Volunteering is an exchange, a meeting, between one person who wishes to offer his/her time, energy, views to a general interest project. It is also an intercultural ground of learning (apprenticeship), experiments and personal construction.

Volunteering is above all a personal commitment, which invites you to a deep discovery.

An amazing isolated place – History

The castle was built in 1873 by Felix Meilheurat des Prureaux, His descendent, Mrs Monin the actual owner has rented the castle to the
association for 99 years from 1993.
Since that time Le Creneau has renovated and mantained the castle site as an international meeting and hosting center thanks to the collective work of the permanent staff, the international volunteers and the local population.
It‘s located in Montcombroux Vieux Bourg in the Auvergne region in the center of France.

The site includes a main house, the two small towers, a farmyard, a vegetable garden, some other workshops and it is sorrounded by the forest. It‘s a very isolated place, situated 6km from the « bigger » village with shops.

If the Castle is an unbelievable place, it is above all an amazing tool to experiment any kind of workshops and activities, and to live together as a community. This pedagogical tool is a great context for international work camp where volunteers can feel like home and experience their autonomy.

DYK…? The first workcamps were organized after the First World War, in Verdun region, in France. Several citizens- volunteers,from former opposed countries, decided to join their forces and wills in order to work together on Peace construction in the interest of the communities.

Our project

The main goals of the Project are to meet one another, to create a constructive dynamic, as well to break stereotypes, and stigmas by working together and living collectively. Incline to “Education Populaire” which believes that everyone can teach and learn each other without formal educational ways. All the project in Le Créneau is corresponding to below goals.

Collective life

Collective life is the essence of the project. During your time volunteering here, there are around 7 volunteers, 1 intern and 3 paid-workers who all live together. Everybody is involved in the collective life : Cooking, eating, cleaning, socializing, living in peace and harmony.

Working together

This work has an educational purpose and allows the participants to learn to work together, beyond their social, cultural and linguistic differences.

The daily workcamps are also an opportunity to learn more about yourself and to go beyond your limits

You will work about 35 hours per week, the work is varied and you will get the support of the staff.

Environmental involvement

Le Créneau maintains and develops an «environment pole». We produce plants and vegetables in a shared garden cultivated according to the principles of permaculture. This garden is also a support for education and awareness raising. All the inhabitants participate in the maintenance and cultivation of the garden and the care of animals. Le Créneau is committed to making the Prureaux estate a harmonious, productive, naturally regenerated ecosystem that respects nature and all its inhabitants.

You will share the daily life with several other volunteers, international and/or national. As much as possible, we make sure that there is a mix of nationalities and genders and that everyone is friendly to each other.

Missions

The volunteers participate in all the actions of the association in a transversal way (some of the missions are leading by a referent):

Renovation of the buildings
> organization of the daily life ;
> Organization and participation in cultural events, in workshops
and meetings, with various publics ;
> Leading international workcamps for young volunteers during
summer (adults and teenagers).
> Gardening and animal care
> Promotion of volunteering and communication on the actions

The group lives in a house on the estate, equipped for collective
living:

4 non-mixed collective rooms,
1 bathroom with toilet and shower,
1 large living room, 1 dining room,
A collective kitchen,

During the year, you will share your daily life with the public for one or more weeks.

You will make this reception more dynamic by proposing activities: big games, themed evenings, citizen debates, etc.

Animation for young people

Le Créneau is developing its environmental centre with the creation of a nature club for children aged 5 to 12.
Each 2 weeks, you will participate in the development of activities and in the animation of the group.

Hosting events

Throughout the year, Le Créneau hosts working groups, training courses, exchange workshops as well as cultural activities such as balls, international meals or concerts.

Each inhabitant participates in the organisation of these events in order to make Le Créneau a place of friendly encounters, discoveries, experiences and good memories.

Hosting groups in «solidarity action»

It allows a group of young people, accompanied by educators, to
experience life and activities on site.

For one or two weeks, the young people are welcomed and share in the daily life of the camp: work, meal preparation, maintenance of common areas.

The group is under the responsibility of its educators. They do not live with the volunteers and are independent in the afternoon for leisure activities.

During the summer, on its site or in the surrounding villages, Le Créneau organises international workcamps and European youth exchanges.

These are 2 projects where you will lead the community life, in pair with another volunteer or a professional of the animation.

International Workcamps

For 2 to 3 weeks, a group of 12 volunteers of different nationalities meet to carry out a concrete project of general and local interest. As a co-animator, you will accompany the participants in their daily and collective life: managing a budget, proposing activities, promote group dynamics and cohesion, foster the link with the project and the inhabitants of the village.

Youth Exchanges

24 young people from different countries, who came to meet and get to know each other better, around a 3-week project, with an educational aim.

They organise a series of activities around a theme of common interest in various fields: the fight against exclusion, racism and xenophobia, the environment, the media and information for young people, the solidarity
economy, etc.
Your role: to accompany and guide them in the organisation and running of the activities!

Facilitator training

Throughout the year, you will be prepared and made aware of the summer workcamp season via several collective times: preparation meetings, work on the permanent workcamp, collective life meetings, afternoons of discovering animation tools.

– A 5-day training course will also be offered, designed and run by Solidarités Jeunesses. It will give you the tools and methods necessary to lead groups.

By coming to Le Créneau, you are not only joining a local association of
general interest, but also a real national movement, present in several
regions of France: Solidarités Jeunesses. Le Créneau is one of its 8
delegations and represents it in Auvergne Rhône Alpes. You can discover it
via :

Gathering of volunteers

During 3 to 5 days, volunteers from the different delegations meet and share their experiences. These meetings take place at the beginning and at the end of your course.

The training offer

The Solidarités Jeunesses movement’s trainings allow you to deepen your
understanding of different aspects that meet a multitude of needs. You can
participate in one training course during your volunteering.

The feedback weekend

At the end of your journey, you will share and exchange during a whole
weekend with your peers to take stock of what you have learned and how to
make the most of it. A time to go further and question your commitment.

Inter-delegation exchange

During your stay, you can spend a week in another delegation of the
movement. You will be able to share the daily life of other volunteers and discover a different way of working!

What if it was you?

You…

… have between 18 and 30
… want to learn differently
… want to discover yourself and meet others
… are ready to engage in a collective project
… are ready to get involved in community life
… like to make proposals and take initiatives
… want to lead projects with different public
… you have your driving license
… are not afraid to live in the wilderness in an isolated place

… Then we are looking forward to meet you !!!