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OPEN HOUSES Germany
(Offene Häuser e.V.)
Goetheplatz 9 B
D-99423 Weimar
Tel.: ++49 / (0) 3643 / 50 23 90 (only German speaking)
++49 / (0) 3643 / 50 28 79 (English speaking)
Fax: ++49 / (0) 3643 / 85 11 17
Internet: www.openhouses.de
The history of Open Houses Network (OH) dates back to mid-1980s. A group of young people started to restore churches in Eastern Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay.
The intention today is: to understand endangered historic monuments as common spaces that ought to be preserve. This network has been bringing people of different social, professional and regional background together for more than twenty years.
Open Houses has several historic buildings in Eastern Germany in its care.
Our aims:
To create and protect public places of common responsible work is one of the aims of Open Houses.
The construction and the maintenance of buildings should primarily be understood as an approach to stimulate the contact between people and historical monuments and to facilitate meetings and learning.
Further, it is important for our association to allow the buildings to preserve their particular spirit, history and atmosphere, instead of confronting them with supposed needs of utilisation or of forcing a modern usage concept upon them.
We are a non governmental organisation. In our activities like building weeks, workcamps, EVS, MTV and LTV we do not have any extra fees.
The common languages in our activities are English and German. Normally our camps are open for volunteers at least 18 until 26. Some camps are open for volunteers who are 16 years old.
* It is possible to take part only for one week or another period.
WORKCAMPS:
OH-W01 – LOHRA CASTLE - 15/06 – 28/06 12 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W02 – LOHRA CASTLE - 29/06 – 12/07 15 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W04 – LOHRA CASTLE - 13/07 – 02/08 18 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W08 – LOHRA CASTLE - 10/08 – 30/08 18 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W10 – LOHRA CASTLE - 31/08 – 13/09 12 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W11 – LOHRA CASTLE - 14/09 – 28/09 12 vol ENVI / RENO
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, the history of the castle Lohra begins in the Middle Ages. The castle is more than 1000 years old. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany: the Harz. For years Lohra Castle was unoccupied. At the beginning of the 1990s Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since that time, a large number of art-workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
Work:
The main work at Lohra castle is to colleting fire wood. So the volunteers may go into the forest by car, divided in several groups, and cut logs. The wood will be stored at the castle for wintertime.
Other works are to excavate around one of the accommodation houses to isolate it against wetness. And they may help us to excavate a duct from the camp kitchen to the castle for changing the root of the water pipe.
If it rains, the group will derust the steel beam of the sheep shelter and coating them with anticorrosion paint.
The group could be divided into two or three at times: In this case one group goes into the forest, another group excavate, and the last derust the steel beams. The work of each group is changeable so that so that they do not get bored doing the same work through the hole time.
In August / September the volunteers will pick fruits like plums and apples around the castle.
Terminal:
Next railway station: Gebra / Hainleite (6 km)
Next airport: Frankfurt / Main (280km), Halle / Leipzig (155km), Berlin (300km)
Location:
Next town: Bleicherode (7km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km)
Region: Thuringia
Accomodation:
shared rooms with 2-7 beds in 4 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), WC inside, 1camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stove
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W03 – PARUM RECTORY - 29/06 – 21/07 10 vol ENVI / FEST
Parum Rectory is a small village in the North of Germany. It almost just consists of one church, the former rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Age. In order to save it from totally falling apart, it was renovated by the parish in almost non-commercial work the other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The rectory, built in 1841, as the biggest in whole Mecklenburg, leads to its status being representative of typical manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a meadow that borders on some worth fully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room desponding, original doorways, windows and fittings and also wide hallways.
Work:
At the weekend 11/07 – 13/07, the village has his 875 anniversary. Therefore, the volunteers will help the community to prepare for the festival. Open Houses made a film in 2006 and 2007 about the work of the network in the last twenty years. This film will be shown on the festival.
In 2007 we dug a hole around the rectory to drain it. This summer we want to close this hole. Other works are cutting the grass in the rectory garden.
There is another village called Eickelberg, not far away from Parum where the group will cut the grass and prepare a small celebration of Open Houses as previously mentioned. A concert will be held and the film also will be shown again as well.
Location:
Federal state: Mecklenburg West Pomerania
Next town: Güstrow (4 km)
Terminal:
Next railway station: Güstrow
Next airport: Berlin (80km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions: 2 shared rooms with 5 mattress per room,
1 bathroom with limited hot water, equipped kitchen
Some nights they will sleep in tents.
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W05 – WOLTERSLAGE MANOR - 27/07 – 10/08 8 vol RENO / ENVI
Wolterslage Manor is situated in mid old march (Mittlere Altmark) region in the nature reserve lower Elbe (Untere Elbe) nearby Berlin. The manor-house is surrounded by an idyllic and rather peaceful countryside that is well known for its green meadows, pastures and fields. Close to the manor there is a lake, where the volunteers can swim and sit around a campfire.
The calm surroundings, far away from the busy everyday life in big cities, make Wolterslage Manor a perfect place to relax and enjoy the nature during leisure time having done work.
The building is a typical example of manor architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are slightly decorated. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanship. In spite of misappropriated usage and for years unoccupied of the manor the architecture and decoration are kept completely preserved.
After the renovation of the manor it will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to organize particular projects, which suits to the peaceful nature of the surroundings.
Work:
The participants of the workcamp will do care reparation and simple maintenance works inside and outside the manor.
The main topic of the care works will be cultivating the manor garden including mowing the lawn and cutting bushes.
Location:
Next town: Stendal (32 km)
Region: Saxony-Anhalt
Terminal:
Next railway station: Osterburg (12 km)
Next airport: Berlin (150km), Hannover (230km), Hamburg (230km)
Accommodation:
very simple, shared rooms with mattresses, kitchen, toilettes and shower with cold water (warm water available, if you heat the bathroom heater with fire-wood).
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W06 – TOUR-CAMPS – 03/08 – 17/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
In this camp the group stays in Gantikow manor. The manor is situated 80 kilometres in the north of Berlin. Open Houses Network uses this beautiful building, which is surrounded by a sleepy village with a small church and attractive countryside, as an accommodation for guest groups, workcamps and other projects. The facade of the building is decorated with unique paintings.
A small lake is situated nearby the old building. So it is possible to go swimming. The beautiful garden around the manor invites people to relax.
From this place the group is going by a minibus to two other manors in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Both are like 90km fare away.
The villages are closed to the Müritz national park (Müritz Nationalpark). This region is noted for his numbers of beautiful lakes which inspire to drive with canoes.
Work.
Both manors with his gardens did not have a lot of care the last decades. The volunteers will cut the grass and bushes. And there are some other maintenance works which should be done like repair broken windows.
The group will sleep some nights in a scout tent for not to have to drive every day from Gantikow to the other manors.
At the same time there will be another workcamp at Gantikow Manor.
Location:
Next town: Kyritz (4 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Kyritz (4 km)
Next airport: Berlin (110km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Some nights the group will spend all together in one scout tent.
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W07 – GANTIKOW MANOR - 03/08 – 17/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
Gantikow manor is situated 80 kilometres north of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Open Houses Network uses this beautiful building, which is surrounded by a sleepy village with a small church and attractive countryside, as an accommodation for guest groups, workcamps and other projects. The facade of the building is decorated with unique paintings.
A small lake is situated nearby the old building. So it is possible to go swimming. The beautiful garden around the manor-house invites people to relax.
Work:
The volunteers will do some care and gardening works outside the manor to prepare it for coming projects and seasons. Among other things these works will be: cultivating the garden and mowing the lawn, as well as winter preparation work such as chop wood in the forests around the manor, which has to be cut and stored for wintertime.
At the same time stays the Tour Camp at the Gantikow Manor.
Location:
Next town: Kyritz (4 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Kyritz (4 km)
Next airport: Berlin (110km)
Accommodation:
Shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W09 – RATHEWALDE YOUTH ACCOMODATION HOUSE – 17/08 – 31/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
The Rathewalde Youth Accommodation House is situated at the health resort Rathewalde in Saxony; The building is located directly at the border of the National Park Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) – a low mountain range which is very popular with German people as an attractive tourist aim for active vacation. The mountains are famous for their typical formations of sandstone with lots of small caves called Bove and overwhelming views from the mountain tops. The nature reserve offers various possibilities of hiking and climbing tours of different levels as well as cultural events like theatre performances at the open air theatre called cliff stage Rathen (Felsenbühne Rathen).
The Youth Accommodation House was built probably in 1880. The house has been used as a hostel for young people since the first half of the 20th century.
In the 1950s, it was donated by its owner to the Saxon Protestant State Church to assure the continuity of the services offered. During the following decades countless volunteers renovated and extended the mansion. Today it attracts lots of visitors by different styles from sequential construction periods.
The mansion is surrounded by beautiful garden, an orchard and large rhododendrons. You have a fascinating view to a rock formation. Up until 2003 the building was operated by the Saxon Protestant State Church and in 2005 it was reopened by Open Houses.
Work.
At this place the volunteers will be gardening, like clear the garden from pest plants, cut the bushes and trees. The participants will clean up the area around the mansion.
The volunteers will also collecting fire-wood.
If it rains the volunteers can help by the reparation and painting work inside the building.
Location:
Next town: Pirna (12 km), Dresden (30 km)
Region: Sachsen
Terminal:
Next railway station: Pirna (12 km)
Next airports: Airport: Dresden (30 km), Leipzig (160 km), Berlin (240 km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W20 – FORESTRY BOGENSEE – 05/07 – 21/07 10vol RENO / ENVI
OH-W24 – FORESTRY BOGENSEE – 26/07 – 11/08 10vol RENO / ENVI
A Forestry with several buildings that goes back to the thirties and was used in the former GDR as a college called arc lake (Bogensee). It is part of the village Lanke closed to Berlin. The forestry is surrounded by moor areas and several lakes, inside large woodland.
The workcamp will take place at a youth accommodation house called youth forest accommodation (Jugendwaldheim Bogensee) that has been already used in the GDR to accommodate young people. The current aim is to revive this place and create an international youth centre where young people are invited to learn about environmental themes and commit to nature. The focus of interest will be on practical experience in ecological education. At the forest school (Waldschule) and special seminars volunteers study and work in the forest, in the project garden and in the yard. The workcamp´s idea is to support this project.
Work:
The volunteers will work in two or three small groups in the wood-workshop and in the forest. There are different ecological and forest works: among others things participants will remove weeds, care for the herb and project garden and participate in biotope and species protection program. Furthermore the volunteers will help with renovation work in the surroundings of the accommodation house and collect fire wood in the forest.
Location:
Next town: Wandlitz (5 km), Berlin (30 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Wandlitzsee (5 km)
Next airports: Berlin (30km)
Accommodation:
in wall tents with beds inside (in case of bad weather they can sleep inside the building), bathroom (with warm shower and toilettes), kitchen in the project house
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W21 – BAALSDORF – 13/07 – 26/07 12 vol RENO / ENVI
The farm in Baalsdorf was built around 1989. The area is located in the eastern part of the city Leipzig. Here an organic food producing farm and market garden was developed. At the beginning of the 1990s an association for ecological food producing was found, which works towards
and ecological ideals. Today the association is the owner of the farm and the ground. The goal of the project is to support the natural vitality of soil, plants, animals and humans. At the moment a lot of fields have to be cultivated especially with different kinds of vegetables.
One family together with apprentices and other employees is living and working at the farm. Beside the work on the fields they have to care for cows, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens, pigeons, cats and bees.
Work:
Throughout the workcamp the group will be bouldering the gateway from the yard to the garden.
First the volunteers have to fetch the stones from the field border and to level the underground.
Beside this the volunteers are also welcomed to help in the garden and on the fields.
The city Leipzig offers a lot of various cultural possibilities. From Baalsdorf it is very easy to get to the centre. Participants of the workcamp can spend their free time with sightseeing or visiting museums, cinemas, concerts, the theatre and galleries. Not very far away from the farm it is also possible to go swimming in a lake and relaxing in the sun.
Location:
Next town: Leipzig (10km)
Region: Saxony
Terminal:
Next railway station: Leipzig (10km)
Next airports: Halle/Leipzig (30km), Berlin (200km)
Accommodation:
in the attic of the parish house in Baalsdorf, with warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W22 SCOUT EDUCATION CENTRE SAGE – 20/07 – 10/08 20 vol RENO / ENVI
OH-W26 SCOUT EDUCATION CENTRE SAGE – 10/08 – 24/08 20 vol RENO / ENVI
The establishment is situated in the region called Sager Switzerland (Sager Schweiz). The centre is one project of the Christian Scout Association in northwest Germany. The goal is to invite children and youth groups to attractive educational and free-time activities. The project is just managed through voluntary workers. The centre is in existence since 2003. From that time on scouts / girl guides and volunteers are working to extend the quality of the premises. People are getting to know each other while spending time on manual and educational work and organising their leisure time together.
Work:
In Sage the volunteers will be gardening, like mow the grass, cut the bushes and trees. The participants will renovate the main building inside.
Also there are some maintenance work outside. If the group will have enough time the volunteers will build a tree house. In August the volunteers will pick fruits like bulbs and apples in the garden.
Location:
Next town: Sage (1 km), Oldenburg (28 km), Bremen(50km)
Region: Lower Saxony
Terminal:
Next railway station: Großkneten (3km), Oldenburg(28km)
Next airport: Bremen(55 km), Hamburg(178km)
Accommodation:
in constructions side trailers and tents, warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W23 – LELKENDORF MANOR – 26/07 – 09/08 12 vol RENO / ENVI
Lelkendorf is a small, sleepy and romantic village. It is situated in the centre of Mecklenburg Switzerland (Mecklenburgische Schweiz) in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Nearby the river Peene runs. The village is surrounded by an idyllic landscape with meadows and small hills. The buildings of Lelkendorf estate were a knight’s manor during the Middle Ages and included a castle, which was built in 1225. Some years ago the castle was renovated and vitalized by people, who started to live there. Now guests of the estate and the castle can also visit the beautiful park, which dominates the area around the village.
Over a couple of years and with the support of many international volunteers, who were working at Lelkendorf, the place became a meeting point for people who want to experience art and culture. In the future musicians, actors, sculptors and other artists will live and work together at the former manor-house. As requirement for that guest houses, ateliers, rehearsal rooms and stages were started to build.
During summertime different art-workshops and workcamps will take place at the estate, which are open to people who have an interest in creative working and getting to know different kinds of art.
Work:
The volunteers will spend their time mainly with care taking for the buildings of the manor and the area around. Parts of the manor for example the old storehouse in Lelkendorf are classified as historical monuments. For six hours a day the group will be gardening and maintenance work outside and inside the buildings to keep the beauty of the ensemble.
Location:
Next town: Teterow (7 km), Neukalen (5 km),
Region: Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Terminal:
Next railway station: Teterow (7 km)
Next airport: Berlin (210km), Hamburg (240km)
Accommodation:
in the restored old storehouse and guest houses, warm shower, toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W25 – ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY ALT UNGNADE – 09/08 – 31/08 15 vol RENO / ENVI
Alt Ungnade is a community of 18 people (aged 22 to 40) living in a small settlement near the bay on the Baltic Sea (10km). In contrast to the society try to live sustainable and in close touch to nature. Therefore they live in caravans on a former farming site, surrounded by fields and trees. Most of them are landscape ecologists so nature conservancy is quite important for their community. But within the scope of their association called “freirAUm” (founded 2007), they are going to establish cultural, environmental and social education for our region as well as international connections.
Work:
There will be two projects the group can work on: The first one is to build up a caravan as sanitary facility. The community want to build up this six meter long vehicle with organic resources. As second target the community would like to build a clamp, to store their self-made vegetables.
Next to this, there is a lot of small work to do: helping in the garden, repairing and cleaning, take part in feeding the animals, finish the work on the organic toilet.
Location:
Federal state: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Next town: Greifswald (7 km)
Terminal:
Next railway station: Greifswald (7km)
Next airport: Berlin (240 km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions: partly in our caravans otherwise in community-tents, 1bathroom with limited hot water, 2 outside-showers based on solar energy, good equipped summer-kitchen; bicycles
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
BUILDING WEEKS:
Within the framework of the building weeks both, skilled manual workers and those with no manual training can work together to restore historical monuments.
In contrast to the workcamps where the emphasis lies on communal life in a group of people of different nationalities and from different backgrounds and the working time is 6 hours a day, in building weeks the emphasis is on manual work and the daily working time is 8 hours. Participants here have a greater possibility of gaining real experience in restoration and other manual tasks and to broaden their knowledge.
A further aim is that those taking part should share their skills and experiences. To make the work in our building weeks as productive as possible, the volunteers should have some technical skills and it also could be advantageous if they have structural previous knowledge.
The building weeks each last for two weeks and the groups are small - up to eight people depending on the number of applications received. It is also possible to take part for a shorter time, e.g. just for one week, as we would like to offer this opportunity also to those who are tied up in professional life and have got some free time.
Motivation letters are requested for all building weeks.
OH-B01 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 05/07 – 19/07 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B02 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 26/07 – 09/08 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B03 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 16/08 – 30/08 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B04 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 30/08 – 13/09 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B05 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 13/09 – 27/09 8 vol CONS / ENVI
Ollendorf Water Castle is situated between Erfurt (capital of Thuringia), and Weimar (European capital of culture 1999). The small village Ollendorf is surrounded by a beautiful countryside.
In ancient times the village was an important settlement on the historic Via Regia, one of the most significant routes of commerce in the Middle Ages, which linked Thuringia and Saxony to Eastern Europe. Water castle Ollendorf is a pilgrimage site.
The manor is the only existing building from the 17th century. All other buildings of the castle had been destroyed by a fire. In the 19th store houses and barns were built.
In the GDR it was used as an agricultural enterprise.
In 1998 the water castle was taken over by the Open Houses.
The castle will once again become a place where different cultures can meet.
Work:
The volunteers are working with our two carpenters. The group will restore one part of the roof structure. The volunteers can help to cut the wood and making mortises. Sometimes it is hard work because they have to bear the wooden beam.
This roof truss is the oldest one of the whole castle. If we finish this restoration the water castle will gleam in a new splendour.
As well there is gardening to do, like cutting the grass and clear the garden from pest plants.
In case of bad weather the volunteers can grind the ceiling in some rooms of the sheep sharp.
Location:
Next town: Erfurt (12km), Weimar (12km)
Region: Thuringia
Terminal:
Next railway station: Erfurt (12km)
Next airport: Halle / Leipzig (140 km), Berlin (300km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions, shared rooms with mattresses, warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
THE OPEN HOUSE:
True to our vision to offer room and shelter to those who come along, who are searching, who wish to join in with their individual gifts and talents...
All over the year one of the houses we care for is an “Open House”. Anybody, without announcement, night or day, can turn up at the door, walk in and stay for a while – a day, a week, a month, as long as s/he is willing to join those who are already there.
The “Open House” is an offer to those who have some time available, who want to escape from noise and hectic of the daily working life in the cities and search for alternatives to enrich their life.
If s/he likes new experiences and challenges, if s/he is interested in handicraft, likes to meet people of different cultures, has fantasy and a lot of nice ideas and if s/he does not mind living in very simple conditions – s/he is very welcome.
The base is the readiness for being responsible for the houses and the guests and to have engagement and motivation for the work you can do. These do not necessarily have to be handicrafts: preparing food, repairing bicycles, taking care of the guests – there are always a lot of things to do and everyone can find and take his part.
OH-OH01 – LOHRA CASTLE – 01/05 – 14/06 4 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-OH02 – LOHRA CASTLE – 29/09 – 01/11 4 vol ENVI / RENO
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. The history of the castle covers more than 1000 years. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany: the Harz. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, a large number of art-workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place at the castle.
Work:
The volunteers will do some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepare it for coming projects and seasons. Among other things these works will be: cultivating the castle garden and mowing the lawn, as well as winter preparation work such as collecting of fire-wood in the forests around the castle, which has to be cut and stored in the castle’s cellar for wintertime.
S/he can also take care for guest groups as well and students who are visiting the castle for some days.
Location:
Next town: Bleicherode (7km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km)
Region: Thuringia
Terminal:
Next railway station: Gebra / Hainleite (6 km)
Next airport: Frankfurt / Main (280km), Halle / Leipzig (155km), Berlin (300km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms with 2-7 beds in 4 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), WC inside, 1camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stove
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
MTV:
Camp Leading
OH-MTV01 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 16/05- 15/08 1 vol SOCI
OH-MTV02 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 15/06- 14/09 1 vol SOCI
OH-MTV03 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 06/07- 05/10 1 vol SOCI
Open Houses is looking for persons who are well motivated, open minded and have already some experiences in handling with other people. They should be able to speak English fluently and a little German.
The camp leader has to work independent and takes the responsibility for the organisation and social support for all volunteers of the workcamps or building weeks. Most of the camps have two camp leaders who work together.
As a camp leader s/he is responsible to welcome the volunteers and to make them familiar with their new camp place. The main part of the job is to organize the social life for all volunteers during the camp period. This means s/he has to prepare a daily timetable, which includes times for working, short breaks between the work and time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. S/he also has to organize cleaning and cooking teams for each day.
It's also their job to go shopping and buy food for the volunteers.
Leisure activity: At the end of a hard working day, it will be welcome if s/he organise some things like campfire; barbecue or any games.
Usually the volunteers do not have to work on weekend. In this case the volunteers the leader has to organise little trips to bigger cities or whatever the volunteers want to.
The leader is also responsible for the camp deduction. This means s/he has to manage the camp money.
Every camp leader gets at the beginning of their stay a camp booklet with basic and detailed information about camp leading.
Before working as a camp leader s/he has to take part in one of our camps in Lohra Castle as a participant. It will be a good exercise for the volunteers to work one or two weeks as a participant. After the first camp s/he will lead one camp or more. If s/he leads more than one there is a break of one week. The decision in which place the camp leader will work, we will make after we know their interests and abilities.
Please have a look in our camp description for the details.
Guest Guiding
OH-MTV04 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 13/04 – 13/07 1 vol CULT
OH-MTV05 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 15/06 – 14/09 1 vol CULT
OH-MTV06 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 24/08 – 23/11 1 vol CULT
The church of reconciliation, an impressive neo gothic brick building, was built in Berlin in 1894. When Berlin was split into occupational zones in 1945 the parish became divided – the church itself was located in the Soviet sector while most of the parishioners lived in the neighbouring French sector. When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it passed directly in front of the church. Consequently, the church was no longer accessible from either East or West Berlin and fell into disrepair.
In 1985 the church was demolished in order to, as the GDR government officially declared, “increase security, order and cleanliness at the state border of West Berlin”. The wall came down less than five years later and in the summer of 1990, the official demolition of the border facilities began. The grounds of the Church of Reconciliation lay waste and were being made to remove the traces of division as quickly as possible, the parish of the church contemplated how best to deal with this place and its history. After the site was returned, the parish decided to erect a chapel on the foundations of the old church with the simplest of means; a modern building to meet the requirements of both the present and the future, whilst protecting preserved traces – but without reconstructing that which was lost. Furthermore, the building was to be ecologically in keeping with the times by using resources sparingly and being built to last. The parish chose a design of two concentric oval buildings with offset axes. The outer oval, made of wooden slats, takes the alignment of the former Church of Reconciliation, the inner oval of rammed earth is aligned East-West as is otherwise customary.
The rammed earth body was erected in 1999. Open Houses volunteers from fourteen East and West European countries supported him. The earth-moist clay was poured into a form-work in 30 centimetre thick layers and compacted to about eight centimetres. On the 9th November 2000, the 11th anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall, the Chapel of Reconciliation was inaugurated. It is the first public compacted clay building in Germany built in over 150 years and, at the same time, the first German church of load-bearing compacted clay.
The new place, created through the building of the chapel, could not have been planned in this way. It has grown organically and taken on a life its own. The place unites and combines innovative approaches to architecture, ecology, culture of remembrance and European communication. Its appeal is a result of this combination.
Open Houses is particularly concerned with shaping the Chapel of Reconciliation as a meeting place for young people from different nations.
Work:
The volunteer lives alone in a flat in Berlin, Wedding. For travelling to the chapel and for leisure time he gets a bicycle. It takes around ten minuets by bike to the chapel.
The volunteer is a kind of a tourist guide. The visitors are people who are interested in architecture, history and ecology. Normally all visitors are in small groups or on their own.
S/he has to support and care for the visitors and administrate the guest book. S/he works inside the chapel, but it might be a bit cold inside because it is not really heated (for environmental sustainability reasons).
Hours of work: 10a.m. – 5p.m.
The working days are not strictly from Monday till Friday. S/he has to work five days per week.
The volunteer can eat lunch in the staff cafeteria of the roll church (Schrippenkirche). This is only across the road from the chapel. From this cafeteria s/he can take home a diner and breakfast.
The atmosphere in chapel is intimate and private. For this reason it is very important for the community that the volunteer fits in. There should be a harmonic relationship between the priest and the volunteer.
The community is evangelic. The volunteer does not have to be religious but s/he should be tolerant and open minded. Every noon there is a remembrance of the dead people of the wall, every Sunday there is a church service and over the year there are different intercultural arrangements.
Schedule:
The volunteer arrives in Berlin to have a look at the chapel and to meet the priest and the other responsible persons of the community. The same day or next s/he goes to Lohra castle. There s/he stays two weeks to get to know our association. (Please have a look in our camp description of Lohra castle.)
The volunteer lives with the family of the priest the third week of the stay to get to know each other.
After this week the community and the volunteer can decide if they want to work together. If the chapel or the volunteers decide not to work in the chapel, the volunteer can participate in our workcamps, or go back home.
The last week of the stay their three month volunteer has free time; s/he can travel in Germany for example (on her/his own cost).
Location: Berlin
Accommodation:
Flat with a equipped kitchen, bathroom and bed with bedclothes
Age: at least 20
Language:
English fluently, basics in German; Spanish, French, Korean, Russia
and other languages are welcome
Specials:
the volunteer should be able to ride bicycle
no drugs like alcohol or cigarettes during the working time
motivation letter and CV with a photo
Per month the volunteer gets 100€ pocket money. This get paid in middle of the month.
Goetheplatz 9 B
D-99423 Weimar
Tel.: ++49 / (0) 3643 / 50 23 90 (only German speaking)
++49 / (0) 3643 / 50 28 79 (English speaking)
Fax: ++49 / (0) 3643 / 85 11 17
Internet: www.openhouses.de
The history of Open Houses Network (OH) dates back to mid-1980s. A group of young people started to restore churches in Eastern Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay.
The intention today is: to understand endangered historic monuments as common spaces that ought to be preserve. This network has been bringing people of different social, professional and regional background together for more than twenty years.
Open Houses has several historic buildings in Eastern Germany in its care.
Our aims:
To create and protect public places of common responsible work is one of the aims of Open Houses.
The construction and the maintenance of buildings should primarily be understood as an approach to stimulate the contact between people and historical monuments and to facilitate meetings and learning.
Further, it is important for our association to allow the buildings to preserve their particular spirit, history and atmosphere, instead of confronting them with supposed needs of utilisation or of forcing a modern usage concept upon them.
We are a non governmental organisation. In our activities like building weeks, workcamps, EVS, MTV and LTV we do not have any extra fees.
The common languages in our activities are English and German. Normally our camps are open for volunteers at least 18 until 26. Some camps are open for volunteers who are 16 years old.
| Workcamps | ||||||
| Code | Project | Dates | Type | Age limit | No of vols | |
| OH-W01 | Lohra Castle | 15/06 – 28/06 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 12 | |
| OH-W02 | Lohra Castle | 29/06 – 12/07 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 15 | |
| OH-W03 | Parum Rectory | 29/06 – 21/07 | ENVI / RENO / FEST | 18+ | 10 | |
| OH-W20 | Forestry Bogensee (closed to Berlin) | 05/07 – 21/07 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 10 | |
| OH-W21 | Ecological Farm, Baalsdorf (closed to Leipzig) | 13/07 – 26/07 | RENO / ENVI | 16+ | 12 | |
| OH-W04 | Lohra Castle | 13/07 – 02/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 18 | |
| OH-W22 | Scout Education Centre, Sage | 20/07 – 10/08 | RENO / ENVI | 16+ | 20 | |
| OH-W23 | Lelkendorf Manor | 26/07 – 09/08 | RENO / ENVI | 18+ | 12 | |
| OH-W24 | Forestry Bogensee (closed to Berlin) | 26/07 – 11/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 10 | |
| OH-W05 | Wolterslage Manor | 27/07 – 10/08 | ENVI | 18+ | 8 | |
| OH-W06 | Tour-Camp, Gantikow Manor | 03/08 – 17/08 | CONS / ENVI | 18+ | 7 | |
| OH-W07 | Gantikow Manor | 03/08 – 17/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 10 | |
| OH-W25 | Ecological Community, Alt Ungnade | 09/08 – 31/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 15 | |
| OH-W26 | Scout Education Centre, Sage | 10/08 – 24/08 | RENO / ENVI | 16+ | 20 | |
| OH-W07 | Lohra Castle | 10/08 – 30/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 18 | |
| OH-W08 | Rathewalde Youth Accommodation House | 17/08 – 31/08 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 7 | |
| OH-W09 | Lohra Castle | 31/08 – 13/09 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 12 | |
| OH-W10 | Lohra Castle | 14/09 – 28/09 | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 12 | |
| Building Weeks | |||||||
| Code | Location | Dates | Type | Age limits | No of vols | Special remarks | |
| OH-B01 | Water Castle Ollendorf | 05/07 – 19/07 | CONS | 18+ | 8 | Motivation letter | |
| OH-B02 | Water Castle Ollendorf | 26/07 – 09/08 | CONS | 18+ | 8 | Motivation letter | |
| OH-B03 | Water Castle Ollendorf | 16/08 – 30/08 | CONS | 18+ | 8 | Motivation letter | |
| OH-B04 | Water Castle Ollendorf | 30/08 – 13/09 | CONS | 18+ | 8 | Motivation letter | |
| OH-B05 | Water Castle Ollendorf | 13/09 – 27/09 | CONS | 18+ | 8 | Motivation letter | |
| Open House | ||||||
| Code | Location | Dates | Type | Age limits | No of vols | Special remarks |
| OH-OH01 | Lohra Castle | 01/05 – 14/06* | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 4 | |
| OH-OH02 | Lohra Castle | 29/09 – 01/11* | ENVI / RENO | 18+ | 4 | |
| Mid-term Volunteering | ||||||
| Code | Location | Dates | Type | Age limits | No of vols | Special remarks |
| OH-MTV01 | Lohra Castle and other camp places | 16/05 – 15/08 | SOCI | 18+ | 1 | camp leading, Motivation letter |
| OH-MTV02 | Lohra Castle and other camp places | 15/06 – 14/09 | SOCI | 18+ | 1 | camp leading, Motivation letter |
| OH-MTV03 | Lohra Castle and other camp places | 06/07– 05/10 | SOCI | 18+ | 1 | camp leading, Motivation letter |
| OH-MTV04 | Chapel of Reconciliation | 13/04 – 13/07 | CULT | 18+ | 1 | guest guiding, Motivation letter |
| OH-MTV05 | Chapel of Reconciliation | 15/06 – 14/09 | CULT | 20+ | 1 | guest guiding, Motivation letter |
| OH-MTV06 | Chapel of Reconciliation | 24/08 – 23/11 | CULT | 20+ | 1 | guest guiding, Motivation letter |
| Long-term Volunteering | ||||||
| Code | Location | Dates | Type | Age limits | No of vols | Special remarks |
| OH-L01 | Lohra Castle | 16/05 – 05/10 | SOCI | 18+ | 2 | camp leading, Motivation letter |
WORKCAMPS:
OH-W01 – LOHRA CASTLE - 15/06 – 28/06 12 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W02 – LOHRA CASTLE - 29/06 – 12/07 15 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W04 – LOHRA CASTLE - 13/07 – 02/08 18 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W08 – LOHRA CASTLE - 10/08 – 30/08 18 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W10 – LOHRA CASTLE - 31/08 – 13/09 12 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-W11 – LOHRA CASTLE - 14/09 – 28/09 12 vol ENVI / RENO
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, the history of the castle Lohra begins in the Middle Ages. The castle is more than 1000 years old. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany: the Harz. For years Lohra Castle was unoccupied. At the beginning of the 1990s Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since that time, a large number of art-workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
Work:
The main work at Lohra castle is to colleting fire wood. So the volunteers may go into the forest by car, divided in several groups, and cut logs. The wood will be stored at the castle for wintertime.
Other works are to excavate around one of the accommodation houses to isolate it against wetness. And they may help us to excavate a duct from the camp kitchen to the castle for changing the root of the water pipe.
If it rains, the group will derust the steel beam of the sheep shelter and coating them with anticorrosion paint.
The group could be divided into two or three at times: In this case one group goes into the forest, another group excavate, and the last derust the steel beams. The work of each group is changeable so that so that they do not get bored doing the same work through the hole time.
In August / September the volunteers will pick fruits like plums and apples around the castle.
Terminal:
Next railway station: Gebra / Hainleite (6 km)
Next airport: Frankfurt / Main (280km), Halle / Leipzig (155km), Berlin (300km)
Location:
Next town: Bleicherode (7km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km)
Region: Thuringia
Accomodation:
shared rooms with 2-7 beds in 4 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), WC inside, 1camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stove
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W03 – PARUM RECTORY - 29/06 – 21/07 10 vol ENVI / FEST
Parum Rectory is a small village in the North of Germany. It almost just consists of one church, the former rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Age. In order to save it from totally falling apart, it was renovated by the parish in almost non-commercial work the other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The rectory, built in 1841, as the biggest in whole Mecklenburg, leads to its status being representative of typical manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a meadow that borders on some worth fully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room desponding, original doorways, windows and fittings and also wide hallways.
Work:
At the weekend 11/07 – 13/07, the village has his 875 anniversary. Therefore, the volunteers will help the community to prepare for the festival. Open Houses made a film in 2006 and 2007 about the work of the network in the last twenty years. This film will be shown on the festival.
In 2007 we dug a hole around the rectory to drain it. This summer we want to close this hole. Other works are cutting the grass in the rectory garden.
There is another village called Eickelberg, not far away from Parum where the group will cut the grass and prepare a small celebration of Open Houses as previously mentioned. A concert will be held and the film also will be shown again as well.
Location:
Federal state: Mecklenburg West Pomerania
Next town: Güstrow (4 km)
Terminal:
Next railway station: Güstrow
Next airport: Berlin (80km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions: 2 shared rooms with 5 mattress per room,
1 bathroom with limited hot water, equipped kitchen
Some nights they will sleep in tents.
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W05 – WOLTERSLAGE MANOR - 27/07 – 10/08 8 vol RENO / ENVI
Wolterslage Manor is situated in mid old march (Mittlere Altmark) region in the nature reserve lower Elbe (Untere Elbe) nearby Berlin. The manor-house is surrounded by an idyllic and rather peaceful countryside that is well known for its green meadows, pastures and fields. Close to the manor there is a lake, where the volunteers can swim and sit around a campfire.
The calm surroundings, far away from the busy everyday life in big cities, make Wolterslage Manor a perfect place to relax and enjoy the nature during leisure time having done work.
The building is a typical example of manor architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are slightly decorated. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanship. In spite of misappropriated usage and for years unoccupied of the manor the architecture and decoration are kept completely preserved.
After the renovation of the manor it will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to organize particular projects, which suits to the peaceful nature of the surroundings.
Work:
The participants of the workcamp will do care reparation and simple maintenance works inside and outside the manor.
The main topic of the care works will be cultivating the manor garden including mowing the lawn and cutting bushes.
Location:
Next town: Stendal (32 km)
Region: Saxony-Anhalt
Terminal:
Next railway station: Osterburg (12 km)
Next airport: Berlin (150km), Hannover (230km), Hamburg (230km)
Accommodation:
very simple, shared rooms with mattresses, kitchen, toilettes and shower with cold water (warm water available, if you heat the bathroom heater with fire-wood).
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W06 – TOUR-CAMPS – 03/08 – 17/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
In this camp the group stays in Gantikow manor. The manor is situated 80 kilometres in the north of Berlin. Open Houses Network uses this beautiful building, which is surrounded by a sleepy village with a small church and attractive countryside, as an accommodation for guest groups, workcamps and other projects. The facade of the building is decorated with unique paintings.
A small lake is situated nearby the old building. So it is possible to go swimming. The beautiful garden around the manor invites people to relax.
From this place the group is going by a minibus to two other manors in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Both are like 90km fare away.
The villages are closed to the Müritz national park (Müritz Nationalpark). This region is noted for his numbers of beautiful lakes which inspire to drive with canoes.
Work.
Both manors with his gardens did not have a lot of care the last decades. The volunteers will cut the grass and bushes. And there are some other maintenance works which should be done like repair broken windows.
The group will sleep some nights in a scout tent for not to have to drive every day from Gantikow to the other manors.
At the same time there will be another workcamp at Gantikow Manor.
Location:
Next town: Kyritz (4 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Kyritz (4 km)
Next airport: Berlin (110km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Some nights the group will spend all together in one scout tent.
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W07 – GANTIKOW MANOR - 03/08 – 17/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
Gantikow manor is situated 80 kilometres north of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Open Houses Network uses this beautiful building, which is surrounded by a sleepy village with a small church and attractive countryside, as an accommodation for guest groups, workcamps and other projects. The facade of the building is decorated with unique paintings.
A small lake is situated nearby the old building. So it is possible to go swimming. The beautiful garden around the manor-house invites people to relax.
Work:
The volunteers will do some care and gardening works outside the manor to prepare it for coming projects and seasons. Among other things these works will be: cultivating the garden and mowing the lawn, as well as winter preparation work such as chop wood in the forests around the manor, which has to be cut and stored for wintertime.
At the same time stays the Tour Camp at the Gantikow Manor.
Location:
Next town: Kyritz (4 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Kyritz (4 km)
Next airport: Berlin (110km)
Accommodation:
Shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W09 – RATHEWALDE YOUTH ACCOMODATION HOUSE – 17/08 – 31/08 7 vol RENO / ENVI
The Rathewalde Youth Accommodation House is situated at the health resort Rathewalde in Saxony; The building is located directly at the border of the National Park Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) – a low mountain range which is very popular with German people as an attractive tourist aim for active vacation. The mountains are famous for their typical formations of sandstone with lots of small caves called Bove and overwhelming views from the mountain tops. The nature reserve offers various possibilities of hiking and climbing tours of different levels as well as cultural events like theatre performances at the open air theatre called cliff stage Rathen (Felsenbühne Rathen).
The Youth Accommodation House was built probably in 1880. The house has been used as a hostel for young people since the first half of the 20th century.
In the 1950s, it was donated by its owner to the Saxon Protestant State Church to assure the continuity of the services offered. During the following decades countless volunteers renovated and extended the mansion. Today it attracts lots of visitors by different styles from sequential construction periods.
The mansion is surrounded by beautiful garden, an orchard and large rhododendrons. You have a fascinating view to a rock formation. Up until 2003 the building was operated by the Saxon Protestant State Church and in 2005 it was reopened by Open Houses.
Work.
At this place the volunteers will be gardening, like clear the garden from pest plants, cut the bushes and trees. The participants will clean up the area around the mansion.
The volunteers will also collecting fire-wood.
If it rains the volunteers can help by the reparation and painting work inside the building.
Location:
Next town: Pirna (12 km), Dresden (30 km)
Region: Sachsen
Terminal:
Next railway station: Pirna (12 km)
Next airports: Airport: Dresden (30 km), Leipzig (160 km), Berlin (240 km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms, warm shower and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W20 – FORESTRY BOGENSEE – 05/07 – 21/07 10vol RENO / ENVI
OH-W24 – FORESTRY BOGENSEE – 26/07 – 11/08 10vol RENO / ENVI
A Forestry with several buildings that goes back to the thirties and was used in the former GDR as a college called arc lake (Bogensee). It is part of the village Lanke closed to Berlin. The forestry is surrounded by moor areas and several lakes, inside large woodland.
The workcamp will take place at a youth accommodation house called youth forest accommodation (Jugendwaldheim Bogensee) that has been already used in the GDR to accommodate young people. The current aim is to revive this place and create an international youth centre where young people are invited to learn about environmental themes and commit to nature. The focus of interest will be on practical experience in ecological education. At the forest school (Waldschule) and special seminars volunteers study and work in the forest, in the project garden and in the yard. The workcamp´s idea is to support this project.
Work:
The volunteers will work in two or three small groups in the wood-workshop and in the forest. There are different ecological and forest works: among others things participants will remove weeds, care for the herb and project garden and participate in biotope and species protection program. Furthermore the volunteers will help with renovation work in the surroundings of the accommodation house and collect fire wood in the forest.
Location:
Next town: Wandlitz (5 km), Berlin (30 km)
Region: Brandenburg
Terminal:
Next railway station: Wandlitzsee (5 km)
Next airports: Berlin (30km)
Accommodation:
in wall tents with beds inside (in case of bad weather they can sleep inside the building), bathroom (with warm shower and toilettes), kitchen in the project house
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W21 – BAALSDORF – 13/07 – 26/07 12 vol RENO / ENVI
The farm in Baalsdorf was built around 1989. The area is located in the eastern part of the city Leipzig. Here an organic food producing farm and market garden was developed. At the beginning of the 1990s an association for ecological food producing was found, which works towards
and ecological ideals. Today the association is the owner of the farm and the ground. The goal of the project is to support the natural vitality of soil, plants, animals and humans. At the moment a lot of fields have to be cultivated especially with different kinds of vegetables.
One family together with apprentices and other employees is living and working at the farm. Beside the work on the fields they have to care for cows, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens, pigeons, cats and bees.
Work:
Throughout the workcamp the group will be bouldering the gateway from the yard to the garden.
First the volunteers have to fetch the stones from the field border and to level the underground.
Beside this the volunteers are also welcomed to help in the garden and on the fields.
The city Leipzig offers a lot of various cultural possibilities. From Baalsdorf it is very easy to get to the centre. Participants of the workcamp can spend their free time with sightseeing or visiting museums, cinemas, concerts, the theatre and galleries. Not very far away from the farm it is also possible to go swimming in a lake and relaxing in the sun.
Location:
Next town: Leipzig (10km)
Region: Saxony
Terminal:
Next railway station: Leipzig (10km)
Next airports: Halle/Leipzig (30km), Berlin (200km)
Accommodation:
in the attic of the parish house in Baalsdorf, with warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W22 SCOUT EDUCATION CENTRE SAGE – 20/07 – 10/08 20 vol RENO / ENVI
OH-W26 SCOUT EDUCATION CENTRE SAGE – 10/08 – 24/08 20 vol RENO / ENVI
The establishment is situated in the region called Sager Switzerland (Sager Schweiz). The centre is one project of the Christian Scout Association in northwest Germany. The goal is to invite children and youth groups to attractive educational and free-time activities. The project is just managed through voluntary workers. The centre is in existence since 2003. From that time on scouts / girl guides and volunteers are working to extend the quality of the premises. People are getting to know each other while spending time on manual and educational work and organising their leisure time together.
Work:
In Sage the volunteers will be gardening, like mow the grass, cut the bushes and trees. The participants will renovate the main building inside.
Also there are some maintenance work outside. If the group will have enough time the volunteers will build a tree house. In August the volunteers will pick fruits like bulbs and apples in the garden.
Location:
Next town: Sage (1 km), Oldenburg (28 km), Bremen(50km)
Region: Lower Saxony
Terminal:
Next railway station: Großkneten (3km), Oldenburg(28km)
Next airport: Bremen(55 km), Hamburg(178km)
Accommodation:
in constructions side trailers and tents, warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W23 – LELKENDORF MANOR – 26/07 – 09/08 12 vol RENO / ENVI
Lelkendorf is a small, sleepy and romantic village. It is situated in the centre of Mecklenburg Switzerland (Mecklenburgische Schweiz) in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Nearby the river Peene runs. The village is surrounded by an idyllic landscape with meadows and small hills. The buildings of Lelkendorf estate were a knight’s manor during the Middle Ages and included a castle, which was built in 1225. Some years ago the castle was renovated and vitalized by people, who started to live there. Now guests of the estate and the castle can also visit the beautiful park, which dominates the area around the village.
Over a couple of years and with the support of many international volunteers, who were working at Lelkendorf, the place became a meeting point for people who want to experience art and culture. In the future musicians, actors, sculptors and other artists will live and work together at the former manor-house. As requirement for that guest houses, ateliers, rehearsal rooms and stages were started to build.
During summertime different art-workshops and workcamps will take place at the estate, which are open to people who have an interest in creative working and getting to know different kinds of art.
Work:
The volunteers will spend their time mainly with care taking for the buildings of the manor and the area around. Parts of the manor for example the old storehouse in Lelkendorf are classified as historical monuments. For six hours a day the group will be gardening and maintenance work outside and inside the buildings to keep the beauty of the ensemble.
Location:
Next town: Teterow (7 km), Neukalen (5 km),
Region: Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Terminal:
Next railway station: Teterow (7 km)
Next airport: Berlin (210km), Hamburg (240km)
Accommodation:
in the restored old storehouse and guest houses, warm shower, toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
OH-W25 – ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY ALT UNGNADE – 09/08 – 31/08 15 vol RENO / ENVI
Alt Ungnade is a community of 18 people (aged 22 to 40) living in a small settlement near the bay on the Baltic Sea (10km). In contrast to the society try to live sustainable and in close touch to nature. Therefore they live in caravans on a former farming site, surrounded by fields and trees. Most of them are landscape ecologists so nature conservancy is quite important for their community. But within the scope of their association called “freirAUm” (founded 2007), they are going to establish cultural, environmental and social education for our region as well as international connections.
Work:
There will be two projects the group can work on: The first one is to build up a caravan as sanitary facility. The community want to build up this six meter long vehicle with organic resources. As second target the community would like to build a clamp, to store their self-made vegetables.
Next to this, there is a lot of small work to do: helping in the garden, repairing and cleaning, take part in feeding the animals, finish the work on the organic toilet.
Location:
Federal state: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Next town: Greifswald (7 km)
Terminal:
Next railway station: Greifswald (7km)
Next airport: Berlin (240 km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions: partly in our caravans otherwise in community-tents, 1bathroom with limited hot water, 2 outside-showers based on solar energy, good equipped summer-kitchen; bicycles
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
BUILDING WEEKS:
Within the framework of the building weeks both, skilled manual workers and those with no manual training can work together to restore historical monuments.
In contrast to the workcamps where the emphasis lies on communal life in a group of people of different nationalities and from different backgrounds and the working time is 6 hours a day, in building weeks the emphasis is on manual work and the daily working time is 8 hours. Participants here have a greater possibility of gaining real experience in restoration and other manual tasks and to broaden their knowledge.
A further aim is that those taking part should share their skills and experiences. To make the work in our building weeks as productive as possible, the volunteers should have some technical skills and it also could be advantageous if they have structural previous knowledge.
The building weeks each last for two weeks and the groups are small - up to eight people depending on the number of applications received. It is also possible to take part for a shorter time, e.g. just for one week, as we would like to offer this opportunity also to those who are tied up in professional life and have got some free time.
Motivation letters are requested for all building weeks.
OH-B01 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 05/07 – 19/07 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B02 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 26/07 – 09/08 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B03 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 16/08 – 30/08 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B04 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 30/08 – 13/09 8 vol CONS / ENVI
OH-B05 – WATER CASTLE OLLENDORF – 13/09 – 27/09 8 vol CONS / ENVI
Ollendorf Water Castle is situated between Erfurt (capital of Thuringia), and Weimar (European capital of culture 1999). The small village Ollendorf is surrounded by a beautiful countryside.
In ancient times the village was an important settlement on the historic Via Regia, one of the most significant routes of commerce in the Middle Ages, which linked Thuringia and Saxony to Eastern Europe. Water castle Ollendorf is a pilgrimage site.
The manor is the only existing building from the 17th century. All other buildings of the castle had been destroyed by a fire. In the 19th store houses and barns were built.
In the GDR it was used as an agricultural enterprise.
In 1998 the water castle was taken over by the Open Houses.
The castle will once again become a place where different cultures can meet.
Work:
The volunteers are working with our two carpenters. The group will restore one part of the roof structure. The volunteers can help to cut the wood and making mortises. Sometimes it is hard work because they have to bear the wooden beam.
This roof truss is the oldest one of the whole castle. If we finish this restoration the water castle will gleam in a new splendour.
As well there is gardening to do, like cutting the grass and clear the garden from pest plants.
In case of bad weather the volunteers can grind the ceiling in some rooms of the sheep sharp.
Location:
Next town: Erfurt (12km), Weimar (12km)
Region: Thuringia
Terminal:
Next railway station: Erfurt (12km)
Next airport: Halle / Leipzig (140 km), Berlin (300km)
Accommodation:
simple conditions, shared rooms with mattresses, warm showers and toilettes
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
THE OPEN HOUSE:
True to our vision to offer room and shelter to those who come along, who are searching, who wish to join in with their individual gifts and talents...
All over the year one of the houses we care for is an “Open House”. Anybody, without announcement, night or day, can turn up at the door, walk in and stay for a while – a day, a week, a month, as long as s/he is willing to join those who are already there.
The “Open House” is an offer to those who have some time available, who want to escape from noise and hectic of the daily working life in the cities and search for alternatives to enrich their life.
If s/he likes new experiences and challenges, if s/he is interested in handicraft, likes to meet people of different cultures, has fantasy and a lot of nice ideas and if s/he does not mind living in very simple conditions – s/he is very welcome.
The base is the readiness for being responsible for the houses and the guests and to have engagement and motivation for the work you can do. These do not necessarily have to be handicrafts: preparing food, repairing bicycles, taking care of the guests – there are always a lot of things to do and everyone can find and take his part.
OH-OH01 – LOHRA CASTLE – 01/05 – 14/06 4 vol ENVI / RENO
OH-OH02 – LOHRA CASTLE – 29/09 – 01/11 4 vol ENVI / RENO
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. The history of the castle covers more than 1000 years. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany: the Harz. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, a large number of art-workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place at the castle.
Work:
The volunteers will do some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepare it for coming projects and seasons. Among other things these works will be: cultivating the castle garden and mowing the lawn, as well as winter preparation work such as collecting of fire-wood in the forests around the castle, which has to be cut and stored in the castle’s cellar for wintertime.
S/he can also take care for guest groups as well and students who are visiting the castle for some days.
Location:
Next town: Bleicherode (7km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km)
Region: Thuringia
Terminal:
Next railway station: Gebra / Hainleite (6 km)
Next airport: Frankfurt / Main (280km), Halle / Leipzig (155km), Berlin (300km)
Accommodation:
shared rooms with 2-7 beds in 4 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), WC inside, 1camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stove
Language: English / German
What to bring:
working gloves and shoes, working clothes, sleeping bag
MTV:
Camp Leading
OH-MTV01 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 16/05- 15/08 1 vol SOCI
OH-MTV02 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 15/06- 14/09 1 vol SOCI
OH-MTV03 – LOHRA CASTLE AND OTHER PLACES – 06/07- 05/10 1 vol SOCI
Open Houses is looking for persons who are well motivated, open minded and have already some experiences in handling with other people. They should be able to speak English fluently and a little German.
The camp leader has to work independent and takes the responsibility for the organisation and social support for all volunteers of the workcamps or building weeks. Most of the camps have two camp leaders who work together.
As a camp leader s/he is responsible to welcome the volunteers and to make them familiar with their new camp place. The main part of the job is to organize the social life for all volunteers during the camp period. This means s/he has to prepare a daily timetable, which includes times for working, short breaks between the work and time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. S/he also has to organize cleaning and cooking teams for each day.
It's also their job to go shopping and buy food for the volunteers.
Leisure activity: At the end of a hard working day, it will be welcome if s/he organise some things like campfire; barbecue or any games.
Usually the volunteers do not have to work on weekend. In this case the volunteers the leader has to organise little trips to bigger cities or whatever the volunteers want to.
The leader is also responsible for the camp deduction. This means s/he has to manage the camp money.
Every camp leader gets at the beginning of their stay a camp booklet with basic and detailed information about camp leading.
Before working as a camp leader s/he has to take part in one of our camps in Lohra Castle as a participant. It will be a good exercise for the volunteers to work one or two weeks as a participant. After the first camp s/he will lead one camp or more. If s/he leads more than one there is a break of one week. The decision in which place the camp leader will work, we will make after we know their interests and abilities.
Please have a look in our camp description for the details.
Guest Guiding
OH-MTV04 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 13/04 – 13/07 1 vol CULT
OH-MTV05 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 15/06 – 14/09 1 vol CULT
OH-MTV06 – CHAPEL OF RECONCILIATION – 24/08 – 23/11 1 vol CULT
The church of reconciliation, an impressive neo gothic brick building, was built in Berlin in 1894. When Berlin was split into occupational zones in 1945 the parish became divided – the church itself was located in the Soviet sector while most of the parishioners lived in the neighbouring French sector. When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it passed directly in front of the church. Consequently, the church was no longer accessible from either East or West Berlin and fell into disrepair.
In 1985 the church was demolished in order to, as the GDR government officially declared, “increase security, order and cleanliness at the state border of West Berlin”. The wall came down less than five years later and in the summer of 1990, the official demolition of the border facilities began. The grounds of the Church of Reconciliation lay waste and were being made to remove the traces of division as quickly as possible, the parish of the church contemplated how best to deal with this place and its history. After the site was returned, the parish decided to erect a chapel on the foundations of the old church with the simplest of means; a modern building to meet the requirements of both the present and the future, whilst protecting preserved traces – but without reconstructing that which was lost. Furthermore, the building was to be ecologically in keeping with the times by using resources sparingly and being built to last. The parish chose a design of two concentric oval buildings with offset axes. The outer oval, made of wooden slats, takes the alignment of the former Church of Reconciliation, the inner oval of rammed earth is aligned East-West as is otherwise customary.
The rammed earth body was erected in 1999. Open Houses volunteers from fourteen East and West European countries supported him. The earth-moist clay was poured into a form-work in 30 centimetre thick layers and compacted to about eight centimetres. On the 9th November 2000, the 11th anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall, the Chapel of Reconciliation was inaugurated. It is the first public compacted clay building in Germany built in over 150 years and, at the same time, the first German church of load-bearing compacted clay.
The new place, created through the building of the chapel, could not have been planned in this way. It has grown organically and taken on a life its own. The place unites and combines innovative approaches to architecture, ecology, culture of remembrance and European communication. Its appeal is a result of this combination.
Open Houses is particularly concerned with shaping the Chapel of Reconciliation as a meeting place for young people from different nations.
Work:
The volunteer lives alone in a flat in Berlin, Wedding. For travelling to the chapel and for leisure time he gets a bicycle. It takes around ten minuets by bike to the chapel.
The volunteer is a kind of a tourist guide. The visitors are people who are interested in architecture, history and ecology. Normally all visitors are in small groups or on their own.
S/he has to support and care for the visitors and administrate the guest book. S/he works inside the chapel, but it might be a bit cold inside because it is not really heated (for environmental sustainability reasons).
Hours of work: 10a.m. – 5p.m.
The working days are not strictly from Monday till Friday. S/he has to work five days per week.
The volunteer can eat lunch in the staff cafeteria of the roll church (Schrippenkirche). This is only across the road from the chapel. From this cafeteria s/he can take home a diner and breakfast.
The atmosphere in chapel is intimate and private. For this reason it is very important for the community that the volunteer fits in. There should be a harmonic relationship between the priest and the volunteer.
The community is evangelic. The volunteer does not have to be religious but s/he should be tolerant and open minded. Every noon there is a remembrance of the dead people of the wall, every Sunday there is a church service and over the year there are different intercultural arrangements.
Schedule:
The volunteer arrives in Berlin to have a look at the chapel and to meet the priest and the other responsible persons of the community. The same day or next s/he goes to Lohra castle. There s/he stays two weeks to get to know our association. (Please have a look in our camp description of Lohra castle.)
The volunteer lives with the family of the priest the third week of the stay to get to know each other.
After this week the community and the volunteer can decide if they want to work together. If the chapel or the volunteers decide not to work in the chapel, the volunteer can participate in our workcamps, or go back home.
The last week of the stay their three month volunteer has free time; s/he can travel in Germany for example (on her/his own cost).
Location: Berlin
Accommodation:
Flat with a equipped kitchen, bathroom and bed with bedclothes
Age: at least 20
Language:
English fluently, basics in German; Spanish, French, Korean, Russia
and other languages are welcome
Specials:
the volunteer should be able to ride bicycle
no drugs like alcohol or cigarettes during the working time
motivation letter and CV with a photo
Per month the volunteer gets 100€ pocket money. This get paid in middle of the month.
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, Mar 28 2008, 8:07 PM EDT
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