PARTNER: "L’Enfance de l'Art", created in 1997, is a non profit organisation whose aim is to help parents to become more involved in their children's education. To that purpose, the organisation set up hosting facilities for children or people with reduced autonomy, leisure workshops, nurseries, schools. The organisation follows Steiner pedagogy principles. L’Enfance de l'Art hosts about 125 children from 0 to 12 years old. The kindergarten, the nursery, the nursery school and the primary school are recognized by the French-speaking Community of Belgium and the organisation is now established in the former boarding school of « Dames de la Providence ». These buildings are rented for a very low price before a probable purchase in order to avoid vandalism. They were dilapidated and deserted since 2004 before the parents of the organisation decided to begin renovating them and that's where the workcamp steps in!
WORK: In partnership with a construction company focused on social improvement, l'Enfance de l'Art organises a renovation workcamp in the former boarding school of « Dames de la Providence » that has hosted for 5 years the new Waldorf school of the French-speaking community of Belgium, as well as a kindergarten in the first of the six renovated buildings. This company uses ecological material and techniques that are in harmony with our environment.
Volunteers will work from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 12 am and from 2 pm to 4 pm, on the renovation of a building in order to turn it into a new daycare centre for children from 2 to 3 years old and related premises (toilets, kitchen, dormitory, playroom,...). They will be asked, according to work progress, to work, in 2 or 3 teams, on different techniques and activities: Disassembly of the building and sorting of materials.
Renovation works in the gardens and the courtyard. Participation to the management and the preparation of a community kitchen of good quality
ACCOMMODATION: In the former boarding school in other non renovated buildings
- Two showers and toilets
- A kitchen and dining area
- Some common rooms in a house under construction
It will be in a “comfort” of a “Scout camp”. Please bring a sleeping bag, a torch (in order to move inside the buildings during the night) and toiletries (including a towel).
FOOD : Meals (breakfast, a light lunch - sandwiches, salads, soup,... - and full and warm dinner) will be prepared by a member of the hosting organisation and 2 volunteers in turn. The emphasis will be put on the good management of the community kitchen in order to get quality food and avoid food waste as much as possible.
LOCATION: Templeuve is a small town 2 km away from the French border, 20 km away from Lille (France) and 10 km away from Tournai. Templeuve has its own market and neighbourhood shops, is connected to Tournai with a bus service (every hour) and has a flat land without relief, making the use of bicycles very easy (a few bicycles will be provided to volunteers). Tournai is a city that attract people who like old stones, History, museums,... Tournai cathedral has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
SPECIFIC INFORMATION: This workcamp is open to anyone interested by sustainable construction techniques. Please bring good working shoes and clothes.
LANGUAGES : The language of the workcamp is English. Basics of French are useful but not necessary.
TERMINAL : Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) or Brussels South Airport (Charleroi), meeting at Tournai train station on 18/07. Train timetables on www.b-rail.be/main/F/
SUMMARY OF THE WORKCAMP: (This description can be used for promotion of the project by the sending partners on their social media channels) : This eco-construction workcamp with "L'Enfance de l'Art" aims at renovating the building hosting kindergartens and a school following Steiner principles for children of the neighbourhood using only ecological materials and techniques. Volunteers will work on the renovation of a building in order to turn it into a new daycare centre for children