Summer to Build | ESC Volunteering Teams in Gardie, France (Funded)

An exciting opportunity for 16 young people living in Europe who would like to spend a different summer in the south of France to join the ESC Volunteering teams "Summer to Build". It is an opportunity to spend 5 weeks outdoors and build gardens, plant trees, create community spaces, and share meals with people from all over Europe. This volunteering project takes place in Gardie, South of France, from 29 June to 1st of August 2026. This volunteering project is organised by "CITIZEN INITIATIVE AND DEVELOPMENT" and funded by the European Union, through the European Solidarity Corps.

About the Volunteering 

"Summer to Build" is a short-term ESC Teams Volunteering Project. For five weeks, 16 volunteers will come together to help develop a real eco-place that is slowly growing year after year. Every team contributes to shaping the place: gardens, infrastructures, living spaces, and shared areas. What you build, plant, or repair will remain after you leave and will be used by future volunteers and visitors. 

The project takes place in Gardie, a small village in the South of France, surrounded by hills, vineyards, and Mediterranean landscapes. Our eco-place is under development. Each volunteer team contributes to shaping:

• Living spaces
• Garden structures and care of the bio vegetable garden
• Animal areas
• Water systems
• Community infrastructure

By the end of the five weeks, you will clearly see the transformation you helped create. We will learn and experience how to live with all the basic things we need, and enjoy the personal connections. So expect a camping lifestyle and minimum use of resources. 

Eligibility | Who can apply?

- Open to 16 young people aged 18–30 seeking a meaningful and challenging experience

- Applications are open for residents from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.

- A volunteer should be willing to do physical work and step outside his/her comfort zone. 

- Volunteer open-minded, responsible, adaptable, and team-oriented individuals.

- Skills in gardening, carpentry, permaculture, or tools are a plus (not required)

- Content creation and social media skills are an added advantage

- Strong motivation, flexibility, and readiness to collaborate are the most important qualities

Expenses and Benefits

- Volunteers will be accommodated in shared rooms (2 per room) in a mobile home or in a caravan, in Gardie. Individual tents might be provided in case the volunteer needs more privacy. 

- The toilets and showers are shared among the whole team. The cleaning of the common spaces is done by all volunteers, but each volunteer is responsible for cleaning and keeping their mobile home or accommodation tidy.

- Food will be provided by the host organisation, mostly ultra-processed foods and very low meat consumption. Every day, a group will be in charge of cooking for the whole team and cleaning the kitchen. Lunch and dinner meals are shared by the whole group at the same time. Breakfast is a free service.

- Each volunteer will receive a pocket money of 288 euros (for the 34 days + 2 days of travelling).

- There will be days off to enjoy the area and let volunteers explore and travel around.

- Each volunteer is entitled to get a travel reimbursement for (one return journey) up to the maximum cost as stated in the ESC programme rules, according to the following limits:

• from 10-99 km: standard travel (28 EUR), green travel (56 EUR)
• from 100 - 499 km: standard travel (211 EUR), green travel (285 EUR)
• from 500 - 1999 km: standard travel (309 EUR), green travel (417 EUR)
• from 2000 - 2999 km: standard travel (395 EUR), green travel (535 EUR)

Note: If you travel green (e.g., no planes at all), the travel cost limit rises, and you can travel longer (max 3 consecutive days in one way), as long as the travel is connected to the activity.

- Youthpass certificate: to recognise your own learning process and have a certificate to validate the skills acquired during the project.

Timeline

Application deadline: 30 May 2026

Selection result: Organisers will contact all applicants with the info for the next steps in about 2 weeks

Arrival day: 29 June 2026

Departure day: 1 August 2026

How to apply?

If you want to be part of this project, send your CV and application form (French or English) to contact@lesjardiniersdelamobilite.fr (subject: ESC - IDC - Summer to build!).

More Details

- For more details about the event, check the "Call for Applications " file, or visit the "European Youth Portal" website from HERE

- In case of any questions or if you need support for booking your tickets, please contact the organisers at: contact@lesjardiniersdelamobilite.fr

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Opportunity Website⇗

By applying for this project, you take responsibility and risks. Inform yourself about the regulation and potential risks. "Opportunity 4U" cannot be held liable for any of the potential risks, and this post is only for informative and popularising purposes.