CG Cantiere giovani – “Bring historical gardens to life”

Palazzolo sull’Oglio (BS) – 11/07 – 22/07

Partner

“Cantiere Giovani” is an NGO fostering new socio-cultural and educational opportunities to a local, national, international level. The purpose is to bring out the best in young people: give them the opportunity to develop skills, take part to life-change experiences, provide them with tools to realize ambitions and hopes. The possibilities offered in the fields of non-formal education, communication, multiculturalism and international mobility give to the youth the chance of gaining new competences, meeting new people and cultures. The intention is to encourage them to develop new skills and knowledge appropriate for the global dimension of modern society.

A conscious and meaningful learning experience that can contribute to build a fairer world.

Cantiere Giovani runs youth centers, educational paths for pupils, helpdesks for migrants, international volunteering, communication services, training and researches. All these activities are realized at local, national and international level.

More specifically:

– Social, cultural and educational activities with synergic actions aimed to raise awareness about the respect for all diversities.

– Youth mobility and international volunteering managing youth exchanges by means of European Projects, workcamps and European Voluntary Service.

– Non-profit communication assisting non-profit organizations through the communicative process.

– Training and researching running training courses on intercultural learning, communication technologies and social abilities.

Promotion Ekoclub International

This work camp is an important project of enhancement of the historical and naturalistic heritage of the town. The aim of this work is to show the international participants the ancient historical background of the town and to help our beauties to revive, in a green context. Thanks to the close contact with Italian art and culture, the participants will feel an unforgettable educational and enjoyable experience.

The project is the result of an important partnership between the town Council and theEkoclub Association. The Council believes in the promotion of youth empowerment projects and in the development of active citizenship.

Ekoclub is an association founded in 1970 to reconstruct a correct way of thinking and living nature. Founded by a deep knowledge of the environment and its healthier traditions. Absolutely non-profit and confirmed between the NGO, includes among its members several tens of thousands of people, with a tendency to growth. The difference Ekoclub from other environmental groups is the centrality of the human relation to the environment and therefore its ability to reap the benefits of plants and animals of the earth, and with respect to real need. This capability enables a man to keep his ancestral customs and to have a fundamental effect in maintaining the environmental balance.

The Ekoclub Association has many provincial branches distributed in different Italian regions. The venue of Palazzolo, near Brescia, is very active and has worked to the creation of international work camps for three years, with the help of young people motivated by a strong sense of civic duty.

The municipality of Palazzolo sull’Oglio is undertaking a project of enhancement of the naturalistic and historical heritage of the town in which young people are actively involved in.

The aim of this work is to show the international participants the ancient historical and naturalistic background of the town and to help its beauties to revive, in a green context.

Thanks to the close contact with the Italian environment and culture, the participants will feel an unforgettable educational and enjoyable experience.

Project Description

The Workcamp will last 2 weeks and the volunteers w i l l work at Palazzolo’s Historical Gardens. Volunteers will clean the roads within the typical English and Italian gardens, mow the grass, seeding and planting trees and flowers. Workcampers will also do activities on the shores of ther river Oglio and inside the Palazzolo’s Castle (also called Rocha Magna) was built in the 9th century to be part of the defense system that was called Castrum Palatioli. Towers, moat and underground passages, still standing on two different levels, are the beautiful elements of this medieval structure. This medieval site offers a big park, a garden, a moat and dungeons underground.

Workcamp Activities:

• mow the grass

• Installing new fences

· Trim plants

· Cleaning the dungeons

All the work will be done cooperating with young people of the town, in order to develop a nice environment and strong relations between volunteers and locals.

FOTO: The volunteers of the last workcamp

Free Time

During free time several activities will be organized:

• Canoeing

• Skating in Palazzolo’s skate park

• Excursions through the territory (ex. Brescia; Montisola, Lake Iseo, Bergamo, Lake Garda, Verona, Milano, Venezia)

• Tour of the City (The Castle and its underground passages, the Tower).

• Visit to one of the most important Franciacorta’s wine cellar

FOTO An amazing view of Palazzolo sull’Oglio

Accommodation and Food

The volunteers will stay in a structure in the centre of the town which will be used as a dormitory.

Shared rooms, warm showers and toilets in the place. The accommodation has also a huge garden with a nice view of the town. The meals will be prepared together as they are part of the community life, that means that everybody will be responsible for the meal at least once during his stay. So it would be very nice if you could bring typical recipes from home in order to introduce each other to the preparation of food from all over the world.

FOTO: A view from the accommodation

Location & Leisure

Palazzolo sull’Oglio is a town of about 20.000 inhabitants in the province of Brescia which is crossed by the Oglio River, it takes an hour to Milan, two hours to Venice, 40 minutes to Lake Garda and 20 minutes to Lake Iseo and it is really close to “Franciacorta”, an area which is well-known for its high quality wines. The territory is full of history and in the town you can find churches, frescoes, palaces, nineteenth-century mansions and the wonderful medieval castle with the tower of “San Fedele”. Visits throughout the town are planned.

Palazzolo sull’Oglio also offers large green areas, like a big park along the river and the mansions’ gardens where the project is set. The town is close to the hills before the mountain chain of Alps and the big lakes of Northern Italy. Trains and buses are an easy way to discover the territory. All the facilities you need are available in the town: a shopping centre, banks, the municipal swimming pool and obviously a great choice of pubs, restaurants and cafes.

FOTO: A View of the Castle from the top of the Tower

Requirements

A motivation letter is compulsory showing interest towards the project. Bring a sleeping bag, shoes and work clothes.

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Meeting Point

Palazzolo S/O train station or bus station

Camp Address

Via 20 Settembre 32, 25036 Palazzolo sull’Oglio (BS)

Around the Town

A view of the river

FOTO: Mura neighborhood

FOTO: During “Festa di Mura” medieval festival

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