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EcoFílveda

Albergaria a Velha, Portugal

In partnership with

General objectives:
- Valorization and promotion of natural and cultural heritage around the river Fílveda;
- Restoration and improvement of natural habitats;
- Promotion of sustainability, environmental awareness, and biodiversity protection;
- Promotion of intercultural relationships, good environmental practices, and citizenship;
- Promotion of specific skills in the field of cultural and natural heritage protection.

Specific objectives:
- Maintenance of walking trails;
- Removal of invasive species and waste from natural habitats;
- Restoration of aquatic environments;
- Prevention of forest fires by controlling shrubs and invasive vegetation.
- Installation of shelters for wildlife;
- Improvement and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
- Reparation work in cultural heritage structures;
- Valorization of natural and cultural heritage through participation in leisure activities and workshops.


Description of the Work

- Restoration work of degraded trails and natural heritage;
- Small reparations or maintenance work in cultural heritage around river Fílveda;
- Vegetation trimming and removal;
- Restoration of aquatic habitats;
- Improvement of local fauna, flora, and landscape, including fire prevention actions;
- Building nest-boxes for birds, insects and bats;
- Control invasive species;
- Presentation and discussion of the natural and social reality of the regions of origin of the participants;
- Promotion of environmentally and socially responsible attitudes and values;
- Development of action-training actions focused on individual and collective learning.


Accommodation & Food

Participants will sleep in the House of the Volunteer (Casa do Voluntário), Albergaria-a-Velha, in shared rooms (separated by sex) with beds. There will be locker rooms with hot water showers are also separated by sex.
Participants have to bring their own towels and hygiene products, sleeping bag or sheets+blanket, and pillow. The organization will provide breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Lunches and dinners are prepared/cooked by the municipality’s staff and served at a canteen, but some lunches will be served in the field (sandwiches, fruits, etc.). There’s a vegetarian option.


Location & Leisure

The camp will take place in the Frossos rural and protected areas of Albergaria-a-Velha, a municipality rich in water, water mills and green areas. Video on Pateira de Frossos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BanuW7XlyPc&t=47s


Appointment

Travelling from Porto Airport by bus or train
There are some Express Bus from the airport to Aveiro (Rede Expressos or FlixBus). If you can’t find a direct bus to Aveiro: just outside the airport take the metro (subway http://en.metrodoporto.pt/) to Porto – Campanhã main station (30min ride). At Campanhã, take a train directly to Cacia (local train), or a faster train to Aveiro, and from Aveiro a local train to Cacia.
In Aveiro, the train main station and the bus main station are about 100m apart. Local trains take about 5 minutes from Aveiro to Cacia and cost ~1.60€. Tickets for local trains must be purchased at the station (counter or automatic machine) – no online sale available for local trains (just for faster trains). Schedules for all trains in Portugal: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en


Host Organization

IPDJ or Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude is a governmental organization that has the task to implement in the whole national territory and at international level the youth policy. The PORTUGUESE SPORTS AND YOUTH INSTITUTE (IPDJ), results of the fusion in 2012, and succeeds in all the powers and obligations, of public bodies in the area of sport and youth, in particular the Portuguese Sport Institute, the Portuguese Youth Institute, the Foundation for the Dissemination of Information Technologies and MoviJovem (Youth Hostels and Youth Card). IPDJ is widespread in the whole continental territory, with presence in the 5 regions (North, Center, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve) and their 18 district capitals. We have 8 areas of intervention as we develop several national programs about it – support youth organizations, citizenship and participation; health and healthy lifestyles, studies on youth; Non-formal education, social inclusion and gender quality and innovation and entrepreneurship and employment. At International level we have several youth actions. We are a member of CCIVS and we have been an active partner on International Workcamps (especially through SCI) more than 30 years till now (as ex-IPJ). https://programasjuventude.ipdj.gov.pt/