📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Benediktus is a small NGO that builds a community for people with mental disabilities in a village in Železné hory (Iron Mountains) in the centre of the Czech Republic. People with and without disabilities live together here and reconstruct this historical place in the spirit of traditions, handicrafts, and cultural legacy of our ancestors. Through life in community they strive to find and show the uniqueness of every single person. The community provides social services, creates sheltered employment (pottery, weaving and basket weaving workshops, fruit and herbs drying kiln) and supports local cultural and spiritual heritage. Moreover, people of the community formed a music band called BeneBend. They are very happy, when international volunteers come and have fun together!
💼 What the programme involves
Benediktus owns an estate which was abandoned for longer time in the past, so there are still several houses and projects under reconstruction. The volunteers will work manually and the tasks will focus mainly on building a woodshed, creating a river bed from stones, and some small terrain adjustments. Moreover small reparations and general maintenance of the area it depends on the current needs of the organization. Volunteers will work approximately 6 hours/day, weekend will be free.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will be accommodated in a separate house, sleeping on beds and mattresses, please bring your own sleeping bag. There is a bathroom & toilet in the same house, and 2 more in another building few metres away. Heating can be provided by stove for wood. Volunteers will be eating together with the community and help with preparation of meals, vegetarian food possible. There is wi-fi access.
📍 About the location
The community of Benediktus offers an alternative to the psychiatric hospitals, and in contrast to them creates an environment where mentally disabled can establish friendly relationships with their assistants, develop their skills and to some extent gain independence. Coming here is a unique chance to experience life in such a community, work and spend free time with the people and learn something about social inclusion. But you will feel like you are in a big family, that is how friendly everyone here is! Moreover, you will discover the beautiful countryside of Iron Mountains.