Tillmann used the time after graduating from high school this summer to spend two months in France. As a volunteer through the European Solidarity Corps, he supported the team of our colleagues from Solidarités Jeunesses, mainly as a leader of workcamps and youth exchanges. Here Tillmann describes for you how the different projects went, what challenges the role as group leader entails and what distinguishes a voluntary service from a vacation in France:
"My voluntary service
With my high school diploma in my pocket and no other plan, I made my way to the south of France to do a two-month voluntary service with the European Solidarity Corps. During this time I ran two work camps and two youth exchanges with the French organization Solidarités Jeunesses. The goals were always to bring different nationalities together, to learn from each other and to create a group that inspires all participants, as well as to work intensively on and convey a specific topic from the areas of environmental protection or social change.
I took over leading the groups with a colleague in these projects:
Renovations la Colonie
The two goals of this workcamp were to combat an invasive plant species in the Cevennes and to carry out renovation work on a former youth hostel. Between quite intense work and also quite warm temperatures in the French mountains, we were able to spend a great time in the French nature. Summit ascent and night hike included.
Change 4 clothes
The topic of this youth exchange was clothing and fashion from a sustainable perspective. The participants were able to learn from a professional hand how clothing can be sewn and made by themselves. Traditional techniques were in the foreground. I also found the more theoretical part very exciting, in which the group dealt with the topics of sustainability and change in the modern fashion industry. From research and discussions to films, we have dealt intensively with a central problem of our time and exchanged national solutions. A lot of awareness was created and many things were exchanged. Probably driven by the dry subject, we escaped to breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful villages and of course nightly parties in our free time.
Transformative Cinema
Anyone who is interested in cinema has come to the right place with this youth exchange. From the script to the editing, we put together a short film as a group. Accompanied by the theoretical discussion “How do films change our perception of the world”, we worked intensively for around two weeks and shot a film on the subject of “justice”. Otherwise, the adventures have not been neglected. From canoes to concerts, everything was there, especially the exchange of international dances made our feet suffer.
Les Griffes de Sorcieres
At the end of my voluntary service, I traveled to the southernmost part of France for a project. A workcamp with the aim of ridding a small town of an invasive plant species, right on the Mediterranean Sea. Even if the beaches full of nasty plants certainly got on our nerves, it was a small consolation that the sea was always only a few meters away from us. I don't think there was a day that we didn't go swimming. And when we weren't in the sea, we went to Spain or climbed the Pyrenees. And the nightlife was not neglected either. A lot can be done with a broken spotlight and a mini disco ball plus some French techno.
Group leadership
Leading a group of 15 to 20 international participants can be challenging, even if you have experience. A challenge but definitely worth it. From the lodging to organizing a decent community kitchen, there's a lot to do, and a bunch of young people who have their own ideas of exactly how living together is supposed to work. One thing is for sure though, almost all participants are keen to make it work somehow and bring an amazing amount of commitment.
But of course, details can lead to discussions that you have to solve as a leader, if possible without starting a war. A good example of this would be the condition that, for environmental reasons, only three meals a week contain meat (+ vegetarian alternative, of course). This is easy to explain to a vegetarian, but some meat-loving participants worry about their health (mental and physical) and require some discussion. However, nobody grabbed my throat the whole time, and after a somewhat bad-tempered evening, things went on the next day all the better.
I can only highly recommend leading a group to anyone who wants to gain experience. Luckily I didn't have to worry about the technical side, I had support for that. And I didn't do the group management alone, but with another person. Sometimes I was really exhausted in the evening and sometimes I was faced with decisions or necessities that really challenged me, but I really learned a lot. About groups, people my age and also about myself.
Southern France
The environment was definitely stunning throughout. Whether the mountains of the Cevennes or the coast on the Spanish border. And what you don't find there on vacation, you will definitely find in the voluntary service; a picture of the people and culture of southern France. The rather indifferent gaze of local residents brightens visibly as soon as they find out that they are doing their voluntary service in their town. In addition to a lot of questions, you quickly find out where you can shop well, where the most beautiful corners in the area are and of course where what is taking place.
So if you really want to get to know an area, I can only recommend the voluntary service.
European youth
Europe is of course a lot in the news and in the mouths of our politicians. I think you learn quite well what that actually means during voluntary service. When a good 20 young people live and work together in a small space, similarities and differences become apparent very quickly. From food to dance culture, there is a lot to exchange. For me, the culture shock was that German punctuality is definitely not a cliché. Of course, there is sometimes a need for clarification, so that nothing is misunderstood.
The image that stays with me, however, is how much we have in common across borders and also how many people from all over Europe I now know and appreciate."
Volunteer with the European Solidarity Corps
You can apply for Volunteering Teams or longer voluntary service projects in other European countries via the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). There is a strict age limit of 18 to 30 years and there are a few important steps to take before and after the project in addition to registering with us or another organization. You can find more information about the ESC here.