Olde Vechte Foundation is a verified hosting organization for the European Solidarity Corps project. As an organization, we provide a playground where people can experiment and experience different aspects of self-awareness and group dynamics. Through our volunteering programs, young people have the opportunity to learn and practice in different functional areas of the foundation and other organizations in and around Ommen. The target group of all of our activities is young people regardless of gender, physical limitations, religion, cultural differences, educational and social background. The basic requirement for our volunteers is that they come from an EU country and they are 18-30 years old.
The volunteering programmes are made possible by:
EXTRA MILE
12-month volunteering programme
Extra mile is a 12-month volunteering programme for young people between 18 and 30 years old. We host a group of 12 volunteers for a period of one year. They take active part in the maintaining and development of the organisation.
The team of volunteers support us to develop Olde Vechte as a youth centre and to provide learning opportunities for people from all over Europe.
As a volunteer you do different practical tasks: cooking for the participants of our youth exchanges and training courses, fixing bikes, laying paving bricks, repairing damages in the buildings, painting, gardening, planting trees etc. The volunteering consists of 30 working hours per week. You are accommodated in a house with three or four volunteers. You have your private room and share with others kitchen, living room and bathroom. The houses are situated close to the Vechte river, with beautiful places for relaxation. There is a vegetable garden in the area between the houses, where you can take care of your own plants.
In your free time you can travel and explore the Netherlands, learn a new language with the ESC language portal and meet the local people. We provide you with the opportunity to visit and spend a day volunteering in local farms and shops, so that you can learn about our Dutch culture and traditions.
This programme is a great opportunity to learn more about non-formal education and Erasmus+ mobility programmes. As a non-profit organisation with more than 60 years of experience, we are willing to share our knowledge and culture in the field of education.
WIDER HORIZON
2-month volunteering programme
Wider horizon is a 2-month volunteering programme. We host a group of 4 short-term volunteers.
The volunteers support us in the daily life of the organisation. They have mainly practical tasks, related to maintaining the building and the area around. This could include taking care of the vegetable garden, watering plants, fixing benches, cleaning the areas, renovating and painting the buildings and cooking for training courses.
The volunteering consists of 30 hours of work a week. The working hours are between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM with one hour of a break. If cooking for training courses, the working hours are less, but situated differently. You are accommodated in a shared house and have the opportunity to explore living with people from all over Europe, learning to express yourself in English and experiencing community life.
Olde Vechte is in the beautiful countryside of the Netherlands and in your free time you can explore the region. You will receive a bike that you can use, so that you can bike around and enjoy the beautiful landscapes.
We especially recommend this programme to young people who are in a period of re-evaluating where are they heading in life and what is that they want to do. As a volunteer you gain a lot of practical skills, learn to work in a team and develop your leadership skills.