Granara eco-village: creating sustainable communities

Description: The project aims to create and experiment inclusive and sustainable communities, where everyone’s differences can be put at stake. The participants are the international volunteers, youngsters with disabilities and the persons in charge from the host organization. Among them expert educators and teachers will facilitate relationships, autonomy and communication. Their action is aimed to create a cooperative context between all the participants. The work camp takes place in Granara ecological village. The host organization is Alekoslab aps, with head office in Granara, that is active in the fields of ecology, social inclusion, appropriated technologies, nonviolence.
Type of Work: Work activities: green maintenance; building fences in branches; renovation of wooden structures; small works and creative experimentations with clay; taking care of the library and the books; cooking for the group of participants; renovation of bicycles and trial tests; coaching and support to people with disabilities.
Work-group activities last 6 hours a day. We encourage the participation in the work camp organization and the team building through plays and meetings. In the freetime we organise study activities, games and sports. Saturday afternoon will be of rest. The day before leaving the organization of a goodbye evening party will be encouraged.
Study Theme: Study part is about ecology, group relations, disability and inclusion. In the morning, before work, and in the evening group games are planned to let people know each other and build the group. During the work persons in charge is giving informations about the village and the technologies. Periodic evaluation moments are planned.
Accommodation: The accommodation is in Granaio house in three common rooms, from 2 to 4 places and 1 of 9 places. The 9 places room is gender mixed. Showers, toilet and kitchen are inside the Granaio house. There are also extra solar showers outside. Cooking and cleaning are in charge of the participants. We encourage participants to bring their own towels, sheet bag or sleeping bag. If this is not possible the organization will provide it. Free Internet wi-fi.
Requirements: Openness to get involved and participate to a inclusive and sustainable community life.
Approximate Location: Grarana Ecological Village, Parma province, Emilia Romagna region. Granara is 600 mt high on Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountains. From 1993 Granara is an experiment of sustainability and open community where different social and cultural activities are organised.
The village is isolated and far from cities. Weekly the person in charge of the shopping is reaching the closer town (Borgotaro).
Free time: walking in woods, relax, volleyball and sunbathing on the edge of Granara biolake.
Sunday is dedicated to relax, walking, games, cooking. Food is mainly vegetarian.
Notes: Additional Fee Please kindly note that there is an additional incoming fee of 50 Euros for all volunteers applying through Partner organisations or Contacts of the SCI network. Check the status here: https://bit.ly/3vhBD5J. This fee covers hosting costs, insurance, a small travel fund to enable disadvantaged volunteers to join projects and administration costs and is to be paid on arrival at the project or online directly to the hosting branch. For volunteers coming through SCI Branches and Groups there is no additional incoming fee, since the costs covered by the additional fee are included in the amount paid to the sending branch.
Camp Photographs



