Description:
Desert Days is a phenomenal and unique eco-resort built entirely of local mud and materials. It is situated in the Arava Valley of the Negev Desert in the south of Israel, in a beautiful location. You will learn about sustainable living through hands-on projects in the resort village.
Volunteer work mainly consists of construction, maintenance, and renovation of the village.
Building steps include:
- Preparing foundations of bales of hay and mud
- Building construction and plastering
- Plastering includes three parts - a sculpting layer, a clay layer, and the external plastering.
- All materials and earth are found in the surrounding areas.
The result is beautiful and practical: the walls isolate heat and cold, the entire building is biodegradable, and eco-friendly, and the materials are durable, yet easily sculpted.
Accommodation is also in these types of open space huts, practically built to suit 4 volunteers comfortably. Each hut is equipped with a toilet, hot water shower, coffee corner, private outdoor seating area, and a bone fireplace with a supply of wood.
This is an experience unlike any other, so don't miss this opportunity to get down and dirty and connect to the earth with Desert Days Resort.
Highlights:
Volunteers have one off-day a week, and are encouraged to explore the surrounding areas of Israel. Popular and nearby locations include Eilat, a beautiful beach resort area on the Red Sea, and Jerusalem.
Qualifications / Skills Needed:
Volunteers should have a positive and helpful state of mind. They should be motivated and highly independant. Conversational English or Hebrew is necessary. We also reccommend that you are able to work in a harsh desert climate, and do physically demanding work, so a good level of physical fitness is required.
You are responsible for:
* Full travel and medical insurance.
* Flights and additional travel expenses.
* Travel from airport to project (usually taxi, or combination of bus/taxi, and local transportation.
* Immunizations (consult your doctor).
* Provisions for cooking are supplied, but volunteers are mainly independant for meals.
Language:
English
Cost in US$: 350 for 10 days - 8 weeks
Cost Includes:
Food,
Housing,
In-country orientation/Training,
In-country staff support
and Registration fees
- Accommodation: Insulated straw-bale and mud huts
- Food: Provisions for cooking
- Orientation kit: Full project details will be sent following registration
- Training: Pre-departure preparation in Tel Aviv and In-country orientation
- Support: Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support
What's Not Included:
- Flights
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Visa (if required)
- Airport pickup
- Local transportation
Experience Required: no
Typical Volunteer Projects:
agriculture,
building maintenance,
community development,
conservation,
culture,
digging,
eco-tourism,
grassroots organization,
housing,
organic farming,
peace,
renovation,
repairs,
restoration,
small business development,
solar & hydro projects
and volunteering
Age Range: 18-60
This Program is open to
American,
Asian,
Australian,
Canadian,
European,
Kiwi,
South African
and Worldwide
Participants.
This Program is also open to
Families, Couples and Individuals.
Typical Living Arrangement:
Group living
Participants Travel to Israel
Independently
Typically Participants Work
Independently
Or
in Groups
Application Process Involves:
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
GoEco'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