Volunteering

WORKCAMPS IN GREECE FOR 2012 BY ELIX

For 2012 ELIX is organising the following WorkCamps:

(* last update 16/5/2012) 

ELIX – Conservation Volunteers Greece is member of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations. Volunteers have to contact a workcamp organisation in their home country to get information about the application process. Click here to see the organisations that are member of the network.

ELIX WorkCamps in Greece for 2012 in details

ELIX01 ANDROS I  CYCLADES  01/07 - 17/07  ENVI/MANU    12   (18+)
ELIX02 ANDROS II CYCLADES 23/08 - 08/09  ENVI/MANU    12   (18+)

WORK: The island of Andros has a long history in pedestrian route, through its developed network of footpaths that goes back to the antiquity. Many of these footpaths are already marked and signaled. They offer local and tourist ramblers the possibility to get to know the island, walking through picturesque courses, where vehicles cannot approach. Volunteers will clean the footpaths from the vegetation and they will renovate and signal, wherever needed.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in Chora’s (the capital of the island) High School. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group’s accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area.

LOCATION: Andros is the northern island of the Cyclades complex, a little smaller than Naxos. Its surface covers 380 m2. The trip to the island from the port of Rafina (around 1 & 1/5 from Athens) lasts about 2 hours. Visitors arrive at the port of Gavrio and need 36 km in order to reach the capital, Chora. Chora was built on a peninsula and ends up in a small island, on which there is still a medieval fortress. This small island is separated from the peninsula by a narrow sea strip, 2- 3 m wide and its communication to the land is achieved through a stone made culvert. The central avenue of Chora leads to the sea and the large central square of the Back-room Macker, where stands the homonymic statue, done by a famous sculptor, Michael Tombros. Chora is an aesthetically impressive city and combines the beauties of the old city and its narrow stone made alleys, with the new city of imposing stately homes, built during the previous century, while seafaring in the island reached its peak.

TERMINAL: Athens international airport "El. Venizelos".

EXTRA FEE: 30 Euro

ELIX03  NAXOS I   CYCLADES  01/07 - 17/07   ENVI/MANU     12   (18+)
ELIX04  NAXOS II  CYCLADES  18/07 - 02/08   ENVI/MANU     12   (18+)

WORK: The municipality of Naxos has an extended network of footpaths, spreading in a wide area, that have been signalled and chart – mapped by the Cyclades prefecture and the Municipality. Local and tourists ramblers often wander in this footpaths’ network for the extra reason that, due to the landscape, it is not possible, in most cases, to create routes for vehicles. Volunteers will work under the guidance of locals in order to clean, conserve, renew the signals and, generally, to highlight some of the most important footpaths of old times, which used to be the main routes of communication among the villages and ports of the island.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in Chora (the capital of the island) Primary School. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group’s accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area.

LOCATION: The camp will take place in the beautiful island of Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The largest town and capital of the island is Hora or Naxos City.

Naxos is a popular tourist destination, with several easily accessible ruins and a number of beautiful beaches,

Naxos has an astonishing alternation of landscape with combination of mountainous and flat landscape in harmonious coexistence. It has immense sandy beaches and fields with rich agricultural production.

TERMINAL: Athens international airport "El. Venizelos".

LEISURE TIME: In their free time, participants will have the opportunity to get in touch with the everyday life of the island; they may attend events organised by the authorities during the period of their stay (concerts, performances, etc.) and communicate with locals and tourists. Volunteers will discuss their free time activities with their camp leaders; together they are going to organise excursions and visits around the area.

EXTRA FEE: 30 Euro

ELIX05  SYROS I   CYCLADES  16/07 - 01/08   ENVI/MANU     12   (18+)

WORK: The municipality of Syros has a large network of pedestrian routes. Volunteers will work under the guidance of locals in order to clean, conserve, renew the signals and, generally, to highlight some of the most important footpaths of old times, which used to be the main routes of communication among the villages and ports of the island. These paths are widely used by locals, tourists as well as hitchhikers.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in Ermoupoli's (the capital of the island) High School. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group’s accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group, with supplies that they will provide themselves from stores around the area.

LOCATION: The camp will take place in the beautiful island of Syros, administrative centre of the Cyclades prefecture. Close to Piraeus, Syros is connected by ferry with many Cycladic islands. Syros, like other Cycladic islands, was inhabited from the early prehistoric times. After the overthrow of the Byzantium by the Francs in 1204, Syros came under Venetian domination. The island became part of the Ducat of the Aegean as an independent feudal regime and remained as such for almost three and a half centuries.

TERMINAL: Athens international airport "El. Venizelos".

LEISURE TIME: In their free time, participants will have the opportunity to get in touch with the everyday life of the island; they may attend events organised by the authorities during the period of their stay (concerts, performances, etc.) and communicate with locals and tourists. Volunteers will discuss their free time activities with their camp leaders; together they are going to organise excursions and visits around the area.

EXTRA FEE: 30 Euro

ELIX07  KEDROS  EPIRUS  20/08-05/09  FEST  11  (18+)

WORK: It is the fifth year  that ELIX cooperates with the Forest Village "Kedros". Volunteers will be occupied mainly with the organization and preparation of the 6th "Tzoumerka Art Festival" which will include music concerts, performances, and photos exhibition. Volunteers will help in practical arrangements like the preparation of the scene, guidance of visitors, tickets, footpath opening, sign refreshening etc. In parallel volunteers will support the International Mountain Bike Race, taking place in the beginning of September.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in the guest house of the Forest Village. Beds, sheets, towels, showers with hot water and toilets are provided. All the meals will be prepared and served by the restaurant. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group’s accommodation place clean, as well as for the dish washing.

LOCATION: Forest Village - Kedros (Dasiko Horio in el_gr) is situated in Epirus, 90 km from the city of Arta that is the capital of the prefecture. Kedros covers a 450 acres area, on 920m and has a beautiful view of a part of the Tzoumerka Mountains. It is one of the six Forest Villages that the Ministry of Rural Development and Food has created all around Greece. Forest village Kedros has a fully equipped reception with a mini market, bar, as well as a fully equipped restaurant and beautiful surroundings where someone can sit on a bench and enjoy nature and a breath taking view.

TERMINAL: Athens international airport "El. Venizelos", Thessaloniki international airport "Macedonia". Ioannina national airport.

LEISURE TIME: Volunteers will have the possibility to participate in different alternative activities such as trekking in the nearby villages, archery, rafting and rappel.

EXTRA FEE: 100 Euro

ELIX08 SYROS 40plus ICYCLADES  24/06 - 01/07 SENIOR/ENVI/MANU40+12vols
ELIX09 SYROS 40plus II CYCLADES 01/07 - 08/07 SENIOR/ENVI/MANU40+12vols

WORK: The municipality of Syros has a large network of pedestrian routes. The friends of nature will be surprised in Syros, since this time the routes that they will work in, will not cover only distances of space but of time as well. Syros is an alive museum of cultures, a "capsule of time", that with incredible speed takes the visitor in an absolutely natural way from one time period to the other. That surely impresses and charms. Some of the routes that the participants will work on are: Path Number 6. The footpath that has been chosen for conservation and reconstruction is situated in Northern Syros, in the area of Ano Meria. The passage is distinguished by its natural beauty and is protected by the Natura 2000 EU Birds Directive. The path name is Papouri - Aetos river - Varvousa coast (an alternative part towards Aetos coast), that is characterized as a path of historical and cultural interest of Syros (number 6) and connects the traditional rural settlement Papouri with the West coast of Ano Meria. The Papouri footpath, starts with a small part of cement paved, and goes on as a natural footpath with stone pavement. For the most of its length, the path is parallel to a canal.

PARTNER: The program is self-funded. The extra fee will cover the expenses of accommodation, food. Volunteers will be insured against accidents for the whole duration of the workcamp. ELIX will be follow by a leader

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Accommodation will be provided in local traditional dorms in the area of church St. Cyril-Methodius in the area of Mega Gialos. The facilities include comfortable common sleeping room, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms and toilets as well as tents on the compound, outside of the dorm are also available. Alcohol consumption is typically prohibited inside the accommodation. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group.

LOCATION & LEISURE: The camp will take place in the beautiful island of Syros, administrative centre of the Cyclades prefecture. Close to Piraeus, Syros is connected by ferry with many Cycladic islands. Syros, like other Cycladic islands, was inhabited from the early prehistoric times. After the overthrow of the Byzantium by the Francs in 1204, Syros came under Venetian domination. The island became part of the Ducat of the Aegean as an independent feudal regime and remained as such for almost three and a half centuries. Syros is accessible from Piraeus harbour (Athens), the normal ferry boat is taking around 4 hours travel time (one-way ticket 29€).  In their free time, volunteers will have the opportunity to get in touch with the everyday life of the island; they may attend events organised by the authorities during the period of their stay (concerts, performances, etc.) and communicate with locals and tourists. Volunteers will discuss their free time activities with their camp leader; together they are going to organise excursions and visits around the area.

REQUIREMENTS: The extra fee (150 Euro) will cover the expenses of accommodation and food. Volunteers will be insured against accidents for the whole duration of the workcamp.

NEAREST TERMINAL: Ermoupoli, Syros

NEAREST AIRPORT: ATH Athens international airport "El. Venizelos"

EXTRA FEE: 150 Euro

ELIX10SUMMER IN THE CITY 1-1SOCI KIDS30/06/12 - 14/07/1218+15vols
ELIX11SUMMER IN THE CITY 1-2SOCI KIDS14/07/12 - 28/07/1218+15vols
ELIX12SUMMER IN THE CITY 1-3SOCI KIDS28/07/12 - 11/08/1218+15vols
ELIX13SUMMER IN THE CITY 2-1SOCI KIDS30/06/12 - 14/07/1218+15vols
ELIX14SUMMER IN THE CITY 2-2SOCI KIDS14/07/12 - 28/07/1218+15vols
ELIX15SUMMER IN THE CITY 2-3SOCI KIDS28/07/12 - 11/08/1218+15vols
ELIX16SUMMER IN THE CITY 3-1SOCI KIDS07/07/12 - 21/07/1218+15vols
ELIX17SUMMER IN THE CITY 3-2SOCI KIDS21/07/12 - 04/08/1218+15vols

PARTNER: ELIX in cooperation with the Stavros Niarxos Foundation is going to organise a series of workcamps in 2012 and 2013. These workcamps are part of a three year initiative to assist those in need during the socioeconomic crisis in Greece. The workcamps aim to support families that encounter difficulties, and give their children the chance to spend a quality summer time through creative activities.

WORK: Volunteers participating in this workcamp will host children (6-12 years old) during their summer time and hold a daily schedule. The group will organize games, workshops, artistic events, theatrical plays, environmental education and much more. Volunteers will work from Monday-Friday and the first Sunday of the workcamp. The second weekend will be free. The children will be hosted from 8:00H to 14:00H. Some afternoons will be used to prepare activities for the kids the next days. The daily activity programme for the children will be fixed by a team of experts and introduced to the group of volunteers on the first Sunday of the workcamp.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD: Volunteers will be accommodated in a primary school in the center of Athens. The accommodation is basic but adequate; volunteers will sleep on the floor in the classrooms of the school. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and cooking facilities at the school. Sleeping bag and roll mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals for the group of volunteers.

LOCATION & LEISURE TIME: Athens, the city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city and enchanting capital of Greece. It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world’s most formidable edifices. Athens is situated in the prefecture of Attica and extends to the peninsula that reaches up to Central Greece. It is surrounded by mountains Ymytos, Pendeli and Parnitha, northwards and eastwards, and the Saronic Gulf southwards and westwards. The sun is shining over Athens all year round. During summer the city is much quieter as the majority of inhabitants leave for their summer vacations. In their free time, participants will have the opportunity to get in touch with the everyday life of the city; they may attend events organized by the authorities during the period of their stay (concerts, festival, performances, etc.). Volunteers will discuss their free time activities with their camp leaders; together they are going to organize excursions and visits around the city.

REQUIREMENTS: ELIX is looking for volunteers that enjoy working with children and will support the daily activity programme. You are invited to bring games, songs, ideas, instruments and crafts for activities with the children! Due to nature of the workcamp we will need a motivation letter in which you will let us know about you, your ideas and your motivation for this workcamp. If you are accepted to the workcamp you will have to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct.

NEAREST AIRPORT: ATH Athens international airport "El. Venizelos"

CAMP ADDRESS: Athens, centre (to be defined in infosheet)