UAALT18  Lake House Study Centre (Dnipropetrovs’k region) 03/08/2008-18/08/2008  ENVI/CULT/MANU  12 vols (10 int.+2 local)

Project: the idea of the project is to help local community in organizing the regional village study centre for local and other close by villages’ inhabitants to study and share ideas about possibilities of village households’ development where they will have practical trainings and access to any useful information they might need. The idea of the project is to show to the local youngsters the range of possibilities they can have in the native village as a perspective to resolve the problem of youth leaving villages looking for working places in the city and as a possibility to brighten up the life style of village households.

The Centre is almost ready for the moment and there are some creative tasks left such as landscape designing (all ideas are very welcome!) and putting some special spirit into the place. The association and the village are motivated to turn this workcamp into a rich intercultural meeting therefore a range of activities with the local youth are planned.

Work: guided by professionals you will help on the site of Lake House Study Centre in:
- landscaping - planting grass, shrub plants, setting benches, natural arbors, organizing flower-beds, garden lanes etc., some help in in-house construction works are also possible (such as painting walls in the study hall premises).
- decorating the territory of the Center with different elements from the Ukrainian traditional designing (wicker fences, ceramics, paintings etc.) You’ll have a chance to learn and try some traditional Ukrainian handicrafts.
- re-designing of a small house on the Centre premises into a traditional Ukrainian family-home museum (whitewashing and painting the walls in a traditional style).
- organizing cross-cultural discussion/learning with local inhabitants. For this matter different activities involving local people are planned: such as intercultural barbecue and sports competitions. Volunteer group artistic and creative approaches will make it be fun and great support for better cross-cultural understanding.

Accommodation and food:All volunteers will be accommodated in a building of the Lake House Study Centre. Shower, cooking and washing facilities are provided in the Study Centre and its premises. Cooking will be organised on a basis of kitchen-brigades and will be done by volunteers also you’ll have a chance to try some traditional Ukrainian dishes prepared by locals as well. So, please, get ready for the intercultural evening :)

What to bring: it’s necessary to have: sleeping bags and roll mats, comfortable shoes, working clothes. It’s recommended to have: raincoats, caps with peak and sunglasses, sun-protection lotion and mosquito repellent. Drums, guitars and other musical support are very welcome. Please bring some pictures, stories, music, national food and drinks etc for the great cultural exchange!

Project language: English.

Leisure time: different leisure options for weekends are possible and planned: sightseeing or entertaining in Dnipropetrovs’k (second large and central city in Ukraine), visiting local ‘wedding house museum’, sport activities, trekking in surrounding natural areas, fishing etc.

Additional info:
about Dnipropetrovs'k city
about Ukraine

Special Requirements: Participants should be flexible for changes in the camp schedule, which could be changed by weather and ready for both physical work and creative social activities.