Project: The main project will be to maintain the site of an open-air-museum and memorial of the Iron Curtain. The village of Hoetensleben was situated directly on the eastern side of the German-German border when Germany was divided during the period of the cold war. An association called “Grenzdenkmalverein” was founded after the fall of the Iron Curtain which maintained four hundred meters of the former frontier protections system as a kind of open-air-museum. Visitors can still experience the different walls and electric fences, the watchtowers and iron barriers and get an impression of the violence of this monument.
Work: Volunteers will work on the upkeep of this monument. The concrete tasks might include clearing the former path used by border guards to patrol the border from vegetation, painting the lorry barriers, and restore the wall and fences. The workcamp includes several study-parts on this period of the German history with several excursions and activities together with local people. During the camp period there will also be a huge rock festival in the village, you might be asked to give a hand during the set up and the disassembly of the stage and the preparation of the festival ground.
Accommodation: in the former village hall, different sleeping rooms. Beds will be provided.
Location: Hoetensleben is a little village with approx. 2.500 inhabitants. International workcamps have been invited for some 13 years, so local inhabitants are looking forward to welcome the volunteers and many activities will be done together with local associations e.g. the voluntary fire brigade of Hoetensleben. Volunteers should be interested in a close contact with the German population and in German history. Therefore, volunteers should add a short motivation letter describing their interest in this special project.
Next airport: Hanover, Berlin
Next train station: Helmstedt
REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers need to be able to ride a bike!