Project: The Pinson Mound Redoubt is a military fortification dating from the late 19th century which used to protect the city of Paris. It was stocked with armaments and supplies such as gunpowder, alongside many artillery pieces. Nowadays, the towns surrounding the fort are working together to give a new life to the site. The redoubt will become a place for meeting up, leisurely strolls, cultural and ecological events. Since 10 years ago, international workcamps have contributed to the renovation and management of the site. This allows youths from 4 neighboring towns and international volunteers alike to meet and work together to transform the area. Furthermore, a beekeeping organisation and amateur winegrowers will also participate
in giving the Pinson Redoubt a second life. Your action will be in accordance with the objective 4 of sustainable development (UN) in favor of quality education.
Work: The meetup between volunteers and the local youth is one of the main objectives of the project. This year, you will participate in continuing existing work alongside local town youths.
• Restoring part of an original outer wall. (Removing vegetation and rebuilding the top of the wall, using simple stone masonry work to build a cover for the top to prevent further damage.
• Setting up a pedagogical path about local animals and plants, for the people wwlaking and enjoying the place later on.
• Renovating wooden stairs which allow people going for walks to explore freely in the hills around the site.
• Restoring original metal grills, which protect the entrances and the windows of rooms and stone corridors, some of which were dug on the redoubt itself.
• During the project you will work alongside neighboring town youths., as well as share meals and organise leisure activities with them. Plenty of opportunities to make. You will work in the morning, the afternoon will be reserved for leisure activities.
Accommodation and food: You will sleep on inflatable mattresses in dormitories in a leisure centre. You will need to bring a sleeping bag. Food will be provided and cooked in turns by mixed teams of volunteers and local young people. One kitchen is located at the leisure center and another kitchen for lunches is located in the fort. Showers are available in the leisure center.
Location: The town of Montmagny is located 15 km North of Paris. The fort is located at the top of a small hill in the middle of a 110 hectare regional park, near some urban areas.
Leisure activities: During the workcamp you will be able to take part in cultural outings and social exchanges organised with local partner associations in order to create more connections between international volunteers and local young people. Other free-time activities can be organised collectively, depending on the wishes of the group and the available budget.
Time and directions to the meeting point: Pierrefitte-sur-Seine train station between 2pm and 4pm.
Observations: This project should not be seen as a sightseeing trip to Paris. If you wish to visit Paris, you should arrive some days before or leave some days after the dates of the workcamp.