In partnership with

This project organised in cooperation with the Association for Development 3K focuses on education, language learning, international understanding, and permaculture-based land management. For over ten years, the organisation has run a French-language summer camp and has been organising an international permaculture workcamp for the fourth year. The main goal of the project Living Permaculture – Changed by Nature is to continue building a permaculture orchard and food forest biocorridor to strengthen biodiversity, ecological resilience, and sustainable food production. Volunteers gain hands-on experience in permaculture while contributing to a long-term community project. The project supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

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Description of the Work

The work focuses on intensive hands-on permaculture and landscape restoration. Volunteers will dig tree pits, remove self-sown trees, mulch soil, shred branches, make compost, mow grass with a scythe, prepare natural fertilisers, clean the stream bed, support water retention, plant honey plants, paint beehives, expand the apiary, and help with small village tasks and waste collection. Volunteers will also learn how to process garden produce by preserving, drying, and storing fruit, herbs, and seeds. Work takes place mostly outdoors in all weather conditions and is physically demanding. Volunteers must be prepared for manual labour; tools and work gloves are provided.

Most of the work takes place on the grounds near the house, around the village, or in the orchard, all of which are within walking distance. If necessary, you can take a car or bus, and we also have several bicycles available for rent.

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Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will stay in two shared rooms and sleep on their own sleeping mat and in their own sleeping bag. The accommodation includes a washing machine, refrigerator, kitchenette, and Wi-Fi. There are two toilets and two showers. Volunteers prepare their own breakfast, lunch, and dinner using purchased ingredients and produce from the garden. The diet is mainly vegetarian. A fully equipped kitchen is available, with opportunities for outdoor cooking, including a campfire.

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Location & Leisure

Újezdec is a small and quiet village in the Kolín district, surrounded by agricultural land and crossed by the Moštický stream. The village has very basic infrastructure and falls under the administration of Horní Kruty, where basic services such as a grocery shop, post office, football field, and playground are available. The workcamp is based in a renovated farmstead from 1936, adapted for energy self-sufficiency. Next to the house, a permaculture garden, ponds, and a developing forest create a growing island of biodiversity. Mobile phone reception is available.

Leisure time includes a mix of active and relaxed activities. On site, volunteers can play football, pétanque, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, jog, or take part in outdoor exercise such as yoga or using an outdoor gym. Evenings can be spent watching films, sitting by the fire, singing, and enjoying informal group time. In the nearby area, reachable by bus, volunteers can swim, rent canoes or rafts, borrow bicycles, or go hiking. Depending on interest, half-day or full-day trips can be organised to Prague, Kutná Hora, Sázava, or Kouřim.

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Requirements

This project is supported by the EU program European Solidarity Corps. Some of the conditions differ from the usual projects; there will be detailed info provided after your acceptance. For more info about ESC visit https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en.

Volunteers must bring a towel, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, slippers, water bottle, and lunch box for trips. Proper sturdy shoes are essential; regular sneakers are not sufficient. Tick repellent and suitable clothing for forest work, including long sleeves and long trousers, are required.

Before acceptance, you need to provide your motivation letter. Please find the template here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lck-I0ENkdzJMKkaEKvFK_14v1Sae2f9tgcVp9QR234/edit?usp=sharing

After acceptance, you need to provide the following documents:

Media and GDPR Consent:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fdUnhbt3XlVfeg_B-DMmfXeHgHzE2UJdvFJtRkrPO2Y/edit?usp=sharing

You will be asked to upload these documents via a confirmation slip, which we will send you in our specific infosheet no later than 4 weeks before the project starts.

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Appointment

The journey will last approximately 3h30 and will need from 3 to 4 changes.
We will provide more details in the specific infosheet.

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Host Organization