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Policaffè and Dolcè Trails

Dolcè, Veneto, Italy

In partnership with

The workcamp is organized by Lunaria in collaboration with Eclettica, an association of young people of the territory that was born in 2022. Last year, Eclettica organized its fifth international workcamp. Thanks to the help of the volunteers it was possible to start the renovation of an abandoned building in Dolcè, the Policaffè, which became the headquarters of the association. The Policaffè was born with the will of being a place where young people could meet up, exchange ideas, dreams, passions and also as a place for intergenerational projects. Right now in the Policaffè are taking place several creative courses (embroidering, cooking, printing, drawing, reading club,...) and lots of other cultural activities involving the community, especially young people.


Description of the Work

The main volunteer tasks will be divided into the following areas:
Trail maintenance and heritage promotion: Volunteers, guided by local experts and community members, will work on cleaning and restoring the hiking trails that start from the village of Dolcè and lead to the area's most iconic spots. Linked to this physical activity, volunteers will develop online and offline communication materials to promote and add value to these trails, conduct interviews with local residents to collect anecdotes, legends, and historical information about the territory, curate and set up an information corner to showcase their findings during the Tacabanda festival.
Renovation of the "Policaffè" Spaces Inside the house, volunteers will have the chance to give the space an international flair through creative signage or other artistic methods of their choice. The practical work will include painting the walls and restoring furniture to improve the common areas.


Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will stay at Policaffè, the same facility where some of the activities will take place. Policaffè is located right next to the railway station, so you will be able to hear the magical sound of passing trains. All volunteers will sleep together in a shared room equipped with beds and cots. The building has several bathrooms and two showers. The house features a fully equipped kitchen, rooms for relaxation and various activities, and a large garden. The facility also offers Wi-Fi, a washing machine, and a first-aid kit.
Volunteers will be responsible for taking care of the structure that will host them. They are going to clean, and cook their food, but Italian dinners or lunches might be organized so that everybody will enjoy “il vero cibo italiano”. The food is going to provide following the special needs of the volunteers and is going to be mostly vegetarian.
Policaffè is a community hub, and some of its spaces are shared with local community members.


Location & Leisure

Dolcè is a small village located in the heart of the Adige Valley, halfway between the cities of Trento and Verona. The valley, framed by the mountains, is crossed by the Adige River, which gently divides the landscape into two riverbanks. Life in Dolcè is quiet and unhurried, making it an ideal place for those who enjoy peace and close contact with nature. The village is a very peaceful place, surrounded by fields and vineyards. In the village there is only one small bar, which also sells food, tobacco and basic necessities.
During free time, the valley offers walks in the surrounding countryside along the Adige river. On the days off, it is easy to discover the wider region: regular train connections make it convenient to reach nearby cities such as Verona, Trento, or even Venice. Lake Garda is also only about 20km away, although it is less accessible by public transport.


Host Organization

Lunaria is an association started in 1992 carrying out research, information, training and actions on social economy, immigration, globalization, youth and seniors programmes and voluntary service. Our activities include •youth projects: information and participation, intercultural understanding, non formal education •promotion of international voluntary service for all, with activities for the European voluntary service: youth and senior volunteers exchanges. International workcamps and solidarity activities •campaigns, building coalitions of civil society groups for alternative priorities in public expenditure, expanding the third sector, North-South solidarity, integration of immigrants •research, with projects on employment and work in the social economy, ethical finance, immigrants, globalization •services, advising non profit organizations on law, fiscal and financial opportunities •training, with courses on the social economy, managing non profit organizations and understanding globalization The purpose of our work is to bring together understanding and action; social rights and voluntary activities; the local and the global. Lunaria organizes workcamps all around Italy, in partnership with local groups, associations, municipalities and other bodies. We promote not-for-profit projects, for the benefit of the local communities and to fight racism and increase intercultural exchanges. “We ask to the international volunteers to commit themselves in the mission of the hosting projects, having an open mind, and arriving aware that the accommodation conditions may not be suitable for those looking for cheap and comfortable holidays. Every project is made by many factors, and we need from the volunteers a problem-solving approach.â€