OUR PLACE HAS A GREEN FUTUREInternational volunteering for sustainable

development

PROBLEMS AND NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE PROJECT

• Need to include alternative voluntary activities in smaller secluded places in form of international voluntary work camps

• Need for a stable regional and sustainable development (ecological, social and economical); interest to develop green tourism in smaller places

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT “OUR PALCE HAS A GREEN FUTURE”:

• Promotion of ecology in secluded local communities

• To contribute to sustainable tourism and sustainable development in secluded regions

• To analyse developed examples of good practices of ecological voluntary projects

• Implementation of education workshops for local organizations and camp coordinators

• Implementation of five green international voluntary work camps

• Strengthening cooperation with the Swiss partner and sharing good practices

AGENTS IN THE PROJECT:

• Local partners: find, develope the idea, implement the idea• Volunteers: local and international• Students from Faculty of tourism studies – Turistica Portorož• Staff of Zavod Voluntariat and SCI Switzerland• Local population and wider public

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT:

•To develop a model of good practise – “Green” international voluntary work camp•To organize education workshops for local organizers and camp coordinators•To implement at least 5 pilot green volunatry work camps•To ensure sustainability for the project

Chronological overview of our workApril 2012 - September 2013

Analysing examples of developed good practices of ecological voluntary projects in the past

• Pot vil Čestitk

• Refresh Camp Tomaj

• Soline - Saltpans

• Camp Robidišče

MEETING OF PROJECT PARTNERS IN SWITZERLAND – December 2012

• We defined the terms tourism and ecology in connection with green international voluntary work camps

• We specified guidelines for organization of a green voluntary work camp

PROMOTION OF THE PROJECT AMONG LOCAL PARTNERS

• Promotional events at Zavod Voluntariat and around Slovenia (8 presentations)

• Local partners were encouraged to recognize the need of their local community, we helped them to develop the idea

COOPERATION WITH STUDENTS FORM FACULTY FOR TOURISM STUDIES – TURISTICA PORTOROŽ

Our expectations from students:

• Student is a volunteer• Cooperation on all levels of the project• To participate actively, to be selve-iniciative and serious• Presentations and meetings with students

EDUCATION WORKSHOPS FOR LOCAL PARTNERS

• One of the main benefits of the project• Empowerment of local organizations in secluded

regions

Workshop: How to find a sponsor from private sector

Workshop: PR strategies and promotion for the non-profit and

non-governmental organization

Workshop: how to write good projects and to receive funds from

public sector tenders

COORDINATION OF GREEN WORKCAMPS

• 5 green international workcamps • 4 regions: Dolenjska, Notranjska, Primorska,

Gorenjska• 40 international volunteers

WRITING THE HANDBOOK AND TRANSLATION

• First part: general information on organizing a SCI international voluntary workcamp

• Second part: green work camp - enviromental protection and promotion of sustainable tourism

EXCHANGE OF CO-CAMP COORDINATORS

• Co-campleader from Switzerland at work camp Mercury heritage path in Slovenia

• Co-camp coordiantor at work camp Verein Holzlabor (Thalheim an der Thur) in Switzerland

Final meeting of project partners in Slovenia: SCI Switzerland and Zavod Voluntariat

5 PILOT GREEN INTERNATIONAL WORKCAMPS

What are the specifics of a green work camp:

• Local community initiative• non-profit project• Contribution to environmental issues• Contribution to sustainable tourism• Study part for international volunteers on sustainability• Awareness rising impact on local people and volunteers

Workcamp: ECO vineyard planting

• Aim of the camp: to promote and develop sustainable tourism in Dolenjska region

• Work: planting an ECO vineyard and helping local community at development of sustainable tourism strategy

• Result: ECO vineyard and Tourism-lab workshop for beginners• Contribution to sustainability: eco vineyard and proposal for

sustainable tourism strategy in the region

• foto

Workcamp: Karajžewc

• Aim of the camp: promotion of environment and friendly living, revitalizing of folk tradition

• Work: preparation of the venue, promotion of the event• Result: three day event Karajžewc• Contribution to sustainability: workshops on ecology and

ethnography, intercultural dialog, environment friendly organization of the event

• foto

Workcamp: Soline – Saltpans

• Aim of the camp: maintenance of the salt panning tradition• Work: painting wood surfaces at museum objects in saltpans area• Result: painted wooden objects such as windows, doors, small

bridge, etc. • Contribution to sustainability: preservation of natural and cultural

heritage

Workcamp: Mercury heritage path

• Aim of the camp: to revitalize an old hiking path to natural sight in the Geopark area

• Work: to fix and clean the path, help at organization of the event• Result: the path is again suitable for local people and visitors• Contribution to sustainability: camp contribute to maintenance of

natural (path) and cultural heritage (event)

Workcamp: Along the ancient mining trail

• Aim of the camp: to revitalize a path from old iron mines to town Jesenice and to

• Work: cleaning and strengthening the path, translation of a museum brochure

• Result: the path is now suitable for hiking and cycling• Contribution to sustainability: cleaning action along the path,

revitalizing the iron heritage in positive way promotion of sustainable tourism at Jesenice