📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Following the success of last years’ projects, the region of Baden-Wurttemberg again invites young people from Rhone-Alpes, Lombardy, Catalonia and Baden-Wurttemberg for another exciting workcamp. The fundamental aim is to allow young people to meet and exchange cultures and ideas that will contribute to strengthening the Four Motors partnership. Due to close contact with the local population, the idea of the Four Motors is passed on to the population of the town hosting the project. Maulbronn is looking for the help of international volunteers in the maintenance of the area near the famous town’s monastery. The branched ditch system around this building has been a UNESCO - World cultural heritage site since 1993. The system was built in the middle age to ensure good water for drinking, for gardening and for fish-farming all over the year. The goal of the workcamp is to protect, renew and improve these historical ditches. This project is part of UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers 2016.
💼 What the programme involves
A variety of interesting tasks await you at this famed site. One task will be to work on the ditches to remove vegetation cover and other things which stop the drainage, as well as renewal of a few small ditches. You will document all your tending strategies and record where the highest danger of erosion on the ditches is. The team will also help to raise awareness of this intricate system, for example by using an information board or other materials. Attention: In case the weather is rainy there might be water in the ditches, so please bring sturdy working boots and rubber boots as well.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be hosted in the “nature school Stromberg”, an environmental educational centre offering activities and trainings for young people. Therefore they have perfect conditions to host groups: beds, several showers, a big kitchen and different rooms to stay. Outside you find different animals (horses, goats…) and places to enjoy the nature. The centre is quite isolated and surrounded by pure nature. The centre was newly build in 2007 and sustainability is very important in the centre, cooking and heating is done with wood and solar energy, electricity is made by a hydroelectric and solar power stations. But please be aware that the centre is 3km from the next village and 6km from Maulbronn. The transfer between project site in Maulbronn and accommodation will be organised but for excursions it might be necessary to walk the 3km to OEtisheim, the nearest village with public transport.
📍 About the location
Maulbronn is a town in the district of Karlsruhe, in Baden-Wurttemberg. The town is very famous for its monastery, of which you can take a guided tour. The territory of Maulbronn is very rural, providing many hiking or biking trails. Different local initiatives are involved in the project and so for sure there will be opportunities for contacts, shared activities and parties. Maulbronn is conveniently situated near many towns like: Pforzheim, Bruchsal, Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.
⚠️ Requirements
Only for volunteers from Italy, France and Catalonia. Please organise your travel in a way that you arrive before 6 p.m. on Aug 14th (or arrive the evening before). Please bring sturdy working boots, rubber boots and indoor slippers.