We are looking for 2 volunteers 18-30 years old for “Empowered by Nature” – a short-term group volunteering project 1-30 September 2019 in Hortobágy, Hungary (a village in the middle of the Hortobágy National Park)
Empowered by Nature – nature as a source of self-development, creativity and cooperation. ( https://bit.ly/2KU7nYV video about project)
This project is planed for young people with fewer opportunities, who are
facing different difficulties in their lives (social, economic, educational, territorial), NEET
unemployed, minorities, low-level or unfinished education, family or economic problems, etc.
There is no need for a good or any command of English.

Volunteering activities:
The following works will be done on location in smaller groups – following a preparation:
Maintaining the Bird Park resort: cutting grass (huge territory), painting the wooden gates, the fences, the bike stands, re-painting some of the recovery rooms, building the walking-path of the park.
Helping with the recovery of the injured birds: feeding 4-times a day the little birds, helping with
the preparation for examination, moving birds from cages to other cages (because of cleaning or
examination), releasing birds back to nature
The organisations will provide the following trainings for the volunteers:
– on-arrival training with professional external trainers, 5 days after arrival (international and
intercultural communication and acceptance, team-working and team-roles, rights and
responsibilities, cultural input on Hungary, cultural adaption, Youthpass and insurance matters,
conflict management, self-awareness, goal setting, mini project planning, basics of English and
Hungarian language)
– English language course: non-formal language animations will be available in English every week
– mentoring: at the beginning daily meetings (days: 1-10), later weekly meetings with the mentors
– community activities: workshops on photography, treasure-hunting in the Puszta, rowing on
Hortobagy river, horse riding, carriage-ride at the nature protected areas, traditional handcrafts in
practice, 1 trip to Debrecen (40kms away, the second biggest town in Hungary).
About the location:
The work and the activities will take place in the facilities of the Bird Hospital Foundation
(Madárkórház Alapítvány – www.madarpark.hu). The Foundation’s goal is primarily the veterinarian
treatment of protected birds and their release to freedom in nature following their recovery.
The Bird Saving Station operated since the summer of 2002 has been one of the interesting tourist
attractions of Hortobágy. The bird hospital is open to visitors, however, due to hygienic reasons
entry into the operation room and into the lab is not recommended. There are a lot of children
groups and professionals coming to visit, who like animals and nature and wish to get to know the
activity of the bird hospital. The treated patients can be seen in the flying rooms and outdoor big
voliers.
The Bird Hospital is annexed to the Bird Park, where – besides the outdoor voliers – there are other
facilities too that help the engagement of the visitors and help the visiting children enjoy nature.
These are: natural playground, flying eagle slides, small traditional hill with the flora of the pusta,
speaking raven, etc.
Accommodation: stone house, shared rooms for volunteers of the same gender (2-3 volunteers share
a room – depending on the gender balance), fully equipped kitchen, 2 bathrooms + 6 separate toilets,
the house uses solar energy, equipped with air-conditioning in each room. The house has a big
training room for meetings and gatherings + a big garden. The house is just 5 minutes walk from the
Bird Park, the venue of the volunteer activities.
Food: 6 EUR/ day – transferred to the bank account of the volunteer on the first working-day after
arrival (180 EUR for 30 days)
Pocket money: it it 5 EUR/day in Hungary (150 EUR for 30 days), transferred to the bank account
of the volunteer on the first working-day after arrival
Free days: 2 days/ week + 2 extra days off/ month (for 30 days: 10 days off).
Exceptional costs:
Reinforced mentorship, including preparation and follow-up for the sending organisations,
dissemination of the results – 150 EUR/ volunteer.
How to apply: Please send CV with a short motivation letter (in English!) to vcs_contact@yahoo.com
15th August 2019.