Réserve naturelle Divnogorye

Name: Réserve naturelle Divnogorye
Start: 2020-04-15
End: 2020-09-15
Location: Russian Federation

Code: ab715c58-3c5a-11ea-8b8c-00505603f1ab Copied

Russian Federation Education Environment Manual work Education Environment +2 Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Natural reserve and museum "Divnogorye" is a public body, created to protect and to maintain the unique area of steps in Voronezh region. It is located at a very picturesque place, a true touristic attraction of the region thanks to its historical and cultural heritage and unique flora. “Divnogorye” means “Wonder Mountains”. The natural reserve accomplishes several missions: ecological study and protection, archeological and historical research, cultural and artistic events, development of tourism and ecological education of visitors.
On the territory of Divnogorye there are located several archeological sites, such as Mayatskaya fortress of 9th century (Khasar Kaganat times), paleonthological site of Paleolitic times, pre-historic horses largest burial site and many others.
The endemic plants, rare insects and animals build a unique biotop area. Ornithologists, botanics and biologists come here for research and observations.
Additionally, the natural reserve has a museum status and it collects ethnographic information about the history, customs and traditions of the region. During the tourist season the staff of the natural reserve organises artistic events, exhibitions and workshops: clay workshop, plant prints, prehistoric tools of ancient humans, exhibition about geological history of the Earth (Childhood of the Earth) and multimedia exhibition about history of chalk churches.
The reserve cooperates with local NGOs and develops voluntary programmes. Local volunteers are invited for certain actions and short term activities. Nevertheless, there is a need to implement a continious coherent programme for maintenance of the territory and its protection.

The natural reserve has about 15 staff workers, who complete general management and scientific work, there are security and tourist guides, but there is not enough manpower to maintain the whole territory of the natural reserve, which is 11 sq.km. Thanks to the financial supply for international French volunteers from the Service Civique Programme, the hosts finally have a possibility to invite a long-term helper. Natural reserve "Divnogorye" cooperates with local volunteers as well, but they can't stay during a longer period of time. They come mostly for weekends and during vacation time. The international long term voluntary service gives more opportunities to the hosting organisation to develop a coherent step-by-step programmes: e.g. fighting with invasive plants and bushes or implementing comprehensive acitivies for ecological education of visitors. Hosting a volunteer for several months allows to reach autonomous behaviour of the volunteer, the hosts can trust him/her more complexe and responsible tasks. Moreover, international volunteers attract more local volunteers.

The volunteer will work side by side with the staff of the natural reserve, he/she will be involved in cultural and educational activities such as exhibitions, seminars and workshops. The volunteer usually is in the centre of interest for local volunteers and students who come to the village for archeological internship or scientific research. There is never lack of communication. The volunteers will be accommodated close to the natural reserve staff (dormitory).

💼 What the programme involves

Volunteers are invited to maintain the territory of the reserve: clean tourist places from rubbish, install rubbish bins, informative signs, restore tourist path, cut invasive woods and bushes, small construction and renovation tasks, help in the organization of informative and culture events of the natural reserve, help in the archeological works (excavation, classification, registration etc.). There are both optional and obligatory tasks, according needs and abilities of a certain volunteer. The tasks will be combined, to ensure variety, the assignments have capacity to be adapted to the aspirations, motivations and possible proposals of the young volunteers.
Obligatory working tasks in the natural preserve: cleaning the territory from the dry and invasive bushes, cleaning rubbish, observation of plants and animal life ( a lot of hiking), help with installation of objects.

Attention!!! The work is physically demanding and requires ability to cut wood (use an axe and a saw)!!!

A typical working schedule of the volunteer:
Total working hours - 30 h/week
MO – day off
TU – day off
WE
9:00 – 12:00 – cutting invasive wood
12:00 – 15:00 – lunch break
15:00 – 18:00 – help to install stands of an exhibition
18:00 – free time
TH
9:00 – 12:00 – help to install stands of an exhibition
12:00 – 15:00 – lunch break
15:00 – 18:00 – collection of rubbish
FR
9:00 – 12:00 – cutting invasive wood
12:00 – 15:00 – lunch break
15:00 – 18:00 – painting new stands, decoration
SA
9:00 – 12:00 – help by the opening of an exhibition
12:00 – 15:00 – lunch break
15:00 – 18:00 – collection of rubbish
SU
9:00 – 12:00 – together with the botanic specialist make plants mapping
12:00 – 15:00 – lunch break
15:00 – 18:00 – collection of rubbish

🏠 Accommodation on site

Accommodation and food
• The volunteers will be accommodated in a dormitory for staff, 4 persons of the same gender per room, toilet and shower, kitchen with dishes and cooking facilities.
• Drinking water comes from the water tap.
• The nearest store is within a 10-minute walk from the house.
• Volunteers will cook for themselves. In the village there is one café.
• WiFi is available in the dormitory, but on the territory of the natural preserve the phone signal is weak. It is recommended to buy a local sim-card for cell phones from companies Megaphone or Tele2. It’s better to buy it in Liski or in Voronezh to have the regional sim-card.

🍲 Food

Vegetarian food is possible since the volunteer will cook for herself/himself. It is possible to buy local food directly from villagers, fresh, including vegetables, cheese, milk and eggs. There is a grocery store in the village. For bigger variety of goods it is necessary to visit a neighbour town by local train or bus.

📍 About the location

The project is located in the vicinity of a wonderfully picturesque patch of land in our area, the Divnogorye natural museum (www.divnogor.ru). Divnogorye is translated as “wonder mountains” because the landscapes of the chalk hills are very unusual for the typical steppes and forests of the region.
The natural preserve is the closes neighbor of the small village Divnogorye and activities of the natural preserve make an important influence to the life of the village. Some people from the village are employed in the natural preserve. In summer the village is full of tourists.
The closest towns being Liski (54,000 inhabitants) and Ostrogozhsk (approx. 33,000 inhabitants) – about 30 min trip by a local train. The closest big city is Voronezh (140 km, 1 million inhabitants). In Voronezh there is an international airport and you can reach the nearest town Liski from Voronezh or from Moscow.
Address of the natural preserve office and housing of volunteers: Russian Federation, Voronezh Oblast, Liskinski District, village Divnogorye, street Podgornaya, 48

🎒 Leisure activities

You can visit closest towns and Voronezh. Swimming in the river, fishing, hiking, bonfire with archeologists, taking part in festivities in the natural preserve and sun-tan without any restrictions!

⚠️ Requirements

English language is necessary - local staff tutors speak English or Russian. A CV and a motivation letter (ML) in English is required. It is necessary to have experience in hiking, cutting bushes and woods (using an axe). Knowledge of Russian language will be an advantage.

After submission of CV and ML you might be contacted to pass an interview via skype or whatsapp with the representative of the host organisation.