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Group volunteering experience 2023

ECO-ARCHITECTURE and basics of PERMACULTURE in an OFF-GRID COMMUNITY

Hideghegy eco-community

26 June - 16 July 2023

CONTEXT:

This project will involve 15 volunteers for a 21 days program in the Hideghegy Eco-Community, in Pécsely, Hungary. This program is part of a collaboration between 4 NGOs, lead by Szatyor Association. 

MISSION:

We believe that together we can create a natural, sustainable, happy world instead of today’s unsustainable, wasteful lifestyle.

PLACE:

Pécsely is a picturesque village on the northern part of the Balaton lake, with 560 inhabitants. Our community is located above the village in a 6 hectare area, with a breathtaking view on the Balaton-lake. Our community consists of 5 permanent members, with 2 families in the neighborhood.

PLEASE be aware, that 

- our community lives under quite simple, "nomadic" circumstances, in the nature, so there is mud when it rains, and hot, when the summer sun is shining, so the heat may challenge your endurance, involving lots of sweating;

- the work with mud, soil and stone is physically demanding;

- you have to have sturdy boots that are suitable for this work;

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Eco-architectural focus: constructing stone retaining wall, work with adobe (building a cane wall and covering it with mud), fence weaving, and building wood structures.

You can get acquainted with working with wood, stone, clay, which can be useful almost anywhere in the world.

Permacultural approach: Our permaculture farm will undertake the rehabilitation of an abandoned vineyard (picking up an old support system, collecting wires, placing cut-out bushes along the contour line) and collecting and processing herbs and fruits. 

Getting acquainted with the tasks related to the crop, weeding, watering, harvesting.

Cooking: Taking part in the kitchen tasks, cooking, bake the bread ourselves and prepare the lunch from the fresh ingredients we picked from the garden.

WHO CAN APPLY:

Young people (18-30) from all over Europe.

We will host 13 participants from abroad and 2 Hungarian participants, a total of 15 volunteers. 

PRACTICALITIES:

Accomodation:

in your own tent.

Food:

provided by the community, prepared together. Healthy, organic, mostly vegetarian and vegan options. 

Water, bathroom, toilet:

We bring drink water from a nearby well. 

We use outdoor showers using harvested rainwater. 

We exclusively use outdoor compost-toilets that we have built ourselves. 

Map: 

The GPS coordinates for our community are: 46.9625, 17.755

137 kms from Budapest, 25 kms from Veszprém and 12 kms from the Balaton Lake. 

Travel:

will be arranged individually and reimburesed by Szatyor Association. Your host organisation will arrange your transportation from the stations/airport to the site.

Travel costs:

are covered by the European Solidarity Corps program up to 275 Euros.

Insurance:

volunteers are insured through the ESC’s Henner insurance scheme. Please make sure to have your valid, blue EU Health Insurance card with you. Hungarian volunteers should have their own TB insurance. 

Pocket money:

you will be granted 5 Euros/day pocket money. 

Passport and visa in Hungary:

Hungary is part of the Schengen area, easy to enter for EU citizesnd with a passport or an ID. In case you need visa to enter to Hungary, we discuss the details and arrange it individually. For information about visas, please visit this site: https://enterhungary.gov.hu/eh/?en 

COVID Situation:

Currently there are no restrictions introduced by the Hungarian government, so it does not affect your travel to Hungary.

Currency and banking: 

The currency is Forint (HUF). 1 Euro about 380 Forint. (1l milk = 300 Forint, 1beer = 350 Forint, 1kg bread = 700 Forint) There are possibilities to change money in bigger cities, but you can pay with credit/debit cards in most shops. You have to have a European Bank account or a Wise/Revolut account where we can transfer you the reimbursement and the pocket money.

Electricity:

Hungarian electric system operates on 230 Volts, 50 Hz, with round prong European style pugs. 

We are off-grid: In the community we use solar power: we only have sufficient electricity in case the sun is shining, otherways only enough to charge the phones!

Weather:

The Summer is also dry but hot, between +28-32, but evenings in the forest can be chilly.

What (not) to bring? 

BRING: 

- comfortable, clothes/shoes that you do not mind if they get dirty (in the garden, while working with mud or doing some other work. Best to bring a sturdy boots that are safe to work on a construction.

- hat, suncream, your own water bottle, working gloves, rain jacket

- mosquito and tick repellents

- tent, sleeping bad, sleeping mat

- towels

- headlamps

- your own mug, knife, water bottle

- EU Blue social security card, masks 

- special medication, documents, if you might need them 

DON'T BRING:

- jewelry, electronics

- pets, animals 

Basic phrases in Hungarian :

Yes - Igen 

No - Nem 

Hello - Szia 

Goodbye - Viszlát 

Please - Kérem 

Thank you - Köszönöm 

My name is… - Az én nevem... 

Could you help me? - Tud nekem segíteni?

I don’t understand - Nem értem. 

How much does it cost? - Mennyibe kerül? 

All about ESC - What is the European Solidarity Corps program? 

All the details you find on this link: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en  

What to expect from being involved as a volunteer in this program? Here you go. - https://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-3877/Info+kit+European+Solidarity+Corps.pdf

All about about Henner insurance you can find on this link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LbCd0w7zzdfUyCztxud6jt50OWKqQwEl

Yes, you will get a Youth Pass certificate after your voluntary service, here you can get more information about what Youth Pass is and how you can note your learnings. https://www.youthpass.eu/hu/ 

Local contact numbers: 

- Regina Csatlós, host: +36-20-474-7372

- Balázs Tőgyi, organiser, ecological workshops: +36-30-618-1750

See you in Hideghegy soon :)

The program is funded by the Counsil of Europe's European Solidarity Corps Programme.