The Land of Centaurs

Greece Renovation Renovation Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

The local community of Aghios Lavrentios (Saint Laurence) village, the Orthodox dioceses of Dimitriados. After an inspiring workcamp in 2018 to restore the traditional fountains of the village (tinyurl.com/y5hsxotq), the inhabitants of Ag. Lavrentios invite again the international volunteers in their beautiful stone-built village to help revive and give visibility to the enchanting Chatzini square, an open space under majestic trees and with a stunning view on the surrounding mountains. The local community would like to renovate fully the square in order to make it the artistic center of the village summer activities, and to revive the cultural offer of Ag. Lavrentios towards visitors and nature-lovers from Europe and beyond.

💼 What the programme involves

Volunteers will work to renovate and improve the facilities of Chatzini square, an open area at the Northern border of the village, that has been used in the past for concerts but has since few years not been maintained properly. The work might include: • paving the entree path to the square with stones, as in the traditional local style • replacing rotten wood in the fence and benches • arranging the lights system • building a fountain made of stones • setting up a watering system for the trees • creating labels for the nearby mountain paths • organize the opening ceremony of the newly renovated square Local technicians and villagers will support the volunteers by teaching how to develop the tasks and working themselves together with the group. Volunteers will work 5 hours per day from early morning, 6 days per week. Any changes in the working schedule and/or type of work will be discussed and decided as a group and in close cooperation with the local host.

🏠 Accommodation on site

Volunteers will be hosted in the premises of the youth camp site of Ag. Lavrentios, in small houses equipped with bunk beds and mattresses. Toilet and showers with warm water, are provided in the camp site location. The site is located within the area of the village. Volunteers will be given all necessary equipment and materials from the local host and they will prepare their meals in shifts: the cooking area is not located in the camp site but in another facility within the village. We will cook using local products and donated row or cooked supplies and we will adapt our menu to the supplies we receive.

📍 About the location

Aghios Lavrentios village lies at 600 m altitude on the slopes of Pelion Mountain, birthplace of the mythical centaurs. Maintaining its traditional architecture that goes back to 14th century AD and surrounded by a lush forest, it is located in one of the most beautiful regions of mainland Greece, combining both mountain and sea areas. The village is solely built of local stone, including its characteristic cobbled streets that can be crossed only on foot or by horse and donkey. Visits and environmental excursions to the nearby historical villages can be organised as well as daily excursions to the river running at the bottom of the valley and to the beaches of the Pagasetic Gulf of Volos (the town is 19 km away). Volunteers will also have the opportunity to attend the open public events of the Music Village, a renowned international festival that will take place in the village on the same days on the workcamp, and that will bring together an international music community of teachers and students that organize and participate in workshops and open concerts (the teachers of the festival will also be hosted at the same camp site of the volunteers). Camp leaders will organise free time activities in co-operation with the volunteers and the local partner. The host organization does not cover free time activities expenses.

⚠️ Requirements

This workcamp is accessible to A4A volunteers (inaccessible for wheelchair users or volunteers with limited mobility, due to the cobbled streets of the village).

ℹ️ Additional information

We highly recommend to arrive in Volos before 13:00 on the 21st of August, so to catch the last bus leaving for the village at 13:45. Another project (Bilateral between Greece and Germany) will take place together with this workcamp, therefore the overall number of volunteers who will live and work together will be 17. Summary (for promotional use): A flourishing nature, a taste of local traditions and a warm hospitality are awaiting for the group of volunteers that will spend two unforgettable weeks in the small and cosy community of Aghios Lavrentios. The mission: to fully renovate the enchanting Chatzini square so that it becomes the artistic and cultural living center of the village, a place surrounded by the majestic Pelion mountains that used to be the homeland of the mythical centaurs...

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