GoAbroad.com

Description

Come to south west France and help put a small holiday or learning hamlet in place. La Giraudiere was once a maison de maitre or masters house. In 1997 we acquired the property which had been left in a state of ruin and decided to create a small holiday hamlet which upon completion will specialize if providing accommodation and facilities for school trips visiting France. Initially the school trips will be for children of primary school age from the UK and USA. If you would like to get involved and help make it happen then this is an ideal opportunity to learn how to live and work in France, sample the delights of this region and be involved in a project that will be here for the rest of your life.

La Giraudiere is offering a weeks full bed and board for 150 euros a week plus 4 days of your time helping to put this project in place, half a day of which includes French lessons. This work program will plunge you directly into the French way of Life. You would be staying in rural France and working alongside French artisans. You will learn French words that do not exist in any dictionary, you will prepare and eat French cuisine you have never heard of and be totally submerged into the French rural way of life. This work program will also introduce you to new skills in the construction, landscaping sector and tourist marketing with new internet skills.

We are looking for people of all ages over 18 who could add their skills to our project no matter if you are a builder, student or marketing executive, web site designer we would listen to your ideas.

The working program can be broken down into the following projects:

* Restoring and converting a French property
* Constructing a Swimming Pool
* Landscaping and Gardening
* Tourism
* Marketing and Website Design
* French Cooking, Culinary and General Housekeeping Skills
* French Language

Highlights

Learn how to live and work in La Charente, South West France. This working program will introduce you to new skills and give you the chance to offer new skills to the group.

You will learn from the group how to build, run and market a tourist complex and you will also be asked to contribute your skills to the project and teach us your skills.

This program will improve your knowledge of the French language. Included within your 4 day week is French Lessons for half a day each week.

Travel Types

• Cooking
• Language Immersion
• Student Tours
• Vacation Packages
• Volunteering
• Tours

Qualifications

If you have them or skills that would help then we would like to know and hope you will share them with the rest of the group. If you think you have no skills but a desire to learn or help with the project then come along. In other words all you need is willingness to learn and help.

Job Types

Languages

• French
• English

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• French
• English

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

190 per week approx or 150 euros

Cost Include Description:

Accomodation
You will have your own bedroom in one of the apartments at La Giraudiere. Unless you applied as a couple or Friends in which case you will share with your partner or friend. Every effort is made to insure that the group is such that male and female apartments are separated. Each apartment has a shower room and wash room independent from the other apartments.
The apartments are clean, bright, comfortable and well equipped in fact when not accommodating the work party they are rented out to holidaymakers and visitors.

Bed Linen Toweling and Cleaning
Once a week the bed linen is changed and the apartment is cleaned and clean towels are provided.

Meals
All meals are included Breakfast which is normally Cereals, coffee, tea and juice. Lunch served midday is also provided normally alfresco and consists of salad, meats, cheese, quiche or such like depends who is making it. Evening Meal here we like everyone to take a turn so to provide a mixture of plats.

Transfers
To and from your point of arrival and departure normally Angouleme or Bordeaux

French Lessons
4 hours of your working week is taken up by French Lessons when a local French English speaking school teacher arrives and provides any help you require with the French language. Normally these lessons are with all the group and may encompasses something you are working on in relation to the project.

Materials Tools Work Wear
All materials are provided not just for building but paper pens and anything required to help with the project. Overhauls, wellington boots are available if you require

Internet Access And Telephone Calls
Obviously there is Internet access and you may use the telephone to call home but please keep the calls to a minimum as broad band here in Brossac is not allways free.

Help and Advice
If you are in to restoring old building and what to know something I am sure one of our local French tradesmen will advice you and probably show you. If you are a builder but want to know how to produce a web page and how to get it found I will show you. Thinking of settling in France and want to learn something that we know how to live in France or how to register in France then we will teach you. All part of the service.

Experience Required

yes

Experience is a plus but not esential just a willingness to get involved and contribute

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Someone who has a skill that they could offer and in return is looking to improve their knowledge of French and the French way of life. Someone who is prepared to get stuck in and help with both building the website and the cooking.

Age Range

18-65

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to France

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Resume
• Written Application
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Year Founded

1997