Leisure activities

The individual volunteering opportunity for 4 participants, including 1 with fewer opportunities, consists of 30-36 hours of volunteering per week and 8 days off per month, as confirmed by the ESC Guide for 2024. It offers guided exploration of the local area, structured work activities, leisurely walks, and community celebrations, along with ample free time for informal interactions with locals and fellow participants.

In Zhelen, Bulgaria, volunteers can engage in a variety of leisure activities. From hiking picturesque trails and exploring the region's rich cultural heritage to participating in outdoor sports like cycling and horseback riding, there's something for everyone. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy eco-tours and wildlife spotting, while wellness seekers can indulge in yoga retreats and meditation sessions amidst the tranquil surroundings. With opportunities for volunteering, culinary experiences, and attending local festivals, Zhelen offers a diverse range of experiences for the volunteers to enjoy.

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, 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.