Language: English, Russian is welcome
Location: Karelia is a unique area of Russia where outstanding natural beauty meets a great cultural heritage, included into the UNESCO list. Pitkyaranta is a district centre of republic Karelia. The town is pretty close to the border wit Finland, so long time ago this territory belonged to Sweden, then to Russia and later to Finland. Changing of the countries and people has led to interesting mix of cultures in this region. High steep rocks together with coastal water-meadows, pine forests that grow on meager soil, and dense broad-leaved trees and tillage together with fresh groves present beautiful contrasting nature. With its rich nature this area is considered to be the best for hiking and hunting.
Work: This project is for those who love kids and would like to spend lots of time with them, as all the activities are based in local school. Volunteers will give classes in English and other languages for kids, so that they can improve their language skills and learn about different countries the volunteers are from. Other part of work will be preparing a play in English with local kids, so by the end of the project volunteers could give the performance. We will be busy 5-6 hours a day, but time will be split between morning classes and evening events.
Accommodation: Participants will live in the well-equipped flat or in a hostel. In the evenings we can go to a traditional Russian sauna “banya” placed in the same building. The volunteers will cook breakfast themselves; lunches and dinners will be served in the canteen.
Free time activities: First you will have a pleasure to observe “white nights” – a very special northern phenomenon, when it is twilight during all night. We will have evening program in the field of international communication: meetings with locals, sport activities, outdoor games, fishing, swimming and boating – we have a beautiful lake nearby (the Ladoga Lake is the biggest lake in Europe). We can visit Ruskeala marble canyon and Natural Park “Ladozhskie shkhery” which landscape was formed by a glacier in the ice age. And depending on group decision we can also visit Valaam Island with the monastery which is one of the most important holy places in Russia and attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Distance from Moscow: 14-16 hours by train to Petrozavodsk, then 3-4 hours by bus or by car to Pitkyaranta.
From Saint-Peterburg – 8-9 hours by bus to Pitkyaranta