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 182 euros a week for a single room or for couples or friends sharing the price is now 140 euros each per week, plus 3/4 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 rural way of Life. You would be staying in rural France, You will learn French words that do not exist in any dictionary, This work program will also introduce you to new skills in the construction, landscaping sector and tourist marketing with new internet skills whatever we can show or teach you.

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, photographer, writer we would listen to you and make use of your skills and ideas.

The working program can be broken down into the following projects:
* Restoring and converting a French stone built property
* Landscaping and Gardening
* Tourism
* Marketing, web creation and Website Design
* Cooking, Culinary and General Housekeeping Skills
* French Language
* Writing
* Photography
* Generale office and clerical work
* Social media updater
* Advertising
* Journalism

Highlights

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

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

The minimum period is 3 weeks and once every 3 weeks there is an group excursion to one of the atractions of south west France

Every Monday morning there is an Excursion to the local market town of Chalais in the south Charente

Volunteers and participants will get involved in local life throught the contacts that La Giraudiere have created ranging from playing Boules or petanque with the locals to helping the local associations put festivals in place.

The whole idea of the La Giraudiere project is for people of all backgrounds, all ages, all nationalities to have the chance to live together learn about each others lifestyle exchange their knowledge, experiences and skills whilst living and working together in France and at the same time helping, improving and adding to the Project at La Giraudierefor those to come in the future.

Travel Types

• Cooking
• Language Immersion
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Vacation Packages
• Volunteering
• Canoeing
• Cycling (Road/Touring)
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Fishing
• Golf
• Horseback Riding
• Nature Tours
• Photography
• Soccer/Football
• Sports
• Summer Camp

Qualifications

Qualified then come and help La Giraudiere and the other volunteers. Un-qualified then no problem come a long and learn something. The most important qualification you could have is a desire to learn or to help. In return you will have a very French experience.

Job Types

Languages

• French
• English

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

220 USD per week approx or 182 euros per wk or 140 euros per week for those sharing (couples or friends)

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Excursions
• Housing
• Language instruction
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

Accommodation
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 volunteers work party they are rented out to school trips, holidaymakers and visitors.

Bed Linen Towels 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 Chalais station or Gare which is the normal point of arrival and departure.

French Lessons
Half a day each week is taken up by French Lessons when a local French English speaking school teacher or a Local English French speaking 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, boots are available if you require.

WiFi, 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 broadband here in Brossac is not always 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.

Excursions
Once a week there is an excursion to the local market town for the traditional French Market. During your 3 week stay there is also an group excursion to one of the attractions or sites selected by the group."

Experience Required

no

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-Whatever

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Work, Live and eat as a Group

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Resume

La Giraudiere's Mission Statement

La Giraudiere is not just a website it was once a masters house or maison d'maitre which fell into dis-repair after being neglected for 50 years or more. Now it is being converted into a small holiday hamlet, a place of learning, a place being brought back to life and at the same time adding to the lives of those who help make it happen. The Property is being restored and reinstated along with it's website by those that stay here. People from all walks of life who have a passion for France and the French way of life are arriving from around the world to contribute towards the project. Students, pensioners, professionals have all contributed to both the property restoration and it's website.

Year Founded

1997