📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Grenzenlos is an Austrian NGO based in Vienna. It is independent of religions and political bodies. Grenzenlos is a non-profit association. Its main purpose is to promote world peace and respect between people through intercultural non-formal education programmes abroad which combine cultural integration with engagement at non-profit initiatives worldwide.
The German word „Grenzenlos“ means “no boundaries“ and also “no limits“. The word explains the basic mission of Grenzenlos: to promote the personal development of individuals (no limits!) and inter-cultural understanding through international encounters, trainings, inter-cultural living and work experience (no boundaries!).
Grenzenlos offers a variety of international mobility programmes. These programmes are dedicated to world peace through the promotion of intercultural exchanges.
💼 What the programme involves
You will work together with the “LEiV“ (Verein Lebende Erde) which is a landscape protector group in the European NATURA2000-site “Teile des Südoststeirischen Hügellandes“. You will work on the meadows to collect the hay and in the woodlands to clean them from neophytes. The core idea is to assist the organisation with the traditional art of work that aims to preserve the area and its wildlife. You will also help at the European-Roller Festival ( the European roller is a protected bird from the region).
Please keep on mind that you are going to work with your hands under the sun and that some hard work is expected! Also, be aware that the work will take place outdoor all the time, so the different weather conditions should not be a big problem for you (you should like to be outdoor most of the time).
Website of Verein „Lebende Erde im Vulkanland“ (in German): https://www.blauracke.at/
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation: You will sleep all together in the same room (all genders mixed) on sport mattress in a sport house. There is a kitchen, showers, toilets, and Wifi in the accommodation, but no washing machine. However, there is the possibility to wash by hand in the accommodation.
Food: The food will be mostly vegetarian. You will cook for the group in team. Please inform us whether you require a special diet. Your accommodation and food are covered – however, we recommend you to bring some pocket money. The currency used in Austria is euro. Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot of motivation!
📍 About the location
During your free time, you will have excursions to the wonderful protected species living on the side and visit the Mur-river for rafting.
As integration with the community is a key element, you will have cultural interactions with the people in Straden and its surrounding.
⚠️ Requirements
Insurance: You need a full (medical) insurance for your travel and the time in Austria.
Specific Requirements:
1) Because of the hard work-working conditions, this project is unfortunately not suitable for people with physical disabilities.
2) We request the travel tickets at least 6 weeks before the project starts.
ℹ️ Additional information
Things to bring: You need to bring with you a sleeping bag (you have mats in the house), working clothes, closed working shoes, raincoat, swimsuit, sun cream, sunglasses and a sun hat/cap. If you require any medications (e.g., because of an allergy), don't forget to bring them with you.
You will work in nature and the natural habitat of ticks. There's a small risk of tick-borne encephalitis. Make sure you protect yourself with repellent or a vaccination.
