📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The workcamp takes place in the village of Ceske Kopisty where the local NGO Camphill Ceske Kopisty runs a family-like community centre both for people with (mental) disabilities and for those without any kind of disability who work and live together. The Camphill community in Ceske Kopisty is inspired by the Camphill movement and the ideas of anthroposophy. Besides therapeutic activities for the clients (including pottery and textile workshops), the community runs an organic farm focused on vegetable production and based on the rules of bio-dynamic farming. Camphill has recently set up a social entreprise which helps to sustain the community centre by selling agricultural products. The aim of the workcamp is to support the farm.
💼 What the programme involves
The organic farm of Camphill is very dependent on manual work and it would be impossible to maintain the agricultural project without the voluntary work. The volunteers will perform two different kinds of manual work. Firstly, they will be helping on the organic farm - planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, cleaning, storing. Secondly, some minor construction and renovation works will be done depending on current needs. Bring good working clothes and shoes.
🏠 Accommodation on site
In 1 attic room on mattresses. Bring a sleeping bag! A common room, 2 showers with hot water and 2 toilets are available. Products for cooking will be provided and will include bio vegetables from the farm. You will prepare breakfasts and dinners on your own, lunches will be shared with all the members of the community. If needed, you will assist with the preparation of the meal.
📍 About the location
Ceske Kopisty – a small village near the historical town of Litomerice.
Study part: Lectures and discussions about the Camphill movement, Steiner´s anthroposophy, biodynamic agriculture and healing pedagogy not only for disabled people. Workshops on different handicraft techniques (making carpets or beeswax candles) or art therapy sessions can be organized for you. It will be also possible to organize international evening to exchange about volunteers’ nationalities. Bring your favourite recipes and some specific ingredients.
Leisure time: You can visit the nearby Terezin Memorial at the location of the former concentration camp for Jews – the Terezin Ghetto, make trips to the surrounding towns (a historical town of Litomerice, Usti nad Labem with a brewery and a zoological garden and Zernoseky with a wine cellar) and visit some summer cultural events. There is also the possibility for many outdoor activities - hiking, swimming in the river, cycling, football, ect.
ℹ️ Additional information
As you will stay in a community for people with mental health issues, smoking and the consumption of alcohol and drugs are forbidden within the community area. Please respect night-time peace and the privacy of the clients’ accommodation.