YouConnect is an international workcamp taking place in Tarouca, a rural municipality in central-northern Portugal. The camp offers young volunteers a meaningful volunteering experience based on active participation, community involvement and non-formal education. The project combines environmental, agricultural, social, educational and intercultural activities, while promoting cooperation, intercultural exchange and civic responsibility. Its main aim is to strengthen young people’s sense of belonging, personal fulfilment and collective responsibility, while supporting local community initiatives.

Volunteers will carry out a set of clearly defined tasks divided into environmental, agricultural, educational and intercultural activities. Environmental activities include participation in plogging actions, involving litter collection during walking routes, as well as the cleaning and maintenance of hiking trails, rural paths and surrounding natural areas. Volunteers will also take part in simple painting and improvement interventions in community spaces identified during the camp, in cooperation with the local community.
Agricultural work will focus on supporting the cleaning and maintenance of agricultural land and participating in simple seasonal harvesting activities, adapted to the period in which the workcamp takes place.
Educational and intercultural activities play a central role in the camp and include intercultural dynamics among participants, cultural sharing sessions that promote intercultural dialogue, and the Youth Assembly of the Camp, which provides a regular space for collective decision-making regarding daily activities. Volunteers will also participate in an Intercultural Laboratory, sharing habits, customs, traditions and daily routines from the different countries represented. In addition, they will take part in participatory local mapping activities, exploring the surrounding area to identify land uses, social dynamics and community spaces, which will be recorded on a collective paper map. Finally, volunteers will be actively involved in the co-creation of youth-oriented actions, contributing to the practical design of future activities for the hosting organisation through participatory and collaborative non-formal education methodologies, supporting the organisation’s action plan and long-term impact on youth.

Accommodation is provided in a dormitory-style facility located in a rural village. There are two dormitories separated by gender, each equipped with bunk beds and one bathroom with multiple toilets and showers, with a capacity of yup to 10 volunteers per dormitory. Toiles and showers are indoor, separated by gender, and hot water is available. Volunteers must bring their own personal hygiene and shower items. An equipped kitchen, a common area and surrounding outdoor green space are available. A washing machine is available for volunteers’ use. Internet access is not available at the camp.
Food is provided by the organisation. Volunteers will cook for the group in teams of two, and a clean team system will be implemented to share cleaning responsibilities. Five meals per day are provided. Vegetarian and vegan options are available

The camp takes place in Tarouca, a rural municipality with a low population density, surrounded by natural landscapes, agricultural areas and small villages. The environment is calm and suitable for community-based activities and outdoor work.

Porto Airport: Metro from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to Campanhã Station (Porto). At Campanhã station, buy your ticket to Lamego on the website https://rede-expressos.pt/pt