Preserving the rural and cultural heritage in Faia Brava Reserve

  Portugal

Aveiro

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: August 18 - August 30

Description: The project is organized in cooperation with an environment NGO, created in 2000 at Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda district, Portugal. Their mission is the conservation of the Riba-Côa natural heritage. To achieve this goal, the objectives are the study and conservation of flora and fauna of the Côa, Águeda and Douro watersheds, environmental education, development of sustainable rural development projects, and the recovery and promotion of the cultural and architectural heritage of the region. Their main project, the Faia Brava Reserve, at the Côa Valley SPA, is a 600 ha property, managed exclusively for nature and culture heritage conservation.

The goal of this volunteer project is to support the inventory and recovery of abandoned rural structures and constructions, as well as the compilation of local stories and knowledge, for the development of ecotourism activities at the Faia Brava Reserve. The participants will receive theoretical and practical information from specialists on rural architecture inventory and recovery methodologies, and will take part in practical inventory work. Reconstruction fieldwork will also be done on rural houses, sheds, stonewalls and traditional roofs, as well as the marking of theme nature trails, which will allow tourists to visit rediscovered and recovered rural heritage.

Highlights: Free time activities: On evenings and days off, the volunteers will have the opportunity to discover the region, through guided visits to rock art sites at the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, bird watching activities, traditional music and rural activity evenings, with the support of the local population.

The Algodres village is located 14 km from Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (Guarda). The fieldwork will be done at the Faia Brava Reserve, 4 km away from the village.

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 Portugal 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.