Service Volontaire International

About the local hosting organizationWe want to reduce carbon footprint doing permaculture, "greenbuilding", to promote new way do live in the nature in harmony
Kalistratia, the name our association, is a "greanica" word (from Calabria, originated from Greek culture), means good trip. So we want to promote new way to live in contact with nature. Our ideas is to live an experience here, in Calabria (Polia mainly), later when come back in in their own land. To sow a new way of living in contact with nature always in function of the different latitudes but with the principle of respecting the hidden harmony of the relationship between man and nature.

Presentation of the programmeJoin Kalistratia in Polia, Calabria, for a short-term mission (01 June – 01 July) blending ancient forest traditions with modern eco-celebration. We are looking for "Forest Makers" to help us prepare the Kalabria Eco Festival 2026. Your Mission: Woodwork & Eco-Construction: Master traditional woodworking to build festival infrastructure, stages, and sustainable outdoor furniture using "Km 0" local timber. Forest Stewardship: Engage in selective clearing and trail maintenance to protect our local ecosystem. Festival Production: Be the backbone of the 2026 Eco Festival handling logistics, artistic installations, and sustainable event management. Community: Live in a rural Italian Eco-Hub, sharing organic food and local traditions.

Local accommodationVolunteers will be hosted in comfortable shared accommodation in Polia with Wi-Fi and essential services. - Pocket Money: €6 per day, plus a €50 Extra pocket money for food. - Meals: Primarily organic and homemade, emphasizing local Calabrian products (basic food). - Travel: A travel budget of €275 is available, or €320 for those choosing "Green Travel" options. - Local Transport: For travel outside the village related to project activities, transport will be provided using the organization’s vehicles.

About the leisure activities possibleVolunteers will undergo a comprehensive training program designed for rural entrepreneurship and eco-construction: Woodwork & Carpentry: Hands-on safety and technical training with manual and power tools to build eco-structures. Forestry Skills: Training in sustainable land management, silviculture, and trail mapping. Event Management: Mentorship in large-scale event production, from logistics to sustainable waste management for the Kalabria Eco Festival 2026. Language & Culture: Intensive Italian language support and local cultural integration workshops.

RequirementsThe Participant profile: We are looking for proactive, hands-on individuals (18-30) who are: Physically Ready: Enthusiastic about manual labor in a forest environment and comfortable with the physical demands of eco-construction. Creative Makers: Passionate about learning woodworking, building festival infrastructure, and designing sustainable installations. Community-Minded: Eager to live in a rural village, embrace slow-living, and integrate into the local Calabrian culture. Organized & Reliable: Motivated to assist in the complex logistical preparation of the Kalabria Eco Festival 2026. Nature Lovers: Resilient to outdoor conditions and dedicated to environmental stewardship. => How to Apply: Send your CV and Motivation Letter to: [email protected].
Deadline: 01/06/2026 10:00

Extra info about the projectThe project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?

• Training before and after the project
• Health insurance during your project
• round-trip travel reimbursement
• accommodation and food
• pocket money
• language course
• Return Week-end
• Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.

Price descriptionProjects from the european commission are free for volunteers

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