Itinerant camp in support of an Emmaus community

  France

Valence

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Emmaus is a community that welcomes marginalized and homeless people, mostly men. They are called "companions". The community provides them with a place where they can live and work. It is a place where people live together in a spirit of solidarity. Some companions live there temporarily while going trough a tough phase in life and the community supports them towards social reinsertion; others see life in the community as an alternative way of life. There are 3 founding principles in all Emmaus Communities: welcoming people (everybody whatever their origin and their past); working, which is seen as fundamental for a sound life and as the way to reinsertion and reconstruction of self esteem; sharing is the third pillar of life in the community.

The volunteers (in a group of max 7/8 persons) will share the life and activities of the companions, organised around the collecting, fixing and selling of second-hand articles in the community shops. The volunteers will be associated to the daily tasks carried out all year round by the companions. In this period, an itinerant camp will be organised: you will have to go in different villages in order to collect second hand things directly from the people (sometimes the community is too far or the people don't have a car to bring their things).

Located at 10 km south of Valence, in the Drôme, Etoile (4,500 inhabitants) is a town which overhangs the valley of the Rhône. Its village, at the heart of the enclosure of the 15th century, reveals an architectural heritage of quality: a church, stone houses, a chapel and a castle. As for its countryside, it is characterized by very diversified landscapes (edge of the rivers Rhône and Véore, agricultural and fruit bearing zones, hills and woods).

Cost in US$: USD 290

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: motivated to work voluntarily within an international team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative person with adventurous spirit

Age Range: 18 - 30 years old

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to France Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.