📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Until 2009, SJ (Solidarités Jeunesses) was the French branch of the interna- tional movement –Youth Action for Peace (AJP). It was established in 1923 after the First World War by French and German Protestants. AJP was the beginning of a movement for overcoming the international border, culture for peace. These days, in the model of the original movement, SJ has gathered young people and adults for project and social engagement. Their expec- tation is to determine their dynamic and helpful. Solidarités Jeunesses consists of 7 regional delegations and 1 partner association.
Association Les Villages des Jeunes
Les Villages des Jeunes is a regional branch of Solidarités Jeu- nesses and was created in 1963. The aim is to break the social, cultural and intergenerational barriers through a collective life, workshops and construction site. The goal of Villages des Jeunes is to give new energy to extremely rural places by allowing French and international volunteers , employees , young people, to live and work together on these places.
In AVJ, there are two villages which are 2 hosting places: La ferme du Fai and Le hameau de Vaunières. These places allow intercultural sharing and a life close to nature in the mountains (Hautes Alpes).
Vaunières is one of the hosting place of Villages des Jeunes. It\'s located in the low alps and is nestled in the heart of mountains. Most of the houses date back to the 17th century, at a time when pastoral activities were thriving. Since the 1950\'s, all the families had to left the countryside in search of better paying jobs. In 1960's, Villages des Jeunes has bought the hamlet of Vaunières to start their project. Step by step, they began to host local and international persons, groups, to bring life in the hamlet.
💼 What the programme involves
The main goals of the Project are to meet one another, to create a constructive dynamic, as well to break stereotypes, and stigmas by working together and living collectively. Incline to “Education Popu- laire“ which believes that everyone can teach and learn each other without formal educational ways. All the project in Vaunières is corresponding to below goals.
Part of the job in Vaunières is to host. We have 65 places for hosting groups (adults, disabled peoples, teenagers, children) anywhere from a day to a month. We host various type of group!
Usually social group are coming to live an experience with us. They work and share the collective life with us. The team of long-term volunteers is here to welcome them, explained them the project, propose to them some activities or just sharing time together. Groups are really interested by the internationality of our project and they are coming to meet volunteers also!
It could happen we rent the village for one week end for a giant roleplay, a wedding, etc.
Every morning, We have workshop like construction, gardening, cooking, cutting and splitting firewood and taking care of the chickens. It varies slightly day by day, but in the afternoon we continue to work. On Wednesday and Thursday we have meetings with permanent staff to talk about future workshops and collec-
tive life.
Long term volunteers can choose to have a personal project de- pending on what you want to learn, what you are interested in or what you can contribute. The village is open to improvements of all types. Anything is possible. We hope that your personal project advances the values of Vaunières. We welcome new ideas.
We host international workcamp from spring to the end of summer. These camps normally consist of 6-8 international volunteers and 6-8 French people. It could be camp for adult or for teenager. During 2 or 3 weeks, they work together in one specifically project (isolating wall, building wood house, etc.), share collective
life and live under tents. They have to build their own organization with their workcamp leader and with the technical leader.
The long term volunteers of Vaunières are usually the workcamp leader of these international workcamp. It\'s one of their missions.
🏠 Accommodation on site
We manage all aspects of the menu in house, cooking is one of daily workshops. Hence, everyone is involved at least a little bit in cooking and creating the menu. We organize “café menu”
time that each resident can propose menu items for the upcoming week. You are encouraged to cook meals from your country or region!
We try to consume as many local vegetables and fruits as possible. According to the reflection of ideal life of the association, we try to eat better: less meat, local and seasonal ingredients (meat, vegetables, fruits) and we try to buy as much we can organic food.
Also we like to do homemade jam with what we picked in Vaunières (raspberry, plum, etc).
And of course, we eat what is coming from our garden: salad, cabbage, tomato, etc
⚠️ Requirements
Driving licence needed
Project open only for citizens from a country in the European Union
ℹ️ Additional information
Driving licence needed
Project open only for citizens from a country in the European Union