FARMING IN THE HEART OF MONT BLANC

Name: FARMING IN THE HEART OF MONT BLANC
Start: 2024-05-17
End: 2024-05-31
Location: Chamonix, France

Code: 0a99341500e44563ac72c3e3ab62afc9 Copied

France Environment Environment Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

For the past three years, the organisation has been working with the youth hostel network on volunteer projects. This partnership is being developed this year with a new project at the Chamonix site. Thomas, the hostel manager, wanted to strengthen the international and intercultural dimension of his business by welcoming a group of volunteers. The environmental dimension is also an issue at the heart of the priorities of tourism, which is evolving under the impact of climate change. The youth hostel is in partnership with the "Mont-Blanc fermes pédagogiques association", which aims to introduce certain sections of the public to the rudiments of balanced systems from field to plate, and to raise awareness among as many people as possible of sustainable production methods, permacultural market gardening and the treatment of small livestock.

💼 What the programme involves

Come and enjoy the exceptional setting of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley. In summer and winter alike, the Chamonix Youth Hostel welcomes many tourists who take advantage of their stay to discover the beauty of the surrounding nature and enjoy outdoor activities. The hostel is keen to offer facilities that reflect its values, and has joined forces with the "Mont-Blanc fermes pédagogiques association" to bring you this project. These two organisations work hand in hand to raise awareness of agricultural values: their aim is to set up an educational micro-farm at the hostel. You'll be taking part in the creation of a henhouse, a cabin for the animals, and the creation of paddocks for grazing. This work camp will be an opportunity to think about what food we produce and how. No specific skills are required. If you're interested in preserving the mountain environment and enjoy working as part of a team, this is the project for you.

🏠 Accommodation on site

You will be accommodated in the Youth Hostel, in dormitories with individual beds.Toilets and showers will be on the landing. Together, you'll help to organise community life (cleaning, activities, etc.) and take it in turns to prepare meals using locally sourced produce. You'll be rubbing shoulders with the guests of the youth hostel, which will strengthen the exchange of experiences. The hostel has Wifi in the communal areas.

🍲 Food

Our aim is to encourage vegetarian eating using local, seasonal produce, while respecting participants diets and discovering local cuisine together.

📍 About the location

The youth hostel is located at the foot of the Bosson glaciers, facing the Aiguille du Midi, so you'll have plenty to see during your stay! Just 600 meters from the accommodation, you'll find all the basic amenities (mini-market, market, restaurants, etc.). Chamonix town center is 2.5km away, within easy walking distance.

🎒 Leisure activities

There are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from: sports, nature and cultural activities to suit all tastes.

⚠️ Requirements

Don't forget to bring work clothes and shoes resistant to dirt. In the mountains, despite the sunshine, the weather is surprising and can change rapidly. For leisure activities, you'll need to pack clothes suited to the climate (warm fleece or jumper, shorts and hiking trousers, windbreaker, down jacket, warm socks, etc.). For hiking, high-top, notched shoes are recommended. Don't forget sun protection (a hat or cap is essential, sunglasses with a high protection factor because of the intense reflection, sun cream with a high protection factor IP 30-50, etc.) and a swimming costume for swimming or white-water activities. For your accommodation, remember to bring a towel and a pair of flip-flops for when you move around the youth hostel. You should also bring a backpack (in addition to your luggage) and comfortable trainers. You'll also need to pack the following essential accessories: a mobile phone charger, hiking poles (not compulsory, but recommended), a water bottle, a set of bandages and a headlamp or torch. Social events will be organised in collaboration with our coordinators and according to your wishes. In particular, we will be organising themed evenings for each country. If you would like to share a little of your culture (recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects, music, etc.), don't hesitate to take a little piece of your country/region in your backpack.

Volunteers will be required to complete a participation report, which will be submitted online via the portal.

ℹ️ Additional information

Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on the basis of €6/day, as soon as they arrive on the project in France.

This project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme for young people aged 18 to 30. It is open to all volunteers who meet the ESC criteria and is subject to several principles and conditions presented on this page: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_fr - Volunteers do not have to pay any fees (neither postage nor participation fees) to take part in the project, and will receive financial support for their journey, up to a maximum amount determined according to the distance they will be travelling and on presentation of the original tickets; - Volunteers must register on PASS, the ESC portal, and Concordia will then invite them to confirm their participation in the project.

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