Hello friends,
This Spring 2017 at Os Figueiros we are hosting for the third time since 2014 the wonderful PRESS START programme for young adults throughout France. Press Start is a 2-week intensive programme followed up by a year of mentorship to offer motivated and passionate French youth aged 18 to 30 years old, notably those living in disadvantaged urban and rural neighbourhoods from all around France, quality training and support to realise their entrepreneurial projects and to increase their awareness about community and social responsibility. Here is a link to the programme on the organization’s website: www.yesakademia.ong/pressstart. We are looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help me run the first week from May 8th to May 14th, specifically to help organise the communal cooking and “wwoofing” aspects.
Every day during the week participants work on projects related to the environment, gardening, their relation to nature and plants, building renovation and arts and crafts. This year’s projects will include creating a solar drier, building a rocket stove, water conservation, plant dyeing and more. So I am looking for people with knowledge in either arts and crafts or do it yourself building and repairs (not advanced, more common sense).
Also, the participants take turns to communally create an evening meal daily. Some might have little previous cooking experience for big groups and I am looking for someone to coordinate this and generally supervise the kitchen. This is not about cooking all the time and there will be other people in charge of preparing breakfast and lunch. Rather it’s about aiding people to work together as a team and enhance their trust in themselves and their abilities, provide the support and demonstrate the skills necessary but to encourage participants to do it themselves.
And we also try to manifest through attitude and various activities a counterpoint and a community and heart based contrast with the formal teaching for their project realisation. A glimpse of a different idea of what life’s about!
And I am also looking for someone to be in charge of producing 1 meal a day for 25 people. You will have a team of helpers everyday but not necessarily with much idea of cooking. So requirements are to enjoy cooking and working with (young) people of diverse backgrounds, patience to cope with practical difficulties and an ability to work intensively for 3-4 hours every day.
Being here during this week is a great experience, becoming part of a community with all sorts of people and lots of fun and hard work.
To give you an idea of what it’s like, here are links to previous year’s videos and photos https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=press%20start%20photos
and you can read about Yes Akademia and its programme here.
http://yesakademia.ong/pressstart
There is no pay for the week but I will pay all your travel expenses etc.
If you are interested and want to know more do get in touch with me via facebook or davewassz@hotmail.co.uk. And do pass this post on, if you think you know someone who could want to be part of this event.
You do not have to speak french to take part in this event.
Now This Moment 