Fundación Aldeas de Paz    Venezuela - Brazil

Accommodation - Four Options:

Cooperative Living on Aldeas de Paz´ Grounds

Venezuelan Host Family in Santa Elena

Indigenous Pemon Host Family in Chirikayen

Independent Living in Hotel or Posada

Cooperative Living on the Aldeas de Paz Foundations´ Grounds

Located on a hill side on the edge of the small village of Santa Elena de Uairén in Venezuela, the Aldeas de Paz Grounds offer spectacular views of the valley below, the surrounding mountains and the wideness of the savannah. Roraima and Kukenan tepuy, the famous and impressive flattop mountains, can be seen from the terrace of the volunteers cooperative living residents. The village center is only 2,5 miles away and can be easily reached by food. The village and its surroundings are very safe and generations of volunteers have been enjoying this wonderful path into the village center.

Hikes into the virgin rain forest, starting on the Aldeas de Paz Grounds, can be an exiting adventure and there are trails which lead to a 360 degree sight seeing spot on top of a nearby mountain or to a wild river deep in the forest. You may also like to ride out on our horses and discover the savannah from the horseback or enjoy an excursion to a nearby indigenous village with refreshing rivers, amazing waterfalls or discover an ancient cave nearby. Mountain bikes are available for our Volunteers. Besides the great bike tracks to be discovered around the foundations grounds, the bikes can also be used to get to your placement in the village.

Regardless of accommodation choice, all volunteers are welcome to visit the grounds, swim in the small pool, share a meal, play volleyball, football or Frisbee, use the gym or relax in our hammock area with spectacular views! Aldeas de Paz counts with various facilities with the aim of making the Foundation grounds not just a really nice space for volunteers but also a large multi-faceted Therapy Center serving local children with various therapies, skills training, and fun activities.

Live and work in a cooperative and supportive environment

This very popular accommodation arrangement opens the possibility to live and work in a cooperative and supportive environment together with Aldeas de Paz long term local and international intern staff and volunteers from overseas. It is a great opportunity to share with fellow volunteers from all over the world and various cultural/ethnic backgrounds.

Our approach is focused along practical, harmonic and joyful lines

Cooperative living evolves day by day through group decisions. With Aldeas de Paz the managerial level is more horizontal than in most NGOs or businesses, and many decisions are taken by consensus. If you choose this living option you can be sure that you will be included in some important decisions which will shape the future of Aldeas de Paz as a charity and a significant social experiment of co-living. Inspiring exchanges and discussion circles are the settings for future development decisions and often take place spontaneously. It's our committed volunteers who assist in determining the next direction Aldeas de Paz will go in.

Facilities and Benefits

We offer outreach and service programs located in the nearby village of Santa Elena and on the Aldeas de Paz Grounds. Ground Facilities include: various gardens with spacey ambience, gym, wading pool, hammock-terrace, craft wood workshop, football, beach ball, frisbee and football field, creative kitchen facilities, camping grounds and fire-pits for meetings or recreational activities, home cinema with DVD collection. These various environments around the grounds are the settings for recreational activities, relatively self sustained living and social events, cultural exchanges and fellowship. Also regular Spanish language conversational classes will be taught at the cooperative living residents.

It should be noted that the foundations grounds are not in the town center but in a very nice residential area on the edge of the village. Anyone volunteering in the village will have to commute into town by foot (40 minutes one-way ) or mountain bike (10 minutes to the town center) or use our carpooling system from and to the foundations grounds at various times every day but specially for the mobile school program and other work or shopping related opportunities. However there will be times that volunteers have to commute by the different means mentioned before. The path is beautiful, with very few passing cars and lovely neighbors which constantly offer lifts. It also presents a great time to share with your fellow volunteers while walking through a beautiful natural environment! We are located on a beautiful spot overlooking the village and with spectacular views over the savannah and the famous table-top mountains.

Practicalities

Cooperative Living participants share a particularly enjoyable time-table whereby community volunteer work, cooperative living tasks, and organizational meetings combined do not extend to more than the amount of hours per week which each volunteer individually decides to dedicate. We cannot emphasize enough that the work you do within the house and the grounds will be just as important as the work you do within the community. The hours spent on the tasks which maintain the successful functioning of the house and kitchen are therefore taken into account during the week. This then allows everyone plenty of free time to enjoy themselves. A personalized weekly working plan distributes tasks based on necessity and personal preferences. Past volunteers confirm the special nature of this living convergence and have enjoyed it tremendously.

Considerations

On arrival to Aldeas de Paz as a member of Cooperative Living, you are given a copy of the Cooperative Living Guidelines and the Volunteer Guidelines. These elaborate on our focus on motivation and commitment, and the standards which we aim to meet. If you feel that Cooperative Living may be for you, we would request that you read these guidelines before making your decision. Hopefully, having a more sound understanding of the "reality" of Cooperative Living will equip you to make the right accommodation choice.      

We feel that it is important to highlight that Aldeas de Paz is an environment of respect and consideration. The Cooperative Living staff and volunteers are constantly making changes to improve the environment which they are creating for themselves. From experience, past and current volunteers have decided that f.e. the consumption of alcohol to the point of drunkenness compromises the objective of Aldeas de Paz. In addition, smoking is not permitted within the undercover areas of the house. If you feel that either of these factors may be overly restrictive to your sense of personal freedom, we understand this and would invite you to check out our Independent Accommodation option.

What is included

Shared bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and recreational facilities. 3 meals per day incl. snacks & refreshments prepared and served by volunteers themselves (Single room: add 15% on the price)

Photo Gallery    Cost    Application

Host Family in Santa Elena and "El Pauji" Eco-village

Our Host Familie homes are a very nice and open-hearted place to be. The middle-class family homes are located within walking distance (20 min.) from the town center in Santa Elena and El Pauji. In Santa Elena the family home is very close to a small mountain range and virgin rain forest, and not far (20 min.) from our Aldeas de Paz Grounds. The host family homes have a small garden and a nice terrace to sit on outside. Meals will be made by the family. You will share meals with them and there will be plenty of opportunity for cross-cultural involvement and participation. Enjoy Venezuelan family life and meet new people. There will frequently be friends of the family visiting and you will have plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish and learn about the Latin culture!

Practicalities

Although your room will be arranged every day, it is a sign of respect to keep it clean. Turn off your lights every time you leave your room, etc. If in your opinion something is wrong at your host family, you have the right to question it, but please do so respectfully! If you want, you can bring small gifts or souvenirs for your host family or children. Although these are not expected, they are appreciated. Some possibilities are t-shirts, pens, key rings etc from your country. It is also nice to share photos of your family and your home town or country. If you choose host family, understand that you are a guest. An extra bit of courtesy and friendliness will go a long way!

What is included

You will be staying with an Venezuelan Host Family. The family will provide two meals a day, and a room with a shared bathroom. They will speak Spanish most of the time, to help you learn the language. There will be at least one member of the family that speaks English if need be.

Cost    Application

Host Family in Chirikayen, a remote indigenous community

This is the perfect placement for the volunteer interested in indigenous cultural immersion. Chirikayen has a population of less than 400 people and is located amidst breathtaking surroundings close to the Chirikayen Tepuy about 50 km (1 hour car ride) from Santa Elena. The village enjoys a healthy climate and environment and has a primary school, a health care station, a community building for meetings, a basic shop, and a Seventh Day Adventist church. 

Considerations

Amenities are basic. There is electricity for only 3(ish) hours a day when a generator is run. Clothes are washed in the river. There are no telephones but a community radio can call to the City Hall in Santa Elena any time if it is necessary.

Practicalities

This special assignment gives volunteers close insight into Pemón life, something which they find very rewarding. Chirikayen is a good site for those interested in contemporary indigenous issues and who want to watch and participate as locals decide on the future directions of their communities. Volunteers with a genuine interest in anthropology, indigenous rights, and cultural immersion will enjoy this placement. Integrate yourself into this strong community next to the flat-top mountains, enjoy the different pace of life and the fantastic views. Please click here for more details.

What is included

Volunteers will be staying with a Pemón indigenous Host Family. The family will provide three meals a day, and a private room. They speak Spanish and their indigenous mother language Taurepan - some neighbors speak English as well. All meals are eaten with the family. Volunteers can choose to sleep in either hammocks or beds but have to bring their own mosquito-net.

Photo Gallery    Cost    Application

Independent Accommodation

If you wish to live independently we accommodate you in a local posada or hotel in a central location. Hotel Michelle the Original in particular seems to be a popular social venue to meet other volunteers. Staying in a hotel or posada is a good way to find out about town life and everyday happenings.
This option attracts individuals who value spontaneity and their own space. It caters to volunteers who have less of an interest in Cooperative Living, but still feel passionate about volunteering. Independent Accommodation is also a good choice for people who prefer the convenience of being located in the town center.
If there are some of the rules or requirements for Cooperative Living as described above that you don't feel would suit you, then Independent Accommodation may be the way to go. An advantage of not living within the volunteer cooperative is that you will perhaps meet more locals and other travelers in Santa Elena. Of course, individuals who choose this option are always warmly welcomed at the Foundation grounds and are invited to use the recreational facilities. Independent Accommodation allows volunteers to self-cater, encouraging you to try the delicious street food and local restaurants. Santa Elena has a good supply of quality fresh produce and a range of restaurants. (Cost: Eating three meals a day in restaurants: USD $ 10 - 25)

What is included

Private bedroom and bathroom in a local hotel or posada

Photo Gallery    Cost    Application

 

Fundación Aldeas de Paz
Lomas de Piedra Canaima via Sampai, Santa Elena de Uairén,
La Gran Sabana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
Phone: 0058 - 289 - 4160718  Email: info@aldeasdepaz.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz)    
 

Copyright © 2010
Fundación Aldeas de Paz
 

last update: 02/08/2010