Workcamps in Russia 2014
WORLD4U, Russia
Moscow, 101000, Sretensky blvd, 6/1 building 1 gate 6
www.world4u.ru
Tel./fax +7 (495) 748-1-748
Email: volunteering@world4u.ru
What is “World4U”

History
World4U is a non-profit NGO; it was founded in 1998 as a group of young enthusiastic
people with a vision that international communication among youth has a tremendous potential
in raising intercultural understanding, tolerance and creation peaceful life in the world-wide
community. In the summer of 2000 Voluntary Exchange Russia World4U started to exist as an
official NGO.
Now we are one of the biggest voluntary organizations in Russia. World4u represents about
2500 creative and bright individuals who are united by the idea of volunteering and crosscultural understanding. We have partners in various regions of Russia.

Activity & Aims
World4U manages international voluntary exchange – we organize international projects in
Russia and send Russian volunteers abroad. This experience of international voluntary service
will help to find a solution on actual problems in Russia and all around the world.
Our aims are:
 to promote different types of activities particularly among young people, which
helps to make our world a better place
 to attract wide public attention to the various environmental, social, cultural
problems
 to promote awareness openness, friendly attitude to different cultures and various
life paths
 to wide knowledge about various countries and cultures among young people
 to incorporate people of different cultures and lifestyles for getting common good
experience in multicultural community
 to change negative image of Russia in the world
The specialties in volunteering in Russia
 Invitation & Visa to Russia
As the most of the foreigners need an entrance visa to Russia we recommend international
volunteers to send their applications 1 or 2 months before the project starts.
Our organization provides official invitation letter for getting visa, which we forward by post or
fax to the sending organization of a volunteer. Volunteers have to visit www.russianembassy.net
for a full list of addresses and telephone numbers of Russian embassies and consulates and
find all the rules and necessary documents to apply for Russian visa in every particular country
there. We kindly ask you to encourage your volunteers to do that the sooner the better.
 Long distances in Russia
Russia is a truly big country. Normal average travel distance here is “one night train ride”, which
means about 7-9 hours by train any direction from Moscow, the main railway hub in the west of
the country. The train transportation in Russia is cheap comparing to Europe, and we’ll also
make estimation on the costs in the travel directions in the infosheets.
Please, keep in mind huge Russian distances and ask your volunteers to plan the arrival to
Russia 2-3 days prior to get the meeting point in time.
 Language
Foreign volunteers should be ready that English is not as well spoken in Russia as in Europe.
Also remember, please, there is Cyrillic alphabet in Russia and most of the signs have no Latin
equivalent.
Workcamps Terms:
Our summer international workcamps consist of 3-15 international volunteers and one or two
camp leaders. Quite often the group of international volunteers integrates into a group of
Russian volunteers.
 Camp types:
Most of our camps in Russia are multi-type camps – combining different activities and
communication with different people.
RENO – renovation/restoration work, usually connected with masonry, manual work, painting,
carpentry and other minor assignments without any special professional requirements
SOCI – social work with socially disadvantaged people/children/orphans
AGRI – work in agriculture, mostly help for monasteries and orphanages. Volunteers work in the
gardens, help in harvesting and cleaning the fields, grass cutting, preparing firewood etc.
ENVI – ecological / environmental work – cleaning forest, setting up ecological signs, recycling
master classes
KIDS – working with children, usually 5-16 y.o. as an animator or organizer of free time
activities, games or language workshops
FEST – work as a part of a prep-team / technical group of some festival / celebration / exhibition
ART – project connected with arts and crafts developing activities

Age limits are usually from 18 y.o. and older, without any upper limit, but in some
particular projects there can be special age requirements.

Insurance is NOT provided by World4U, but basic medical assistance is always
available. Anyway it’s good idea to have all the medicine you are used to from you
home country as you know all the weaknesses of your health and what pills
normally help you.

Workcamp language of all World4U camps is English, and, of course, the
knowledge of Russian is welcome.
List of “World4U” workcamps 2014
Camp
Code
Name
Place
Dates
Type
Vols
Remarks
W4U-01
Nikola-Lenivets
Eco-farm 1
Myshkin 1
Myshkin 2
AaPPLE Global
Village
05.05 – 18.05
ENVI
15
Basic
conditions!
01.06 – 21.06
21.06 – 14.07
26.06 – 09.07
KIDS
KIDS
KIDS
4
4
5
Nikola-Lenivets
Eco-farm 2
Art-Rise
Nikola-Lenivets
village
Yaroslavl region
Yaroslavl region
Soloneshnoe
village, Barnaul,
Altai krai
Nikola-Lenivets
village
Ryazan
01.07 – 13.07
ENVI
15
01.07 – 14.07
3
W4U-07
Northern
Theatre
Pitkyaranta,
Republic Karelia
W4U-08
YogArt
Valdai
FEST
10
Basic
conditions!
W4U-09
Archstoyanie
FEST
15
Basic
conditions!
W4U-10
Perspective
14.07 – 08.08
RENO
15
W4U-11
W4U-12
17.07 – 06.08
05.08 – 18.08
KIDS
ENVI
4
10
W4U-14
Myshkin 3
Solovki
Botanical
Garden
Eco Art Baikal
Nikola-Lenivets
village
Rybinsk,
Yaroslavl region
Yaroslavl region
Solovetsky
Islands
2 weeks in July
Dates to be
confirmed
2 weeks in July
Dates to be
confirmed
14.07 – 28.07
ART /
SOCI
KIDS
Baikal Lake
12.08 – 26.08
14
ML
W4U-15
Photo Fences
16.08 – 30.08
7
Motivation
form
W4U-16
Not of this world
Nerekhta,
Kostroma region
SaintPetersburg
W4U-17
Sacred Island-1
Valaam Island
2 weeks in August
Dates to be
confirmed
24.08 – 14.09
ENVI /
CULT
ART /
SOCI
RENO
12
W4U-18
Sacred Island-2
Valaam Island
14.09 – 05.10
AGRI /
CULT
AGRI /
CULT
W4U-02
W4U-03
W4U-04
W4U-05
W4U-06
ML
Basic
conditions!
ML
6
12
12
Basic
conditions!
“World4U” workcamps 2014
W4U-01 “Nikola-Lenivets Eco-farm 1”
(Nikola-Lenivets village)
5 – 18 May 2014, ENVI, 15 international
vols; age 18+
Language: English
Introduction: Nikola-Lenivets village is
situated in the Kaluga region in the center
of the European part of Russia. The
workcamp is situated at the first Russian
art-park «Nikola-Lenivets» which is also
one of the biggest in Europe. This is a place for living and creation outdoors, at the countryside,
where such international events as Archstoyanie, Beaubourg and the Night of the New Media are
taking place every year. This is a territory, which is open for initiative, communication,
searching of the new ways and co-creation on the field from art to eco-farming.
http://nikola-lenivets.com/farm/?lang=en
Location: Kaluga is a large historical, cultural and industrial city. It is located in the Central
Federal District, the distance to Moscow is about 200 km (it takes about 2,5 hours by train to get
to Moscow). Small and picturesque village Nicola-Lenivets is located on the banks of the Ugra
River where in the 15th century was a great battle of Russian history named «Great stand on the
Ugra River» in 1480.
Type of work: volunteers will work at the eco-farm, which provides vegetables for the Art-park.
Work includes digging, planting, removing the grass, watering ect. Also we have birds (guineafowl and gooses), so you may take care of them: feeding, cleaning.
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in tents at the camping in the area of the art-park, so they
have to take their sleeping bags and mats. Food will be provided by the organizers three times
per day in the canteen for volunteers. There will be available the toilets and cold shower nearby.
We have also hot water shower, but during the festival and the preparations it can be difficult to
get there because of the huge number of the people (artists, performers, actors etc.)
You can wash your clothes at the automated laundry, but it's likely that you will have to dry it on
the trees.
It’s possible to provide the vegetarian food for those who need it, but you should inform your
camp-leader about it in advance.
Free time activities: The participation in the festival will be free, also you may walk wherever
you wish at the territory of the Art-park. It’s really plenty of things should be seen!
You can walk on the forest, enjoying its unique diversity of the plants which is presented at this
area; visit the old church on the bank of the Ugra-river, which was abandoned during the Soviet
period and being under the reconstructing nowadays. And of course you cannot resist from the
swimming in the Ugra-river, but be careful! The stream is quite rapid and treacherous.
The excursion in Kaluga (Museum of Cosmonautics) might be provided for the little extra
money.
W4U-02 “Myshkin 1” (Yaroslavl region)
01-21 June 2014; KIDS / EDU; 4 int. vols; age 18 - 40
Language: English
Location: Yaroslavl is a historical city and a part of the famous “Golden Ring” of Russia. The
Golden Ring (Russian: Zolotoye Kol’tso) is a group of historical cities northeast of Moscow that
has played an important role in Russian history.
Volunteers will stay in a children camp near Myshkin, another ancient historical town of
Yaroslavl region. Myshkin is situated on a Volga river and it is famous for its “museum of
Mouse” and museum of Russian “valenki” (felt boots).
Work: Educational and cultural work with children (age: from 7 to 16) in the camp.
This project is for those who love kids and would like to spend lots of time with them.
Volunteers will run workshops, studies, lessons, conversations, hobby groups, plays,
competitions, trainings in English. They will be busy 6-7 hours a day, but the time will be split
between morning classes and evening events.
Accommodation: the volunteers will live in separate leaders’ rooms.
The volunteers will eat with children together in the canteen of the rest house (breakfast, lunch,
dinner and evening snack).
Free time activities: There are morning language classes with kids, afternoon workshops,
evening events. An excursion round Yaroslavl and a trip to Myshkin will be provided on free
time.
Requirements: energy, communicative
skills, skills of working in a team.
Experience of working with children is
preferable. Ability to play a musical
instrument is an advantage.
Transportation: The nearest terminal is
Moscow; from Moscow 4 hours by train to
Yaroslavl, where will be the meeting
place.
W4U-03 “Myshkin 2” (Yaroslavl region)
21 June – 14 July; KIDS / EDU; 4 int. vols; age 18 – 40
See the description of W4U-02
W4U-04 “AaPPLE Global Village” (Soloneshnoe
village, Barnaul, Altai krai)
26 June-9 July 2014; KIDS, 5 int. vols; age 18+
Language: English
Location: Our camp is situated in a picturesque
place of South-Western Siberia – Soloneshnoe
village in Altai krai. Altai krai is famous with its
history and natural contrasts. The region attracts
tourists, artists, poets, and spirituals with its
numerous lakes, waterfalls, mountains, mineral
springs and ancient findings. It’s a great place for
relaxation and exploration.
Work: Educational and cultural work with children
(age: from 7 to 17) in the health camp.
This project is for those who love kids and would like to
spend lots of time with them.
Volunteers will give classes in English for kids, so that
they can improve their language skills and learn about
different countries the volunteers are from. Also we will
run master-classes, studies, conversations, workshops,
plays, competitions, trainings. We will be busy 5-6 hours
a day, but time will be split between morning classes and
evening events. Volunteers will also present the culture
of the countries they come from.
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in a rest house (separate rooms for girls and boys).
The volunteers will eat with children together in the canteen about 5 times a day.
Free time activities: Numerous unique excursions will be offered to the volunteers.
1. A tour of the capital of Altai krai – Barnaul
2. Volonteers may take part in a very specific event – cutting of the antlers of young Siberian stags
3. A trip to Shepeta Mountain to see a wonderful view of the region. We can see foxes, ground
squirrel and other wild animals running by on the way to the top.
4. A trip to the highest waterfalls in the region
5. You may see the greatest regional treasure – The Denisov Caves famous for
its paleoarchaeological and paleontological findings
You’ll live in a peaceful and picturesque place famous for its history and nature.
Requirements: energy, communicative skills, skills of working in a team. Experience of working with
children is preferable. Ability to play a musical instrument is an advantage. You should be ready to tell
more about your culture so make sure to bring photos, music, videos and everything you consider useful
for that. We are waiting for creative personalities!
Motivation letter is required.
Transportation: The nearest
terminal is Barnaul. The Meeting
Point will be on 26 June in
Barnaul where volunteers are
required to arrive for Welcome
Meeting. The accommodation will
be provided. The next destination
will be Soloneshnoe village.
We recommend to arrive in
Moscow, and then take a plane to
Barnaul (this internal flight lasts 3
hours). You can also go to
Barnaul from Moscow by train,
but this trip will take 2 days.
W4U-05 “Nikola-Lenivets Eco-farm 2” (Nikola-Lenivets village)
1 – 13 July 2014, ENVI, 15 international vols; age 18+
See the description of W4U-01
W4U-06 “Art-Rise” (Ryazan)
1 – 14 July 2014, ART + SOCI, 3 international vols; age 18-27
Partner: The project is organized in cooperation with «Art-Rise dance studio». For 3 years they
have organized different dance festivals, workshops and dancing camps for teenagers.
Work: During 5 days (from 01/07/2014 to 06/07/2014) main work will be holding dance
workshops in a dancing studio and outdoors. Participants will teach students different street
styles (Hip Hop, Waacking, House, Locking, Breaking etc.). After 5 days working, they will take
part in a charity festival, organized together with different charity and social organizations.
7/07/2014 participants will go to the dancing camp «Art-Rise». It will be hold out of town in the
forest near the lake. This picturesque place is a famous place for tourists. There participants will
take part in educational dance program. They will teach teenagers and also study dancing.
Since we work with teenagers the main condition is prohibition of alcohol and other substances.
Accommodation and food: First 5 days accommodation will be in families with bed-rooms,
kitchen, bathroom, showers. During the other days the participants will live in houses in the
camp. The conditions include:
- food: 4 times a day
- 2 sleeping places in the room
- shower and toilet in the room.
Location and leisure activities: Ryazan is situated not far from Moscow. One of the most
famous Russian poet – Sergei Esenin was born here. A great Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov
studied and lived in Ryazan. And you can also visit his museum and house. Also you can visit
historical places of our town such as The Ryazan Kremlin, Konstantinovo and different
museums.
Requirements: Participants must be able to dance street styles such as Hip Hop, House,
Waacking, Locking, Breaking, Dancehall. The participants have to send the motivation letter
with a reference to a video of their dancing in order to prepare the program. It is recommended to
bring mosquito repellent because there can be mosquitoes in the forest during 5 days.
W4U-07 «Northern Theatre» (Pitkyaranta, Republic Karelia)
2 weeks in July 2014 – dates to be confirmed!
KIDS / EDU; 6 int. vols; age 18 +
Language: English, Russian is welcome
Location: Karelia is a unique area of Russia where outstanding natural beauty meets a great
cultural heritage, included into the UNESCO list. Pitkyaranta is a district centre of republic
Karelia. The town is pretty close to the border wit Finland, so long time ago this territory
belonged to Sweden, then to Russia and later to Finland. Changing of the countries and people
has led to interesting mix of cultures in this region. High steep rocks together with coastal watermeadows, pine forests that grow on meager soil, and dense broad-leaved trees and tillage
together with fresh groves present beautiful contrasting nature. With its rich nature this area is
considered to be the best for hiking and hunting.
Work: This project is for those who love kids and would like to spend lots of time with them, as
all the activities are based in local school. Volunteers will give classes in English and other
languages for kids, so that they can improve their language skills and learn about different
countries the volunteers are from. Other part of work will be preparing a play in English with
local kids, so by the end of the project volunteers could give the performance. We will be busy
5-6 hours a day, but time will be split between morning classes and evening events.
Accommodation: Participants will live in the well-equipped flat or in a hostel. In the evenings
we can go to a traditional Russian sauna “banya” placed in the same building. The volunteers
will cook breakfast themselves; lunches and dinners will be served in the canteen.
Free time activities: First you will have a pleasure to observe “white nights” – a very special
northern phenomenon, when it is twilight during all night. We will have evening program in the
field of international communication: meetings with locals, sport activities, outdoor games,
fishing, swimming and boating – we have a beautiful lake nearby (the Ladoga Lake is the biggest
lake in Europe). We can visit Ruskeala marble canyon and Natural Park “Ladozhskie shkhery”
which landscape was formed by a glacier in the ice age. And depending on group decision we
can also visit Valaam Island with the monastery which is one of the most important holy places
in Russia and attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Distance from Moscow: 14-16 hours by train to Petrozavodsk, then 3-4 hours by bus or by car
to Pitkyaranta.
From Saint-Peterburg – 8-9 hours by bus to Pitkyaranta
W4U-08 “YogArt” (Valdai Hills)
2 weeks in July 2014 – dates to be confirmed!
FEST, 10 international vols, 18 +
Language: English, Russian is welcome
Location: Project takes place in Valdai, an upland region situated about midway between Saint
Petersburg and Moscow and 140 km south-east from Novgorod the Great. It is a place of many
lakes; the camp is situated close to Valdai Lake. The place is famous for Valdaysky National
Park. Since 2004, the park has the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This summer this
place welcomes a big festival of arts and yoga. The festival offers many free master-classes and
performances to local people.
Work: Volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival. International volunteers will be
integrated into a group of several Russian volunteers; they will work together in the construction,
assembling and decoration of tents, loading, unloading and transport of materials for the festival.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in tents in the area of festival, food will be provided, the
food is only vegetarian, but very delicious.
Free time activities: Volunteers can visit master-classes, yoga classes and concerts of the
festival. Apart of that we will provide different activities: Russian national games, personal
development trainings, international cultural events. Volunteers also can visit Novgorod the
Great (in Russian Novgorod Veliky), the famous Russian historical city.
Requirements: Volunteers with experience in camping are really welcomed! Please bring
working clothes, sleeping bag, mosquito repellents, swimming suit, raincoat, closed boots, wool
sweater, scarf or sun hat.
Transportation: Nearest terminals are either St. Petersburg or Moscow.
W4U-09 “Archstoyanie” (Nikola-Lenivets village)
14 – 28 July 2014, FEST, 15 international vols;
age 18+
Language: English, Russian is welcome
Introduction: Nikola-Lenivets village is situated in
the Kaluga region in the center of the European part
of Russia. Nowadays this village is known due to the
Annual Architectural Festival «Archstoyanie» which
attracts a lot of people from the whole country related
with architecture, landscape design or who just love
fine art atmosphere. This event has been taking place
in Nikola-Lenivets since 1989 and today it has grown
to international level.
http://arch.stoyanie.ru/en/festivals
Location: Kaluga is a large historical, cultural and
industrial city. It is located in the Central Federal
District, the distance to Moscow is about 200 km (it
takes about 2,5 hours by train to get to Moscow).
Small and picturesque village Nicola-Lenivets is
located on the banks of the Ugra River where in the
15th century was a great battle of Russian history named «Great stand on the Ugra River» in
1480.
Work: The workcamp is situated at the first Russian art-park «Nikola-Lenivets» which is also
one of the biggest in Europe. Volunteers will work on preparation for the festival
«Archstoyanie»: preparing the territory, like cutting the bushes, cleaning the grassplots and
paths, helping with installing the objects for the exhibition; also probably they will be proposed
to work at the eco-farm.
Study theme: Besides the program of the festival includes performances, workshops and music
of various styles. Every year it gathers different people together and gives them the sense of cocreation and inspires them to new achievements.
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in tents at the camping in the area of the art-park, so they
have to take their sleeping bags and mats. Food will be provided by the organizers three times
per day in the canteen for volunteers. There will be available the toilets and cold shower nearby.
We have also hot water shower, but during the festival and the preparations it can be difficult to
get there because of the huge number of the people (artists, performers, actors etc.)
You can wash your clothes at the automated laundry, but it's likely that you will have to dry it on
the trees.
It’s possible to provide the vegetarian food for those who need it, but you should inform your
camp-leader about it in advance.
Free time activities: The participation in the festival will be free, also you may walk wherever
you wish at the territory of the atr-park. It’s really plenty of things should be seen!
You can walk on the forest, enjoying its unique diversity of the plants which is presented at this
area; visit the old church on the bank of the Ugra-river, which was abandoned during the Soviet
period and being under the reconstructing nowadays. And of course you cannot resist from the
swimming in the Ugra-river, but be careful! The stream is quite rapid and treacherous.
The excursion in Kaluga (Museum of Cosmonautics) might be provided for the little extra
money.
W4U-10 “Perspective” (Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region)
14 July - 8 August 2014, RENO, 15 international vols; 18 +
Language: English, Russian is welcome
This camp is a great opportunity to see one of the beauties cities of “Golden Ring” of Russia.
The Golden Ring (Russian: Zolotoye Kol’tso) is a group of historical cities northeast of Moscow
that has played an important role in Russian history.
Location: Rybinsk is a the second largest city in the Yaroslavl region and it is one of the Golden
Ring cities. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Volga, Sheksna and Cheryomuha and on
the southeastern shore of Rybinsk reservoir. Rybinsk is known for its historical buildings,
including old Russian churches and cathedrals. It is located 350 kilometers northeast of Moscow
Work: This workcamp is run by the regional government since 2004. The Children's home
(2009) and the House of mercy (2009) in Tutaev, pensioner’s apartments, an accomplishment of
parks to the 1000 anniversary of the Yaroslavl city (2010), schools, kindergartens and social
rehabilitation centers (2011-2013) has been repaired.
This year we repair social objects (the socially-rehabilitation centers, houses-boarding schools,
schools) and monuments of architecture. Volunteers will work together with Russian participants
of the camp. Work 6 hours a day except 1 day in week.
Accommodation: Habitation, food, excursions – at the expense of our organization. We will live
in a hostel, located not far from the work place, 10 people in the room, toilet and bathroom on
the floor. We will have a bus to reach a working place. Meals 3 times a day will be provided in
the canteen. Alcohol is prohibited in our camp.
Free time activities: In the evening we have competition and entertainment for participants. You
can swim in the river. On days off we offer excursions, picnic and free time activities.
Volunteers may enjoy hiking around the area, where are many churches, monuments and
beautiful nature. The trip to Yaroslavl’ – a regional center and one of the oldest and most
beautiful cities of the “Golden ring” of Russia will be organized.
Transportation: 5 hours from Moscow by bus or train.
W4U-11 “Myshkin 3” (Yaroslavl region)
17 July – 6 August; KIDS / EDU; 4 int. vols; age 18 - 40
See the description of W4U-02
W4U-12 “Solovki Botanical Garden”
(Solovetsky Islands)
5 - 18 August 2014, ENVI,
10 international vols; age 18+
Language: English
Partner: This project is organized in
cooperation with Solovetsky MuseumReserve (or shorter “Solovki”) which is
well-known due to Solovetsky
Monastery. Solovetsky Monastery was
the greatest citadel of Christianity in the
Russian North before being turned into a
special Soviet prison and labor camp (1926–1939), which served as a prototype for the Gulag
system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many
changes of fortune and military sieges. Solovki is included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage
sites. http://www.solovky.ru/
Location: Solovetsky Islands are an archipelago located in Onega Bay of the White Sea less
then 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Project takes place in a Botanical Garden, which is
situated on a biggest island of the archipelago. This remarkable garden was created in the 19
century. Some of the scientists among the prisoners in the Gulag were able to work on
acclimatization in the garden, but many never returned to the mainland. In 1974, the Solovki
Museum-Reserve took charge of the garden. In 2004 there were listed 147 species, forms and
varieties of trees and shrubs and 255 herbaceous plants.
Work: environmental work in the garden. We will help in harvesting and taking care of plants.
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in tents in a well-equipped camping of the garden. Food
will be provided; volunteers will cook by themselves as a group.
Free time activities: Solovki is a pearl of the Barents Region. Anyone visiting the archipelago,
regardless of the interests and purposes, agree the visit cannot be forgotten.
During the free time you will have a chance to enjoy walking, visiting churches and many monk’
skits situated in the island, and learning about Russian Orthodox culture.
Transportation: Nearest terminal is Kem, a small town of republic Karelia in Russia. It takes 2
hours to travel from Kem to the island by boat. ATTENTION: Volunteers have to arrive at least
2 days before the project starts. We suggest to arrive in Saint-Petersburg. Meeting point will be
in Saint-Petersburg, then participants will go together with camp-leader to Kem by train (it takes
16 hours), then by boat to the island.
W4U-14 “Eco Art Baikal” (KhagdanDalay, Olkhon region, Baikal Lake)
12 - 26 August 2014, ENVI/CULT,
14 international vols; age 18-50
Language: English
Partner: This project is organized in
cooperation with association “Global Spirit”, which is aimed to keep attention of young
generation to global ecological problems and promote old ethnic traditions of Russia.
Location: Project is located on a bay of famous Baikal Lake, 260 km north-east from Irkutsk.
Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and is included in the World Heritage list of UNESCO. It
is very popular tourist area, where now we have a big problem with garbage.
Work: Big part of our work will be cleaning of the lake’
coast from trash. We will also carry out a number of
master-classes and info-meetings to inform local people
and tourists about ecological problems of Baikal Lake and
importance of its unique nature. We will create crafts and
hand-making sculptures from garbage in order to make this
problem visible. In the end of the project volunteers will
organize an exhibition of these sculptures in order to draw
attention of local people, authorities, media and tourists to
this problem.
The list of possible activities might be complemented by
something else upon a situation and public demand, so we
rely on you flexibility and positive open-minded attitude.
Accommodation: Volunteers will live in a yurt camp: there are several authentic Mongolian
yurts, which are made of wood and natural numdah/felt. Every yurt is well-equipped, with 4
beds; toilet and bathroom are available. Food will be provided; volunteers will cook by
themselves as a group.
Free time activities: Volunteers will have the ability to get to know old cultural traditions of
local inhabitants: Buryats and nomads. There will be organized cultural master-classes and a trip
through old nomad shaman’ paths. Volunteers can take part in old Kurykans rites (the Kurykans
were indigenous people, who had inhabited the area till 12 century). Also volunteers can visit
Olkhon Island, famous Kurykansky settlement, Sarminskoe Gorge – a place where the wind
Sarma arises most of terrible winds of Baikal, etc. Volunteers can also swim in the lake and go
for hiking in mountains.
Requirements: interest in ecological problems and ethnic cultures; Motivation letter is required.
Transportation: Nearest terminal is Irkutsk. The camp is located 260 km away from Irkutsk.
Meeting point will be in Irkutsk on 12 of August, and then participants will go together to the
camp’ place. You can take a flight directly to Irkutsk, but there is also a possibility to travel there
from Moscow by train with camp-leaders.
The trip by train takes almost 3 days, and it is a part of the famous Trans-Siberian route (the
longest railway line in the world, connecting Moscow with Russian Far East), so you will have
the ability to enjoy beautiful and diverse sites of Russia. Volunteers have to contact camp-leaders
to inform if he/she goes by train (in this case you have to arrive in Moscow at least 3 days before
the project starts).
W4U-15 “Photo Fences” (Nerekhta, Kostroma region)
16-30 August 2014, ART + SOCI, 7 international vols, age 18 +
Language: English
Location: The hosting organization - International Youth Center “Earth, Planet of People”
(Terre des hommes) – is a local NGO and specializes in recreational-educational programs for
children, art projects, and social projects in the hometown Nerekhta.
Nerekhta is an old town with a beautiful countryside and numerous churches that belong to the
Kostroma region – a 5 hours’ ride northeast from Moscow. This camp is a great opportunity to
see one of the cities of “Golden Ring” of Russia. The Golden Ring (Russian: Zolotoye Kol’tso)
is a number of towns surrounding and including Moscow.
Work: The aim of the international project “Photo Fences” is to transform the town's surfaces
(fences, internal and external walls of public buildings, etc.) into creative spaces with the help of
international team of socially active photographers by placing photos on these fences and
buildings.
Participants will work on the formation of individual and group photo projects on any theme.
Photographers are responsible for their individual project, from idea to realization in the form of
an individual photo fence. Photo themes are only limited in that they must reflect the old,
Russian city of Nerekhta and be a link to its residents, places, architecture, etc. During the
program, participants go to workshops led by guest photographers and meetings for creative
exchange. Additionally, this project offers the unique opportunity for cooperation and shared
experiences with photographers from various countries.
RESULT: 1) Photo fence – photo exhibition about the city, its events, residents 2) The
Anniversary photo album for Nerekhta.
The first photo fence in the town was created by the professional photographers and children
who participated in photo schools. The success proved that the idea was brilliant and the fences
really attracted attention. In August 2014 Nerehta celebrate 800 years. The International photo
fence will present the city.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a cosy hostel-type house, 4-6 people in a room. There
are showers and toilets on each floor. Three meals a day will be provided for participants as well.
Free time activities: There are plenty of activities you can enjoy in your free time – from
cycling to swimming in the pool and playing table tennis. You will have the opportunity to enjoy
traditional Russian sauna. Also you will have the opportunity to visit famous historical cities of
Russian Golden Ring, which are close to Nerekhta: Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov etc.
Requirements:
- Be an enthusiastic photographer
- Must have own equipment (camera, lens, etc)
- Volunteers will be asked to fill the special motivation form
Transportation: 4-5 hours by train from Moscow
W4U-16 “Not of this world” (St. Petersburg)
2 weeks in August 2014 – dates to be confirmed!
RENO, 12 international vols, 18 +
Language: English, Russian is welcome
Location: Project takes place in Novodevichy Convent, which is situated in the center of St.
Petersburg
Work: Volunteers will help nuns with renovation works in the monastery and will work in the
monastery garden. International volunteers will be integrated into a group of several Russian
volunteers and will work, eat and live all together.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a dormitory in the area of monastery (2-4 persons per
room). Monastery provides beds with blankets, pillows etc. Monastery provides ordinary (with
meat) or vegetarian food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in a monastery canteen.
Free time activities: Participants will be able to see the inner life of the Orthodox monastery. If
volunteers would like to ask questions about Orthodox religion, they will be able to do have a
conversation with one of the nuns.
The monastery is situated in the center of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg is famous as a “cultural
capital” of Russia. It is a huge city, which offers a great number of entertainments. Except
several activities and excursions which your team will be provided with by the organizers, you
will get a lot of opportunities for the exploring of this city. There are a lot of places for
sightseeing, museums, galleries and parks. However, the gates of the monastery will be closed
after 9 pm, so it won’t be possible to stay in the city for a long time in evenings.
Requirements: Volunteers should be patient to orthodox religion, to follow dress code – for
girls it is long skits, which should cover their knee, their heads should be covered by kerchief or
something like this. Boys shouldn’t wear T-shirts and shorts in the monastery – more details
about dress code you will find in the infosheet. Alcohol is prohibited in this camp.
W4U-17 “Sacred Island-1” (Valaam
Island)
24 August - 14 September 2014,
AGRI/CULT, 12 international vols,
18 +
Language: English, Russian is
welcome
Location: Project takes place on the
fantastic island of Valaam - one of the
most picturesque places and beautiful
monasteries in the Northwest of
Russia. It is sometimes called "Mount
Athos of the North". Valaam,
surrounded by the archipelago of more than 50 beautiful small islands, is situated in Lake
Ladoga.
During its centuries-old history, the Monastery has suffered from devastation and desolation
several times. But, by God's mercy, every time it revived. Last time it recovered in atheistic
Soviet Union on December 14, 1989, when a ship with six monks moored in the harbor. Since
that day, the new history of Valaam began. A lot of monks live here today; some of them
renovate old churches, other work in the fields. People come to help them to save cultural
heritage, and due to them a lot of churches of Valaam are already renovated. A lot of pilgrims
come every summer to visit Holy Earth and to help in renovation works.
Work: International volunteers will be integrated into a group of 20-30 Russian volunteers and
will work, eat and live all together. We will help monks in harvesting and cleaning the fields,
grass cutting, preparing firewood and working in the garden.
Volunteer should be ready to work hard. The work usually takes 6-7 hours a day.
Accommodation: In the dormitory (4-20 persons per room). Monastery provides beds with
blankets, pillows etc. You should take working boots, gloves and clothes with you, raincoat and
long skirts & kerchief for girls. The monastery provides ordinary (with meat) or vegetarian food.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in a monastery canteen. There is one shop on the
island, so you can do shopping. There is only cold water in the dormitory; shower is available 3
times per week.
Free time activities: Participants will be able to see the inner life of the Orthodox monastery. If
volunteers would like to ask their questions, they will be able to do this in private conversation
with one of the fathers. Also they have a pleasure to go hiking along the island, see how
beautiful the northern nature of Karelia is, and visit churches, many skits and the farm of the
cloister, where they can taste fresh milk.
Requirements: Volunteers should be patient to orthodox religion, follow dress code – for girls it
is long skits, which should cover their knee, their heads should be covered by kerchief or
something like this. Boys shouldn’t wear T-shirts and shorts in the monastery – more details
about dress code you will find in the infosheet.
We can invite only volunteers with the good health conditions, because monastery is quite
isolated and it is hard to get to a hospital in case of emergency.
Transportation: The nearest terminal is in Saint-Petersburg. Participants will gather in SaintPetersburg on 24th of August on the early morning. Then they will be taken by train to Priozersk
(about 2-3 hours) and after that by ferry to the island (ferry is provided by the monastery).
So, volunteers have to arrive in Saint-Petersburg at least 1 day before the project starts.
W4U-18 “Sacred Island-2” (Valaam Island)
14 September – 5 October 2014, AGRI/CULT, 12 international vols, 18 +
See the description of W4U-17