Opis projekta:
Odkar smo leta 2022 prejeli Znak kakovosti za gostiteljsko in podporno organizacijo v okviru evropske solidarnostne enote, pri Lojtri vsako leto gostimo mednarodne prostovoljce. Med oktobrom in junijem se nam pridružijo od 2 do 4 dolgoročni prostovoljci, poleti pa za nekaj tednov gostimo skupino kratkoročnih prostovoljcev. Poleg dela v naši organizaciji, se prostovoljci aktivno vključujejo v delovanje drugih akterjev skupnosti, kot so šole, mladinski center in lokalne kmetije. Trije glavni prostovoljski projekti, ki jih izvajamo so:
- Living and Growing Together. Dolgoročno individualno prostovoljstvo, katerega osrednja tema je trajnost.
- Bringing Possibility Home. Dolgoročno individualno prostovoljstvo, katerega osrednja tema je skupnost.
- Solidarity in Community. Kratkoročno skupinsko prostovoljstvo, katerega glavna tema je preplet trajnosti in skupnostni.
Cilji projekta:
- Opolnomočenje in aktivno državljanstvo mladih: Preko prostovoljske izkušnje mladi razvijajo svoje socialne veščine, kulturne kompetence, napredujejo v komunikaciji v tujih jezikih, pridobivajo specifična znanja o delih, ki jih opravljajo in tako postajajo kritično misleči posamezniki, opolnomočeni za soustvarjanje svojih skupnosti.
- Trajnostni razvoj mladih in lokalne skupnosti: Med prostovoljstvom so mladi tesno vpeti v življenje na slovenskem podeželju. Za mnoge med njimi je prostovoljska izkušnja prva priložnost za življenje bližje naravi, v ruralnem okolju. Z življenjem in delom na kmetijah pridobivajo praktične kompetence s področja ekološkega vrtnarjenja, načrtovanja uporabe zemlje, prezervacijo hrane, vpliva prehranjevalnih navad na okolje, vloge skupnosti v kmetijstvu. Sokreirajo povezave, ki jih kmetijstvo ustvari med različnimi akterji v skupnosti in raziskujejo lasten odnos do narave in vrednote, povezane z njo.
- Promocija solidarnosti in sodelovanja: Med prostovoljsko izkušnjo s svojim delom mladi krepijo sodelovanje med različnimi akterji v skupnosti, ustvarjajo nove priložnosti za sodelovanje med njimi, skrbijo za prenos znanja in stalno usklajevanje potreb na eni in virov na drugi strani. V lokalno skupnost prinašajo zgled solidarnosti, lokalcem z medkulturno izkušnjo širijo obzorja in tako pripomorejo k več strpnosti v družbi.
Aktivnosti naših prostovoljcev znotraj projekta:
Projekt Living and Growing Together: načrtovanje, urejanje, vzdrževanje skupnostnega vrta, so-vodenje krožkov za člane VDC Litija, pomoč na zeliščni kmetiji Hanuman, vzdrževanje šolskega vrta OŠ Gradec v sodelovanju z učenci in učitelji, dejavnosti gozdne pedagogike na podružnični šoli Kresnice, sodelovanje pri obšolskih dejavnostih na OŠ Gradec, občasna pomoč pri delu na drugih lokalnih kmetijah, podpora in sodelovanje pri drugih projektih Društva Lojtra
Projekt Bringing Possibility Home: podpora učiteljicam pri pouku na OŠ Gradec in njenih podružnicah, vzdrževanje šolskega vrta OŠ Gradec v sodelovanju z učenci in učitelji, podpora pri obšolskih dejavnostih, kot je gozdna pedagogika in umetniške delavnice, delo na zeliščni kmetiji Hanuman, podpora in sodelovanje pri drugih projektih Društva Lojtra
Projekt Solidarity in Community: delo na Lojtrinem skupnostnem vrtu, pomoč pri delu na različnih kmetijah, ki se nahajajo v Litijski regiji
So-financer:
Evropska Unija preko programa Evropska solidarnostna enota
Obdobje trajanja:
2022-2027
Generacija prostovoljcev – Pietro in Karolina
In the first year we have hosted two long-term volunteers and 10 short term team volunteers. Pietro, being participant of the Living and Growing Together project, was bringing fresh energy of enthusiasm and a strong will to learn to our community garden. Besides all the other activities of the project, he established a library of things, where people could borrow a range of items for free. The volunteering experience has inspired him to establish a lifestyle, more close to the nature upon his return to his homeland, where he is now trying himself out as a farmer.
Karolina was a participant of the Bringing possibility home project – and her experience truly was about discovering the possibilities – she would discover all of the hidden nature places with her bicycle, she would play all of the games with the kids and say yes to all their ideas.
During our first group volunteering (Solidarity in community), we were staying at Domačija Paternoster, spending the nights on the barn, and the days under it, endlessly learning about new cultures, playing games, partying and of course – spreading solidarity. We would connect with local farmers, learning how to pick up potatoes with a tractor, sort wood for the winter, cook slovenian goulash, be part of a music festival, build a compost toilet for a community garden and learn how to do gardening in a permaculture way. The key word for this experience – diversity!
FINANČNA VREDNOST PROJEKTA: 32.752,00 EUR
Generacija prostovoljcev – Emma, Diego in Katja
Under the 2024 project we have hosted two long term volunteers on the Bringing Possibility Home Project (Emma and Diego) and we are still hosting one on the Living and Growing Together Project (Katja).
Emma and Diego were spending time in school, joining the kids on their excursions across Slovenia, and learning about herbs on the Hanuman herb farm. They did not miss a chance to also explore the nearby countries during their stay, spending a lot of time travelling around. For her personal project, Emma prepared her very first exhibition of art works in the Youth Centre of Litija. For Diego, coming from Madrid, living amongst hills and forests was the highlight of his stay and inspired him to rethink where and how he wishes to live upon his return home.
This is Katja, from Living and Growing Together project: “Hei, sem Katja, 31let, sem radovedna, ustvarjalna duša in velika ljubiteljica narave, psihologije in ljudi. Po izobrazbi sem krajinska arhitektka in grafična oblikovalka, zadnji dve leti pa študiram tudi telesno psihoterapijo. Na ESC projekt sem se prijavila, ker me zanimajo projekti trajnosti, sobivanja z naravo, skupnosti, permakulture, naravne gradnje, zeliščarstva in želim, da tudi to pride do ljudi preko spletne strani in ostalih medijev. Pri projektu se trenutno ukvarjam z oblikovanjem Lojtrine nove spletne strani in socialnimi omrežji. Do sedaj sem pri Lojtri spoznala veliko novih ljudi in dobila veliko navdiha za naprej.
The group volunteers spend their days on a Raznolikost farm, doing lots of work on the garden, construction and with animals. The group volunteering is all about uniting in action, learning how to co-live in a peaceful and fulfilling way. And sleeping in tents for weeks!
FINANČNA VREDNOST PROJEKTA: 37.823,00 EUR
Generacija prostovoljcev – Célia, Mathieu in Laura
Heyy, I’m Célia !
If I would describe myself I would say I’m curious with a strong interest in travel, creative projects and new experiences.
I also enjoy playing board games and reading romance books.
I’m 22 years old and come from France and studied management and humans resources before coming to Slovenia. After my studies, I wanted to see something new and have opportunities to know what I would like to do in the future. That’s why I chose ESC volunteering !!
During this (9 months) project I’m mostly helping teachers in primary schools and taking care of the kids during the different activities of the day. I’m also learning and helping at an herb farm to make tea, balms, medicinal herbs products and it’s valuable to be part of this experience.
Being here brought me a lot of things: I met new people, improved my english speaking and my sociability skills, I’m grateful for that.
Xoxo
My name is Mathieu, I am 26 years old and I come from France. I have been a volunteer at the Lojtra association since the 1st of October 2025, and I will stay until the end of June 2026 as part of the project.
Last summer, after finishing my master’s degree in climate sciences, I decided to take part in a long-term project focused on ecological agriculture. I wanted to learn how to grow food in a respectful and sustainable way, while also taking the time to discover a new country. I found this opportunity in Slovenia with Lojtra and decided to join the project.
It has now been about three months, and I have the opportunity to do many different activities throughout the week. One or two days a week, I help in local primary schools with afternoon activities. We often go to the forest, where we build wooden shelters with the children and spend time in nature. I also work every week in Lojtra’s community garden on my main project, whose goal is to transform the garden into a learning garden. Every Thursday, another volunteer and I go to Hanuman’s herb farm, where we help Monika and Thomas with product preparation, as well as with outdoor work related to herbs and medicinal plants. In addition, we meet every Tuesday with the Lojtra team to discuss our different projects and keep each other updated.
The main thing I have learned so far is the importance of the social aspect of permaculture. Taking care of the land and using resources efficiently is essential, but we must also remember that a garden is used by people and creates a community around it. This community also needs care, and it can become a powerful source of support.
Best,
Mathieu
I’m Laura from Czech Republic and I’m 20 years old.
People around me say that I am kind, honest, sometimes stubborn, but mostly always bringing a good energy. I have a gap year now and this is great opportunity to explore, learn and meet new people. My activities throughout the week are mostly playing with kids at after-school activities, helping at Hanuman herb farm and some office work. The most important thing I’ve learned so far is freedom, living without my parents and new english words 😀
FINANČNA VREDNOST PROJEKTA: 42.293,00 EUR
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