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Help with repairs, renovations, and landscaping and enjoy nature

5.0
(163 reviews)163

The experience

Join us at our charming château and become part of our evolving estate! If you enjoy hands-on tasks, we welcome your help with ongoing repairs, renovations, and occasional landscaping projects.

Immerse yourself in the unique experience of helping on a historic estate while contributing to its upkeep and transformation. Your skills and enthusiasm will play a key role in shaping our beautiful property!

What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Team Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate French or Intermediate English

Over 18 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Mandatory volunteer introduction video

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Our non-profit charity offers an extensive program of retreats and meditations throughout the year. We are students of kadampa Buddhism, and in this respect the center organises teachings and meditations based on Buddhism (we do not practice yoga or other alternative spiritual approaches). We welcome volunteers from all over the world throughout the year to help develop the centre in constant growth.

Activities & Shift

We need help mainly with building and maintenance. Tasks may include painting a wall, fixing a lock, changing a light bulb, plastering, etc, according to the building manager's instructions. No previous experience needed but you need to be meticulous, attentive and a good listener.

Volunteers help according to their skills and under the supervision of the building supervisor. Day starts at 9am, 25hrs/week. 5 days/week and 2 days off (Saturday and Sunday). In their free time and on their days off, they can go hiking, take walks in the surrounding woods, read or relax.
Volunteers have free access to the noon meditations and evening teachings (in French). English meditation twice a week.

Rules

We offer picks up at Ecommoy's train station (10kms away) situated between Le Mans and Tours.

A phone interview will be arranged prior to your arrival. You will also be asked to fill a volunteer application form with your contact information and other essential information to best organize your stay.

Although it is not at all necessary or required to be a Buddhist or to become a Buddhist to come and stay at the Meditation Center, you will have the opportunity to live on a daily basis with and within a community of modern buddhist practitioners. This entails refraining from harmful or negative behavior during your stay, such as killing, stealing, abusive behavior, noise pollution, use of alcohol or illegal substances, etc.

We ask everyone to sign a commitment in this regard, for the well-being of each and every one and for the preservation of the standards of this institution.