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ESC: Supporting Nature-Based Learning through the Bosque Escola Avelas Forest School in Portugal

Code: 52820 Copied

Portugal European Voluntary Service Social work Environment Education Culture European Voluntary Service Social work +3 Fixed dates

About the project

ESC: Supporting Nature-Based Learning through the Bosque Escola Avelas Forest School in Portugal

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Act for Transformation, established in 2007, is a dynamic non-profit dedicated to civil conflict transformation, peace education & global learning. Our mission is to foster positive change, particularly among youth, refugees, teachers, students, and marginalized groups Key Activities: -We collaborate with partner schools, youth clubs and advancing global learning, inclusion, and democracy education. -Actively participating in different volunteer programs, we annually send and host volunteers, supporting projects in Georgia, Armenia, Uganda, Sudan, and Georgia. -Conducting courses like "fairtogether" and "Demokratie Berater," we train multipliers, with a special focus on marginalized youth. Since 2020, 100 youth have been trained in the fairtogether methodology. -Engaging in projects since 2016, we focus on capacity building among marginalized youth in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, including training courses and organizing intercultural exchanges. -Coordinating the "Ukrainian support network" in Aalen, we provide inclusion activities and psycho-social support to Ukrainian refugees. -In 2022, we have hosted a Civil Peace Service Worker from Sudan, contributing to peacebuilding efforts and fostering collaboration between communities. Target groups: - Empowering youth and pedagogues through capacity-building, exchange and volunteering. - Support for refugees through training and inclusion initiatives. - Collaborating with CSOs in conflict regions for conflict transformation act for transformation, gegründet im Jahr 2007, ist eine gemeinnützige Genossenschaft, die sich der zivilen Konflikttransformation, Friedensbildung und Globalem Lernen widmet. Unsere Mission ist es, positive Veränderungen zu fördern, insbesondere unter Jugendlichen, Geflüchteten, Pädagog:innen, Schüler:innen und von Marginalisierung betroffenen Gruppen. Hauptaktivitäten: * Wir arbeiten mit Partnerschulen, Jugendclubs und fördern Globales Lernen, Inklusion und Demokratiebildung. * Durch die aktive Teilnahme an verschiedenen Freiwilligenprogrammen senden und empfangen wir jährlich Freiwillige, die Projekte in Georgien, Armenien, Uganda, Sudan und Georgien unterstützen. * Durchführung von Kursen wie "fairtogether" und "Demokratieberatung", schulen wir Multiplikator:innen, mit einem besonderen Fokus auf von Marginalisierung betroffenen Jugendliche. Seit 2020 wurden 100 Jugendliche in der interaktiven sozialpädagogischen Methodik „fairtogether“ geschult. * Seit 2016 engagieren wir uns in Projekten, die sich auf den Kapazitätsaufbau bei von Mariginalisierung betroffenen Jugendlichen in Georgien, Aserbaidschan und Armenien konzentrieren, einschließlich Schulungen und Organisation interkultureller Jugendbegegnungen. * Als Koordinationsstelle des "Ukrainian support network" in Aalen bieten wir Inklusionsaktivitäten und psychosoziale Unterstützung für ukrainische Geflüchtete an. * Im Jahr 2022 haben wir eine Friedensfachkraft im ZFD Programm aus dem Sudan aufgenommen, die zu Friedensbaumaßnahmen beigetragen und die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Gemeinschaften in Deutschland und Sudan gefördert hat. Zielgruppen: * Stärkung von Jugendlichen und Pädagog:innen durch Kapazitätsaufbau, Austausch und Freiwilligenarbeit. * Unterstützung von Geflüchteten durch Schulungen und Inklusionsinitiativen. * Zusammenarbeit mit zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen in Konfliktregionen für Konflikttransformation.

💼 What the programme involves

Bosque Escola Avelas is a forest school located in a beautiful natural setting near Marvão, Portugal. The project is rooted in nature, creativity, and community, and provides children with a supportive environment where they can learn, play, and grow through outdoor experiences and child-centred learning. Volunteers become part of the daily life of the school, supporting experienced educators in activities with children aged 2 to 12 years. Volunteers work with either the younger "Esquilos" group (ages 2–5/6) or the older "Raposas" group (ages 6+). They assist with educational and creative activities, support children's wellbeing, participate in community life, and occasionally help with practical tasks such as kitchen support. The project offers an opportunity to gain experience in alternative education and outdoor learning while living in a peaceful rural environment. Volunteers learn from experienced educators, develop new skills, and become part of a welcoming community.

🏠 Accommodation on site

Volunteers are accommodated in a shared house near the school in Portagem, which is shared with other volunteers. The house has three bedrooms, outdoor space, and air conditioning. Lunch and dinner are provided daily through the project's social canteen. Local transport is arranged with support from the community when needed. Travel to and from Portugal is reimbursed according to ESC rules, and volunteers receive a daily allowance for personal expenses.

🎒 Leisure activities

Volunteers receive continuous support throughout their stay. They work closely with experienced forest school educators and learn through daily practice and observation. In addition, volunteers take part in at least one training weekend during their volunteering period and have regular meetings with a mentor, who provides guidance and support whenever needed. The project offers valuable learning opportunities in outdoor education, child-centred learning, community living, and non-formal education.

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: We are looking for motivated young people aged 18–30 from Germany who are interested in education, nature, creativity, and community life. Volunteers should enjoy working with children, be patient, open-minded, and willing to learn. Experience with children, outdoor education, or forest school approaches is an advantage, but not required. Applicants should feel comfortable living in a quiet rural environment and participating actively in community life. A good knowledge of English, Portuguese, or Spanish is necessary for communication with the team and children.
Deadline: 15/07/2026 23:59

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.

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📅 Available sessions

PT52820

14/09/2026 → 30/06/2027

Closed
Volunteers registered 0 / 2
♂ 0/1 ♀ 0/1
Deadline: 15/07/2026

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

7330 Marvão, Portugal

Portugal

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)

Timezone

Western European Summer Time

Local time: 21:39 (12/11/2026)

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Portuguese