ESC @ Youth Club Eco-House ("CJD Ökohaus", 12 months)

The Markleeberg „eco-house“ of the CJD Saxony opened on September 2020. Originally it was built with local wood, straw and clay in 2008 and 2009 as a straw bale house with a green roof. It is located in the 50 hectare Agra Park, which was originally created in 1890 and is now a memorial of garden art. Some parts of the park are a landscape protection area "Leipziger Auwald" as well as protected under European Bird sanctuary.

The „eco-house“ combines youth work with gardening and nature. But we also want too develop the house as open meeting places for naturalists, nature adventure garden, with special school holiday and youth programs and project days to heighten an awareness for natural habitat. Children and young people strengthen their social skills and responsible behavior and develop their skills in natural science, art and the environment.

A second working place is a youth center/open point for children and youth not far from the eco-house. It is a place where young people design there leisure time supported by the staff. Apart from games, sports and music job orientation and learning to lead a self-sustained life are important topics of the work with the youths.

Tasks:

In the eco-house the volunteer works with young people, in the garden area and on the different projects. Beside daily gardening there are special nature youth activities that can be supported or created by the volunteer. The volunteers helps within nature education projects and it is foreseen that the volunteer develops and realize with the support of the staff own nature education offers. The eco-house is still in the initial phase so ideas and own projects of the volunteer are welcome. In the youth club the volunteer support the youths and the staff designing and carrying through leisure activities on a daily base as well as special projects which have a longer duration. The volunteer shall bring aspects of his or her own country into the work, e.g. music, games, sports, language, cooking or handicraft.

Two seminars organized by NA. In addition, there will be realized several project days towards topics of Europe / mobility in Europe for all ESC volunteers

Conditions (short overview):

• The volunteer has a mentor, who supports with regular feedback talks at the hosting organization
• The weekly project time is 35 hours and weekends are free, as well as holidays such as Christmas, etc.
• The volunteer has two holidays per month, which can be collected to take a longer time off (Some facilities have closing times and then some vacation must be taken then.)
• There is a basic language course to support the volunteers in the beginning. The ESC is a non-formal education program and therefore no professional German course is provided, but the goal is to learn the language during the project time and outside in the free time.
• Costs for food, travel and insurances are covered, and the volunteer gets additionally 210€ pocket money per month; VISA costs are covered if needed.
• The volunteer has to visit two seminars organized by Jugend für Europa (national agency of Germany). In addition, there will be realized several project days towards topics of Europe / mobility in Europe for all ESC volunteers.
• The volunteer lives in a single-bed room in a flat share with other volunteers in Leipzig. In the shared apartment, residents must take care of cleaning themselves.

Selection criteria:

• Interest in working with youth people
• Interest in working in nature you should like working and beeing outside, working with wood, plants...)
• Open-mindedness and self-initiative.
• Age limit: 26.
• Measles vaccination is mandatory and proof is needed.

Selection process:

Please complete the online questionnaire you find on our page. We collect all applications until the deadline, then all applications that are complete will be forwarded to the responsibles of the hosting organisation who decide about the candidate. The selection process takes 1-2 months. You will get an answer during or latest after 2 months.

Apply here!