Workcamp: Open House (Thuringia)

Description: This year Open Houses is supporting the revival of the anniversary campaign “100 years of workcamps” of 2020, which due to the COVID-19 emergency had to be postponed towards 2021. For this reason, Castle Lohra will be hosting a workcamp which will be representative of the volunteering work camp culture in Germany. In parallel to this workcamp, Lohra Castle will also be hosting a seminar with the presence of former camp leaders and participants representing other German youth organisations, where they will discuss the future of workcamps from the perspective of today’s young volunteers. The participants of this workcamp will be providing support for this seminar while partaking in the activities organised jointly with the seminar participants.

Type of Work: Support of preparation and organisation of a celebration event: 101 years of international workcamps: Peace and solidarity for the future. The volunteers will take care of the surrounding area and will carry out small renovation works. To make the work in the Building Weeks as productive as possible, it would be welcome if the volunteers would already have some technical skills or experience in working on a construction site. Although such previous experience would be and advantage thus enabling the volunteers to share their skills and experiences it is not a mandatory condition for the participation at Building Weeks.

Study Theme: Open Houses – not empty buildings, but places with visible and invisible traces of history, places which have grown and decayed over the centuries, places which were shaped by those people who lived there long ago as well those who left only yesterday – places which will be shaped by those who live there or who come as a guest. Open Houses – rooms which want to be filled with dreams and ideas, with meetings and exchange, by people of different backgrounds, different cultures, generations, ideas, and visions. Participants will get a chance to learn more about the volunteering movement.

Accommodation: Shared rooms in 3 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), 1 camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stoves.

Language: In general, the language spoken in the camps is English. But in all camps, there is also the possibility to practice German with other volunteers, camp leaders and the local people.

Requirements: Interest in history in future of international Workcamps and volunteer movement