Volunteer in France: Renovation, Construction & Social Work

I really enjoyed ST VINCENT, France work camp in a cemetery. The reasons are it was an an international experience, each member was from a different country. We were able to share our unique background and cultural similarities. I enjoyed not feeling embarrassed by our age. Each volunteer was a different age and it did not affect our work behavior. Our work schedule was organized in a professional manner and it made it fun for us to finish the project. The project was taking down the cemetery wall. We removed the grout and stucco and put on new one. We used hand tools such as a chisel, to take it off the old grout, and a float to grout and stucco the cemetery wall. Every day our meals were prepared by some of the volunteers and it made the work experience different and more fun. Our afternoon were free from work, and it gave us the time to visit the village, or swim at our own leisure to also enjoy the country side. I recommend work camp for those who are able to commit to a project, and to also discipline oneself to volunteer.

Overall, I had a fantastic adventure in Leucate. The work camp consisted of everyday living with internationals on a campground from all around the world. It was amazing to learn about people and their cultures from the following places: Russia, South Korea, Hungary, France, Spain, Holland and Denmark. It was fascinating to experience the country and city side of France. Our goal was to come together and learn about each other. It was a wonderful balance of working and leisure. I didn't expect all of the marvelous activities which were planned besides the work. It is a unique experience which is invaluable for personal growth and global awareness. There were difficult moments which included the time zone difference, the acclimation and the attempt to assimilate everyone which was humorous. The Russians were so frank and hysterical. The South Korean was very sensitive to others. The Hungarian was able to relate to all, being the leader. The French girl was able to mediate on our behalf. The Spanish person suffered the most from the linguistic barrier. The Dutch and Danish people were very proud of their cultures. As an American I related well with the Russians, because of their communication style which was the most similar to mine. On a personal level, I was most interested in the South Korean person, since I am half Chinese. One of my favorite moments was when we would rotate cooking duty which caused us to taste each person's country. I was immensely happy that each person was able to reflect their particular country and wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

This summer was the second experience for my 16 year old son with VFP. In 2013, he went to a youth program in Estonia of all places and wound up having a fantastic time, connecting with kids from all over Europe and had wonderful experiences, in what was actually in hindsight a fairly spartan environment.
For 2014, we chose a project in a tiny town on a river in the Bordeaux region of France and this was a truly wonderful experience. They took fantastic side trips to parks or to towns, seemed to have a really good balance of work / play, really got to know this charming town of only 600 people, and was personally thanked with a handshake by the town's mayor. The photographs were beautiful and as a parent I just felt that all the targets were hit in terms of cultural exposure, working really hard and having a blast.
The program offered an amazing value. Airfare aside, the 2-weeks cost just a few hundred dollars. These programs are not fancy, but are well-organized and well-run. My son slept in a large tent, but surrounded by vineyards. They had to shop and prepare their own meals, but that was obviously part of the fun. It seems that some of the programs are easier to get to than others, and if you're sending a teen you should speak with the VFP office before choosing a trip.
The people in the VFP office are extremely helpful as well as knowledgable. They made good recommendations and helped fill-in blanks when needed. I can only speak of these 2 programs of theirs, but we've had wonderful experiences that were much more affordable than most of the programs our friend's kids went on.

I had a great time working in France in 2010. VFP was very helpful in setting me up with a project and making sure I had the information I needed. I was given information regarding what to bring and what to expect when I got there.
The fees were very reasonable compared to other programs I looked considered. I had to purchase my own ticket, but fees covered all accommodations (camping in a campground with bathrooms and showers), food for the three weeks, and all sorts of other activities we did. I loved getting to know people from all over the world, most of whom I still keep in touch with over a year later. The community we were in was extremely welcoming and helped us in any way they could.
I wasn't able to do another volunteer project this past summer, but look forward to next summer when I will definitely sign up with VFP and do another project or two!