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Plains globetrotters

Ribare, Jagodina, Serbia

In partnership with

The Mountaineering Society "Mountain Spirit" was founded with the aim of inspiring young people to love nature, adopt a healthy lifestyle and build strong friendships through joint outdoor adventures. Our mission is to encourage young people to explore nature, develop useful skills and actively participate in hiking and other outdoor activities. We believe that nature brings the most beautiful lessons, and through our activities we want to convey awareness to young people about the importance of preserving the environment.


Description of the Work

Volunteers will participate in various activities for six hours a day, spread over ten days. The working day will start at 9:00 and end at 16:00, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00.

Activities include:

-Food preparation - Volunteers will help prepare meals for the group, including cutting vegetables and setting the table, thus developing teamwork.

-Whitewashing and painting - In this activity, volunteers will whitewash interior spaces and paint walls under the supervision of an experienced worker, who will provide guidance and training.

-Roofing - Participants will engage in simple tasks related to roofing, such as carrying materials and assisting with installation, while learning basic construction skills. The house that will be worked on is the future mountaineering house.

-Walking in nature - In order to relax, a walk in nature is planned, which will allow volunteers to enjoy the environment and renew their energy. During the organized walks the volunteers will have to pick up any trash found in the nature.

-Camp cleaning - In order to maintain hygiene in the camp, young people will be in charge of tidying and cleaning the common areas.

-Preparation of the campfire - In order to realize activities in addition to the campfire, volunteers will undertake activities on arranging the fire pit, preparing wood for the campfire

-Preparation of sports competitions - In order to actualize sports competitions, volunteers will undertake actions to prepare the place where the competition will be held, the organization of the necessary props (sacks, nails, hammers, ropes, etc.)

During all activities, volunteers will have the support of local experts and experienced volunteers, who will guide them and ensure safety. This program allows participants to engage in useful and practical tasks while enjoying collaborative work and learning.


Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will be accommodated in a house near the camp, as well as in the houses of the villagers of Ribar, and those who wish can sleep in tents. Each accommodation will have access to common areas, such as kitchens and toilets, to create pleasant and functional environments for participants.
Regarding nutrition, the organization will apply a flexible approach. The most common model involves volunteers preparing meals themselves, using shared kitchen resources. This approach allows them to get to know the local cuisine and develop cooking skills, which can further enrich their experience.
However, in order to ensure the variety and quality of the diet, meals will also be organized at a local express restaurant, especially for special events or weekends. This mix of self-cooking and catered meals gives volunteers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of culinary experiences while building community and connecting with one another.


Location & Leisure

The village of Ribar is a small but charming place that takes your breath away with its natural beauty and serenity. It is known for peaceful moments spent by the river, where fishermen face daily challenges and enjoy a simple life. Here you can feel the spirit of tradition and closeness to nature, which makes it an ideal place for a vacation.

Kočin Hrast is a tourist complex located next to Velika Morava, only eight kilometers from Jagodina. This natural monument, known as the old oak, has significant cultural and historical value. There are hiking and walking trails nearby, making it a popular spot for picnickers. The nature around the Kočina oak provides the perfect environment for rest and enjoyment of outdoor activities, while the smell and sounds of this natural environment are the perfect recipe for relaxation.

The city of Jagodina, located on the banks of the Velika Morava, is rich in cultural and historical heritage. Its Tristicki complex offers a wonderful view of the river and nature, ideal for walks and enjoying the peace. On its slopes are the Kocin oak and Đurđev brdo, popular picnic spots that offer an opportunity to actively enjoy nature.

Finally, the Aqua park in Jagodina is the perfect place for relaxation and fun, offering a variety of water attractions that are ideal for families and all those who want to enjoy sunbathing and water. All these sights make Jagodina and its surroundings an unforgettable place to visit.


Appointment

Will be in the info sheet!


Host Organization

Young Researchers of Serbia - Voluntary Service of Serbia (YRS-VSS) is a non-profit, non-political NGO officially established in 1976 as a network of organizations, societies, clubs and sections with research programmes, gathered around the coordinative office on the national level in Belgrade. Through its history the number of members changed, but there were over 50 different organizations taking part. In the 90’s YRS-VSS leaves the organizational form of vertical relationships following the current direction of civil sector development. Today YRS-VSS represents the organization on the national level and it unites three thematically different but interconnected sectors – Environmental Protection and Conservation Sector, Youth Sector and Voluntary Service of Serbia. Young Researchers of Serbia - Voluntary Service of Serbia involves mostly young people aged 15-30, but there is no upper age limit. We have developed in delivering good preparation and follow up of young people with fewer opportunities. THINK BIG - do little: start an avalanche! is our motto. Our vision is to be the driving force for all those whose aim is to make our planet a more peaceful, just and healthy place. Driven by science and education, our mission is to contribute: -to environmental protection and nature conservation, -to development of voluntarism and its values, -to scientific creativity and active participation of the youth. Our main aims are environmental protection, environmental education, youth exchange and work with young people, as well as the promotion of sustainable development, scientific creativity and volunteerism. We have organized hundreds of research projects and educative programmes for young people in various areas of natural and social sciences. INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE We usually send approx. 400-500 volunteers from Serbia abroad and host over 400 foreign volunteers to 35+ workcamps each year. Since 2015 our work on international volunteers exchange is supported by the Ministry for youth and sports of the Republic of Serbia. MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS YRS-VSS is a member of: Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations, CCIVS – Coordinative Committee of International Voluntary Service, YEE – Youth and Environment Europe, ANPED – Northern Alliance for Sustainability, CEEWEB – Central and East European Working Group for the Enhancement of Biodiversity, and a partner of the network SCI in Serbia. YRS-VSS is one of the founding members of SEEYN – South East European Youth Network. IN THE ALLIANCE We are full members of the Alliance since 2005 and in the IVS movement since 1980’s. Our main contribution to the network has been in delegating representatives to the Executive Committee (Jelena Ristic Beronja, Vice President of the Alliance 2010-2016, senior trainer in the Pool of Trainers since 2014) and Management Committees (Bojan Beronja as SDWG coordinator 2012 – 2014 and again in 2016 – 2017) and hosting EC meetings, the first Joint Meeting in 2012, Alliance Capacity Building Training in 2014, Alliance General Conference and General Assembly 2016.