📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
St. Petersburg is considered to be the city of the great Russian writer and philosopher Feodor Dostoevsky. The most famous work were written in this city: “Crime and Punishment”, “The Idiot”, “Karamazov Brothers”, etc. His characters walked along the streets of the city. The spirit of his novel soars in the air. So to define St.Petersburg is recognized through the novels of Dostoevsky or novels of Dostoevsky are recognized through the history of St.Petersburg is very challenging question. Dostoevsky grandson is currently living in St.Petersburg. Meeting with him is quite possible. So that’s why we invite you to the wonderful city St.Petersburg to get a closer look at the world and the language of the great Dostoevsky. The group of people from different countries will be formed as in ordinary work camp, including living and spending leisure time together, but the main idea of the project is to allow volunteers improve their Russian by taking lessons in informal study. The volunteers will have daily classes (except of weekends) of Russian with the native speaking teacher. The teacher of Russian will have Bachelor’s degree or will be a student of university of speciality Russian as Foreign. But “Mir Tesen” doesn’t provide any certificate.
💼 What the programme involves
Work will include two parts. Study part is based on the methodology of teaching using of linguistic-cultural component. Second part includes works with preparation host organization office after the summer work camps: the volunteers will be engaged in repairing work (outside and inside) of old historical building, where “Mir tesen” is situated. There are a lot of various work that don’t require any special qualifications: decorating rooms, painting walls and windows frame, taking care about territory of building.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Host organization provides a basic condition accommodation and food in St-Petersburg in the special room for 6-8 persons or in the rental flat in the downtown of St.Petersburg (Vasilyevsky Island). The shower with hot water, equipped kitchen and the common room are provided. Volunteers will cook by themselves.
📍 About the location
Don’t forget that St-Petersburg is a cultural capital of Russia. Volunteers will have an opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions, country residences of Emperors, Grand Princes and grandees: Peterhof – city of fountains (www.peterhofmuseum.ru), Lomonosov, Tsarskoye Selo (www.tzar.ru), Pavlovsk (www.pavlovskmuseum.ru) and just restored palace in Gatchina. Also at this time of the year, the city hosts a variety of festivals, concerts and folk events. Each year millions of tourists come to St.Petersburg for walking at night along the Neva River, watching the bridges raise. Volunteers will be able to rent bikes or boats to have little trips. Meeting with local people and evenings of international cuisine will be organized, so it would be great if volunteers bring their traditional recipes and food. . The museums fees and local transport expenses are not going to be covered, volunteers will have to pay on their own. However, due to the euro-ruble currency this year the journey will be rather cheap.
⚠️ Requirements
We ask volunteers to send us their motivation letters. Because the main goal of workcamp is learning Russian language through Dostoevsky’s novels participants must be able already to communicate in Russian, at least on a level which ensures simple communication. Volunteers should bring working clothes, gloves and sleeping bags.
ℹ️ Additional information
This year jorney to Russia will be rather cheap.