You like to be physically active, meet new people from different cultures and spend time in the nature? Therefore, you could be exactly the person we are looking for. Together with refugees and other people living in Switzerland you will support an ecological or cultural project for two or three weeks.
Or do you prefer to volunteer in an international group? Then you can register for our project Valle Bavona in Caverno (TI) or Bivio (GR).
2020, we are present at four locations in three cantons. Workcamp Switzerland has also been committed to the integration of refugees in Swiss projects. All our workcamps are “Access 4 All” projects and open for refugees.
ALP SUMMER in Davos (GR) 25.07. – 08.08.2020
For nature lovers, who are interested in garden and agriculture work! – In the beautiful region of Davos Schatzalp there is the „Alpinum”, a huge botanical garden in the mountains. An association was founded to support this garden and to save some rare species and the nature over there for the next generations. In this botanical garden guests can find many rare plants and about 5000 different types of species and cultivars. Every year, there is a lot of work to be done in the botanical garden. The Volunteers will support the gardener in his daily work. The main work will include haying, weeding, preparing wood and cutting the lawn.
Requirements: The motivation of the volunteers has to be very high to work outdoors and it can be physically demanding. Volunteers should be interested in agricultural and garden work. Volunteers should bring along warm, robust working clothes (water proofed), trekking shoes (suitable for the mountains). Work is six hours a day, two days per week are off.
Location: Schatzalp Davos GR
Accommodation & Food: Volunteers will sleep in the hotel in small staff-rooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided from the personal canteen. In the hotel there will be ordinary holiday guests, volunteers will stay in the personal flat and spend the time together and with the employees of the hotel.
VALLE BAVONA in Cavergno (TI) 02.08 – 15.08.2020
The volunteers work for the Fondazione Valle Bavona foundation which manages a nature reserve that has been protected for centuries. The Bavona Valley is characterized by its hanging gardens. These gardens are located on terraces that were originally used by settlers to grow potatoes and other vegetables to ensure survival in this harsh region. Even today, some villages have no electricity. The villages attract tourists interested in the historic stone houses, nature lovers and hikers. Volunteers are in charge of the maintenance of the park. They contribute to preserving the traditional rural heritage mowing fields and traditional gardens, cutting grass and plants from stones, stone walls and houses, repairing and building dry stonewalls.
Requirements: Volunteers are working outdoors what can be physically demanding. They should bring along warm, robust working clothes, sun and rain protection and hiking shoes.
Location: Cavergno TI
Accommodation & Food: The volunteers will live in a hostel “Ostello La Curvain” in Caverno with shared rooms in the village of Cavergno. The hostel is equipped with a kitchen, toilets and showers. Volunteers are responsible for preparing their own meals.
BIVIO (GR) 16.08 – 29.08.2020
The extensive use of the terraces around Bivio for centuries has created a unique moor and cultural landscape with moors, hay fields and alpine meadows. The nature park “Parc Ela” is leading a project for the reconstruction of traditional dry-stone walls. The village of Bivio is also called “The Pearl of Julier” and is the last village on the Julier Pass before entering the Engadin. The voluntary work includes the reparation and construction of drystone walls. This environmental commitment offers you the opportunity to get to know the art of dry-stone walling from scratch.
Requirements: The volunteers in this project must be fit and have certain skills for physical work. Normally the weather is hot in summer, but there can be rainy and cold days at almost 2’000 m above sea level. The working time is 8 hours. Because of this long working time, there is an additional day off per week. It is the perfect place for hikers and people who want to lead a simple life in the wilderness of the Swiss Alps.
Location: Bivio GR
Accommodation & Food: Volunteers stay in the Tga Zia holiday home in the village of Sur (GR) in Parc Ela with dormitories and modern comfort. They will cook their own meals, the products will be paid by the organisation. The place of work is above the village of Bivio (GR) and is situated at about 1’800 m above sea level.
ZÜRICH FILM FESTIVAL 24.09. – 04.10.2020
In the city with the highest cinema density in the world, the Zurich Film Festival shows Film premieres from all over the world over eleven days and enables visitors to exchange ideas directly with the filmmakers on location. Every year, the Zurich Film Festival is looking for volunteers. This year the offer is also available for refugees living in Switzerland. As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to experience a big international event at close quarters and meet many new people.
Requirements: Volunteers for the Zurich Film Festival must be at least fluent in English or German level A2. To work as a volunteer, you should be sociable and able to communicate openly with visitors. The Zurich Film Festival offers working clothes depending on the area of assignment, but you should bring black trousers and black shoes.
Location: The city of Zurich is located in the heart of Europe and is the cultural and economic centre of Switzerland. Zurich’s Bellevue, situated in the heart of the city and on the shore of Lake Zurich, is the hub of festival activity. In addition to the festival cinemas Corso, Arthouse Le Paris and Piccadilly are further locations of the Festival centre.
Accommodation & Food: Workcamp Switzerland and the Zurich Film Festival do not offer accommodation for this project. Volunteers will receive one voucher per shift for a hot meal on the area of the Zurich Film Festival.
ALP SUMMER in Davos (GR) 10.10. – 31.10.2020 – CANCELLED
For nature lovers, who are interested in garden and agriculture work! – In the beautiful region of Davos Schatzalp there is the „Alpinum”, a huge botanical garden in the mountains. An association was founded to support this garden and to save some rare species and the nature over there for the next generations. In this botanical garden guests can find many rare plants and about 5000 different types of species and cultivars. Every year, there is a lot of work to be done in the botanical garden. The Volunteers will support the gardener in his daily work. The main work will include haying, weeding, preparing wood and cutting the lawn.
Requirements: The motivation of the volunteers has to be very high to work outdoors and it can be physically demanding. Volunteers should be interested in agricultural and garden work. Volunteers should bring along warm, robust working clothes (water proofed), trekking shoes (suitable for the mountains). Work is six hours a day, two days per week are off.
Location: Schatzalp Davos GR
Accommodation & Food: Volunteers will sleep in the hotel in small staff-rooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided from the personal canteen. In the hotel there will be ordinary holiday guests, volunteers will stay in the personal flat and spend the time together and with the employees of the hotel.
