📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
For years EstYES has been cooperating with farms all over Estonia for solidarity, respect and practical support to local people. The Ruhnu island camp will involve local farms across the small 11 km2 island. The camp is proposed for volunteers who appreciate nature and humble island life and want to learn more about it whilst helping hard-working local people. Ruhnu island is in the middle of the Baltic Gulf and is reachable from Parnu port with a 3-hours ferry commute. There is only one village in the center of the island and a few households outside the village. There are 60 permanent inhabitants during winter time, in summer the number increases up to 150. Nevertheless, there is a school, museum, library, two churches, municipality government, community house and cultural center, first-aid point, harbor and two shops. In both you can pay by card or withdraw cash from ATM. More information about the island: http://ruhnu.ee/en/web/english/english and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ruhnuvald
💼 What the programme involves
The tasks for volunteers will vary depending on the needs of the local households. It will mainly include picking berries, piling firewood, helping with construction work, cleaning land from fallen wood etc. Volunteers have to be motivated to work outdoors doing sometimes physical work whilst also having fun.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The accommodation is in a separate house in beds. Blankets, pillows and sheets are provided. Hot shower and toilets are available in the house, possibility to have sauna evenings. Volunteers will share the duties of cooking meals and cleaning. During this work camp volunteers will be eating meals made from local farm products. Do not forget to bring some traditional/ typical food from your home country for the international evening.
📍 About the location
Location
The camp is located in a Ruhnu Island which lays in the Gulf of Riga of Baltic Sea. Distance to Parnu and Riga is 96 km, Kuressaare 70 km, island of Kihnu 54 km. The area of the island is 11.9 km2, it is 5, 5 km long and 3, 5 km wide. Ruhnu forest is beautiful and there are many unique and protected plant species to discover. About 60% of the territory of the island is made up by forest, about 7% by fields. Ruhnu is famous for its beaches with singing sands. When you walk it emits a kind of a high-pitched tone. Limo is one the most beautiful and popular of the island’s beaches.
Transport
Airport, harbour, bus station in Tallinn. From Tallinn a bus to Pärnu, from there a ferry from Parnu to Ruhnu.
Leisure time
The local youth will organize a nature camp and hikes to the volunteers. There are beautiful beaches and nature trails, and the locals will involve the volunteers to local events.