Description

The Eco-volunteering program on Kibbutz Lotan is a complete and practical introduction to both ecology and cooperative living. As a participant on the program you will be interwoven into the daily life of the kibbutz and volunteer for the Center for Creative Ecology (CfCE).

The CfCE is a unique ecological center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education within the framework of a living community.

Utilizing creative recycling and alternative/natural building techniques, the center now includes an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve, nature trails, recycling center, and constructed wetlands for treating the waste water of the entire kibbutz.

Highlights

As a volunteer you will be exposed to the challenges involved with the design, building and running of sustainable communities, linking together ecological, social, economical and spiritual aspects into a unified whole. Practical skills are developed through hands-on work in our environmental education center, organic gardens, alternative/natural building projects and the Lotan migratory bird reserve, complemented by theoretical sessions in topics such as ecological design, permaculture and sustainability Practicle work includes:

* Organic gardening
* Natural, alternative building with mud, straw and straw bales, tires, and junk
* Creative recycling-creating art and usable objects with discarded materials
* Expansion, maintenance and running of the Center for Creative Ecology
* Development and upkeep of the bird reserve and nature trails
* Setting up workshops for educational tour groups

Work hours are 5:00 -13:00 (Sunday - Friday) with a break for breakfast in the middle. Some hours will be spent working closely with a supervisor, other times the volunteers will be working in a group on their own. One day a week will be a shorter work day in order to make time for an ecological-educational lesson.

Qualifications

- Min age 18 - Max age 70
- Basic English or Hebrew
- Good physical fitness
- Motivation to work in practical ecology
- Able to work in harsh desert climate
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please visit our website for more information

Program Fees Include:

- Accommodation: insulated straw-bale and mud geodesic domes
- Food:3 meals a day (Kosher)
- Airport pickup:Included on arrival day (only from Eilat airport)
- Orientation kit: Full project details will be sent following registration
- Training: Pre-departure preparation and In-country orientation
- Support: Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Counseling
• Gardening

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview

GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement

(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.

Year Founded

2005