Renewed Roots
Description: The primary goal is to revitalize the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Garden in the Environmental Park of Santa Margarida, restoring its ecological richness and functionality. Volunteers will play an essential role in the physical transformation of the garden, engaging in meaningful interventions that foster awareness of sustainability and environmental conservation. Beyond enhancing the park, the project promotes skill development, teamwork, and creativity among participants, helping them grow both personally and professionally. Through practical activities and community involvement, the project aims to create ecological infrastructures such as bird nesting boxes and an insect hotel while strengthening ties between youth and the local community.
Type of Work: ● Garden Revitalization: Cleaning and preparing the terrain, removing invasive plants, and enriching the soil for planting aromatic and medicinal species. They will assist in redesigning flower beds, creating pathways, and restoring shrubs to improve the garden’s aesthetic and functional appeal. ● Ecological Infrastructure Development: Under the guidance of skilled monitors, volunteers will build and install bird nesting boxes and an insect hotel to support local biodiversity and establish safe habitats for various species. ● Species Cataloging: Using the iNaturalist app, volunteers will identify and document plant species in the park, creating a digital inventory that supports conservation efforts and enhances participants’ technological and scientific skills. ● Educational Sessions
Study Theme: Through their participation, volunteers will gain: ● Technical Skills: Hands-on experience in gardening techniques, ecological construction, and the use of tools for sustainable development. ● Environmental Awareness: Insights into biodiversity, species monitoring, and conservation practices through practical work and the use of citizen science technology. ● Personal Growth: Opportunities to develop teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity in a supportive and dynamic setting. ● Community Connection: A deeper understanding of the cultural and natural heritage of Constância
Accommodation: The camping park is equipped with multiple hygiene facilities, including toilets, hot showers and a tank for washing clothes by hand - bring washing soap/ detergent if you wish to wash clothes, or you can buy it in the supermarket nearby. Multiple power sockets are also available to charge electronics. The organisation will provide 3 meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food will be cooked by a local and will be mostly typical portuguese food. Vegetarian options will also be available. In the proximity of the venue it is also possible to find stores, cafes and restaurants.
Requirements: Send a short motivation letter If possible bring some camping items, including tent, mat and sleeping bag. In case you do not own these materials we will lend them to you. Everyone should bring clothes according to the weather, personal hygiene items and medicines (if applicable), a bag/ backpack for daily use, a torch, a reusable water bottle and some comfortable clothes and shoes for work
Approximate Location: We will be camping in Parque de Campismo de Constância, located in a small village in the countryside of Portugal (approximately 1h away from Lisbon) with an estimated population of 7000 people.