INFOSHEET FOR ES-MAD 12.4 ALISTE (Zamora) Dear volunteer, Service Civil International (SCI) is a voluntary organisation with over 40 national branches and groups worldwide. SCI aims are to promote peace, international understanding and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and respect for the environment. SCI believes that all people are capable of living together with mutual respect and of solving conflicts without recourse to any form of violence. The roots of Service Civil International go back to the end of World War I when Europe had to be reconstructed and the people needed to co-operate again in a peaceful way. The first international workcamp was organised in 1920 by Pierre Ceresole and his friends in Verdun, France. Even though the first experience was not easy, the idea spread quickly. The volunteers from this camp wanted to inspire others to work for peace as an alternative to military service. The number of volunteers rose quickly and they started to call their network “Service Civil International”.
Some historical pictures of early SCI-workcamps Nowadays the work of SCI is carried out on all the continents and ranges from reconstruction work to ecology, from social inclusion to North-South solidarity. Every year hundreds of people get inspired by the simple but powerful idea which started the first workcamp. The aim of the workcamps has always been twofold: contributing to peace and social justice through a practical and constructive job for a project partner (e.g. a community, a school, a social institution, etc.), and improving mutual understanding through a work performed with people from different countries and backgrounds You would like to know more about the history, aims, structure and network of SCI? Here are some links, where you can easily find more information: 1. www.sciint.org (Website of SCI International) 2. www.service-civil-international.org (Website of the SCI International Archives, Bern in Switzerland) Welcome to the Aliste workcamp! We are looking forward to seeing you here and we hope that we will have a fruitful and great time together. The success of this workcamp depends on all of us – this is something we are going to do together. We expect you to come with a lot of energy and initiative – to work, to get to know new people, to get new experiences, to have fun, and to take responsibility for the camp.
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SCI - branch co-ordinating your workcamp:
SERVICIO CIVIL IMPORTANT: INTERNACIONAL MADRID Calle Leganitos 35, 5ºB, 28013 Madrid SPAIN Phone: + 34 91 366 32 59 Email: oficina@ongsci.org Web: www.ongsci.org
Camp code:
ES-MAD 12.4 ALISTE (Zamora)
Camp address:
Ayuntamiento de Rabanales. C/ la Iglesia,2 ZAMORA. 49519
Camp coordinator:
Domingo Ferrero Cruz
Local person:
Begin/end of the camp: Number of volunteers:
contact Domingo Ferrero Cruz Camp language(s): Dirección: Ctra. Alcañices, 14 Población: Rabanales. Provincia y código Postal: ZAMORA. 49519. Teléfono: 660420359. dofe63@gmail.com
Please confirm your participation to oficina@ongsci.org Don’t forget 1. your name 2. name & dates of your camp PLEASE inform us, if you arrive later. 28/07/14 – 11/09/2014 12
Spanish and English
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS WORKCAMP? Workcamp values
communal living; group decision making; equal participation; collective problem solving.
Volunteer responsibilities
give input, bring ideas and have initiative; participate in all the tasks (working, cooking, cleaning, etc.); be responsible and respect the other volunteers, the organisers and the project.
What can you expect from this workcamp Serious work but also free time for activities within the group; the camp will be coordinated by a volunteer like you, only more experienced and specifically trained, who is not in charge of organising all the activities and free time for the group.
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ABOUT THE LOCAL PROJECT The project Rabanales de Aliste is a small town located in the province of Zamora. As many other in the region of Castilla, is struggling against unstoppable depopulation and general decay of rural culture, plus aging of its population. The whole neighbourhood is committed to search alternatives for their common future. Preservation of cultural is a very important role in all their planning. The presence of international volunteers brings life and joy to the everyday life of the people of the village. The townspeople are very participatory and open. Work Rehabilitation of cultural heritage in Rabanales de Aliste. Actions and activities to develop: 1- Rehabilitation of a traditional flour mill. 2- Supplementing a walking trail around the mills and other elements. 3- Restoration and cleaning of natural and medical sources. 4- Rehabilitation, restoration and beautification of the town and the traditional architecture of the town by the work camp with those public properties. Normally volunteers will work from 8 to 14h and then have all the afternoon for free to enjoy the village’s beautiful surrounding area.
Study part Rural-development and cultural heritage rescue as an alternative to depopulation.
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PRACTICAL DETAILS Accommodation Volunteers will be accommodated in an old house of the village. They turned the old pharmacy into a place to host volunteers. The house will have bunk beds so volunteers only need to bring your sleeping bag.
Food Rabanales has a social dining room and the cooker will be making the food for the group of volunteers. The volunteers will be asked to make turns in order to help the cook and also get involved with the project. Please inform previously to the coordinator of the camp if you are vegetarian, vegan or you have any special diet. Free time The principal and also the coordinator of the camp Domingo will show to the volunteer all the options they have for their free time. Volunteers may want to enjoy the pool, go hiking around, make a small trip to Portugal which is just 8km away from Rabanales and many other options.
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What to bring Sleeping bag, boots and working clothes (long sleeves are good for working outside to avoid scratches on arms etc.), towel, raincoat or waterproof jacket, jumper, sunglasses and hat protector, insect repellent, sun lotion, receipts and music from your own country. You want to see the weather forecast, have a look at: http://www.aemet.es And most important, bring good humour, tolerance and a positive attitude for community living. Don’t expect the campleader to do everything for you.
TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS VERY IMPORTANT! We expect you to arrive and leave the camp on the given dates (when the camp starts/ends). If not possible, please inform us before hand. 1. First you have to get to the city of Zamora (either by bus, or train): Here we give you some ideas of how to get there: - From Madrid to Zamora by Bus: There are plenty of bus connections from Madrid to Zamora. The company is Avanza Bus The buses leave from Estación Sur de Autobuses de Méndez Alvaro (Metro Méndez Alvaro line 6). http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planoesquematicoespano l.pdf It takes between 3 hours and a half to get to Zamora more or less, depending on the type of service (“normal or express”). Prices vary accordingly buy they are around 15 and 21€. For further information timetable have a look at the next link: http://www.avanzabus.com/web/default.aspx - From Madrid to Zamora by Trains There are also plenty of trains from Madrid to Zamora. The company is Renfe. The trains leave from Chamartin Railways Station. To get to Charmatin Railway Station you need to get off in Chamartin metro station (metro line 1 or 10): http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/PlanoMetrocorteramales p.pdf It takes about 2 hour and a half to arrive in Zamora form Madrid and the ticket costs around 24 €. For further information timetable have a look at the next link: http://www.renfe.com/ - From other cities: You can check your own bus combination at http://www.avanzabus.com/web/ Or your convenient train connections at www.renfe.es
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2. Once in Zamora you must get to the main bus station: In case you have arrived by train, from the train station you only have to walk up the street as you can see in the map both stations are placed very close:
3. From Zamora Bus Station to Rabanales: From the main bus station in Zamora you need to take a bus to RABANALES. Ask in the ticket office in the Bus Station and they will tell you which bus you should take. ÂĄÂĄVERY IMPORTANT!! There is ONLY 1 buses leaving from Zamora to Rabanales that you can take on Monday. In order to get on time to the Meeting Point you should be very careful when you plan your trip to Zamora and make sure you will be there with plenty of time to get the bus. The bus leaves form Zamora at 13:30h and arrives to Rabanales at 14:45. The principal and coordinator of the camp will be waiting for you at the bus stop. The company is Autocares Vivas and you can check all the information in the next link: http://www.autocaresvivas.es/index.html
Meeting point The organisers will be waiting for you at Rabanales bus stop on Monday 28/7/2014 at 14:45h. There is ONLY 1 bus leaving from Zamora at to Rabanales that you can take on Monday in order to get on time to the Meeting Point so you should be very careful when you plan your trip to Zamora and make sure you will be there with plenty of time to get the bus.
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If you get lost on the way (for any reason), or you are not able to make it on time, please inform the camp coordinator in order to find out a solution.
TRAVEL INSURANCE and VISA ISSUES We ask all participants to check with their health insurance provider how to proceed in case of illness or accident. Please remember that the insurance from SCI is not valid on your way to and from the camp and is valid only during the camp period! Volunteers from EU must bring their European Health Insurance Card. Those of you who need a VISA for Spain, please send us your full name, date of birth and passport details in order to receive an official invitation letter from SCI Madrid.
RIGHTS OF THE VOLUNTEERS or What can you expect from an SCI camp? MEANINGFULL PROJECT: Through your voluntary work you will be contributing to peace and social justice supporting a community project (social, environmental or cultural). Many projects are run entirely on voluntary basis throughout the year and have limited resources. Your contribution and commitment will be highly valued. INTERCULTURAL LEARNING: SCI camps are meant to promote cultural diversity awareness. By sharing day to day life on equal terms with people from different countries and backgrounds you will improve mutual respect and understanding. Key values of all camps are group decision making, equal participation and collective problem solving. LIVING CONDITIONS: You will receive board and accommodation as part of the project’s hospitability. Because every camp is different, these conditions vary from project to project and can be basic and simple. SAFETY: The project partner is responsible for the safety in the camp and for the safe use of work tools, machines, etc. Please follow carefully the instructions given by the project partner. For security reasons you are allowed to refuse work if you feel it might be put you and the others at risk. INSURANCE: In case of illness or accident the volunteer's private insurance or that of his/her parents is liable. As SCI volunteer you are also covered by SCI insurance: it is a basic insurance and covers specific cases in public health structures often complementary to your private insurance. The SCI insurance is only valid for the exact duration of the camp (travel to and from the workcamp is not included). EU citizens should bring their European health insurance card.
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DUTIES OF THE VOLUNTEERS or What do we expect from you as a SCI workcamp participant? ATTENDANCE: You are expected to participate from the beginning till the end of the camp. WORK: It is the core activity of a camp that brings together the volunteers. You are expected to work seriously from 5 to 8 hours a day. The timetable depends on the project. Each camp has one or two free days weekly to do activities within the group. Some camps might have a different work time distribution. This will be mentioned in the camp infosheet. At the end of the camp you will feel proud of what you have done. COMMUNAL LIVING: Living together implies participating in all daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, setting the table, etc. Living together means accepting and respecting the others. Living together is also sharing interest for everyone’s wellbeing. Participants might have different command of the camp language(s). Translate everything, and resort to body language whenever necessary. If you are a native speaker, please, remember to speak slowly. Nobody should feel excluded. PROJECT PARTNER: They are very happy to welcome you on their project. They will do their best to make you feel at home. Please, show respect for internal rules and the people that work there. Let them know that you appreciate their efforts. FREE TIME: It will depend mostly on the group’s own initiative and ideas. Some projects have more financial resources than others and are able to offer some leisure activities. Others will just facilitate simple free time activities or contact with local populations. Do not expect the campleader to organise this for you. SMOKING AND DRINKING: Smoking might be allowed in restricted areas. Use of alcohol should be always moderate and only during free time. Please, read carefully the camp description and the infosheet, since some projects do not allowed smoking or drinking at all. Use of any kind of drugs is strictly forbidden.
We wish you a warm welcome to ALISTE and have a nice trip!!
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