Volunteering

PARTNER
This project is organized by a local environmental group "Naturalist & Cultural Club of Ancient Olympia" which is active in this area since 2005. With the cooperation with this group ELIX is regularly organizing tree planting projects and maintenance of the footpaths for visitors of Olympia.

After the great fires of 2007, which destroyed all the forests on the hills surrounding the ancient site, this local group adopted one of the hills, the Galani hill, which has been fully reforested by planting 12.000 trees and shrubs. ELIX volunteers, local school, Athletic association and many visitors of the ancient site have contributed to the reforestation.

WORK
This project takes place on Drouvas hill, next to Olympia (Ilia prefecture - western Peloponnese) and aims to achieve the restoration of the open theatre, the stone well and the conservation of the footpaths and forest of Drouvas. Volunteers will restore the wooden steps of the theatre under the guidance of a skilled technician and will also work on several tasks for the maintenance of the footpaths, the trees and shrubs of the Drouvas hill.

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
Volunteers will stay in the Community Hall of Floka, a neighboring village, 15 minutes by foot from Olympia. There are toilets, showers (no hot water) and a kitchen. Sleeping bag and carry mat are necessary. Two of the group, everyday in shifts, will be responsible for maintaining the group’s accommodation place clean, as well as for the preparation of all the meals of the day for the rest of the group.

LOCATION
Ancient Olympia, the birth place of the Olympic Games, was one of the most important areas of ancient Greece and, today, one of the most important archaeological sites around the globe; Kladeos is a river that flows from the north, through Olympia and empties into the Alfeios River. The area is beautiful, with luxuriant vegetation, idyllic rivers, beaches and picturesque villages.

TERMINAL
Athens international airport "El. Venizelos",
Araxos National airport (operates only during the summer)
Port of Patras.

LEISURE TIME
In their free time, participants will have the opportunity to get in touch with the everyday life of the town; they may attend events organized by the authorities during the period of their stay (concerts, performances, etc.) and communicate with locals and tourists. Volunteers will discuss their free time activities with their camp leaders; together they are going to organize excursions and visits around the area of Olympia.