Attitudes and skills

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANISATION

De Hoge Rielen offers quality lodging (buildings and camping grounds) for groups and individuals, in priority to youth groups (3-25 year). This allows groups (youth movements, schools, sport and socio-cultural associations) to accomplish their operation and activities. Moreover de Hoge Rielen fosters the natural environment of the domain for discovery and adventure.

PROJECT ENVIRONMENT

De Hoge Rielen is – in origin – an old military domain. The many sheds served as ammunition depot. The late 1970s these sheds have been converted into sleeping accomodation. De Hoge Rielen is now a youth residence, under administration of the Flemish government (General Service for Youth Tourism), targetting youth groups by offering them accomodation and special activities.

This domain is one of the largest children’s forests of Flanders. It measures 230 ha; these are 345 football fields. It’s a delightful destination for people with a youthful spirit. Each group has its own spot on the domain / in the wood. Youth groups come to the Hoge Rielen for a multiday group activity, a youth camp, forest classes, welcome days, a training,….The domain offers many possibilities such as: a beautiful nature, residence pavilions, camping facilities and camp fires, a theatre, a sporthall and sports fields, a bar and a restaurant.

De Hoge Rielen is located in the forests of the small municipality of Kasterlee, in the province of Antwerp. Kasterlee is situated in Flandres, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Dutch will also be the main language used during the service.

EVS – VOLUNTEERS

De Hoge Rielen is both a host and a coordinating organisation. Every year we’re looking for 2 volunteers.

Learning opportunities for the volunteer

§ getting to know the different aspects (organization,…) of youth work in Belgium

§ learning how to work in a team (by setting up together small scale projects)

§ learning how to guide different youth groups and how to prepare activities/workshops

§ getting to know himself/herself better and increasing self-confidence

§ respect for (inter)cultural diversity and different people: nothing is what it seems

Role of the volunteer

§ increasing the interculturality in the organisation

§ being himself/herself but in to other values and norms

§ giving new impulses and ideas

§ supporting the daily activities of the different services

Attitudes and skills

The most important attitudes and skills are: like being in the nature and outdoors; like working with youth groups; sense of responsibility, flexible attitude, great independence (à being on himself/herself), willing to learn, able to work independently and to take initiative.