“Mir Tesen” Introduction
Info about the Organisation - general and brief . Saint-Petersburg social organization of cultural, educational and exchange programs for youth «MIR TESEN”» («IT’S a SMALL WORLD») was established in 1999. Supported by Committee of youth policy and relations with NGOs of Government of St Petersburg since in the some years since 2003.
“Mir tesen”- the Partner of Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations since 2004, the associated member of CCIVS since 2013.
Our objectives
Our objectives are:
ü to develop mutual understanding and solidarity between people,
ü to promote tolerance and intercultural dialogue between young people all over the world,
ü to encourage youth to find their own value in the world and to introduce Russian cultural Heritage in the world (Preservation of the cultural sites, which are the incomparable achievements of Russian art, and a key site to understand the mentality of the people of the epochs when the monuments were built, to raise awareness among the local population regarding world heritage and the importance their participation to preserving this site.
Our activities
ü short terms volunteers work camps: sending and hosting;
ü short terms volunteers work camps for Russian diaspora;
ü EVS programmes (Erasmus +).
Our Work camps in St-Petersburg
Cultural Heritage Protection has been an important feature of the volunteer projects of “Mir tesen”.
The UN General Assembly declares the following:" Governments should institute, in cooperation with non-governmental youth organizations, travel and exchange programmes and youth camps to help youth understand cultural diversity at both the national and international levels, develop intercultural learning skills and participate in the preservation of the cultural heritage of their own and other societies and the world around them”.
MT01/14, MT02/14 – renovations camps in the center of Saint Petersburg;
MT03/14 – Russian language camp in Saint Petersburg ( extra fee 120 euros);
WHV MT04/14, WHV MT05/14 – are special mobile projects (World heritage projects) under support of CCIVS/UNESCO in Saint Petersburg;
MT04/14, MT05/14 – cultural heritage pilot projects “Russian Country Estates” in Saint Petersburg/Leningrad region;
MT06/14 – Russian heritage and traditions in Saint Petersburg/suburbs;
MT07/14 – Cultural heritage and renovation in Orthodox monasteries in Saint Petersburg/suburbs/Leningrad region.
The workcamps dates are June-the beginning of September.
The facts about work camps
} Participants: our main target group young people 18+ years old. We accept to our work camps volunteers of all age, but preferably volunteers fewer than 30. The number of participants in camp is 6 international volunteers+1 camp-leader +1-2 local volunteers . We welcome volunteers, who have skills in sphere of restoration of cultural heritage monuments, as well historian, architect, and engineer.
} Duration: Our work camps last 10 days + pre-camp 3 days.
} Work: As a rule volunteers work 5-6 hours a day for 5 days a week. Volunteers will help in restoration of Country Houses and in State open-air museums. The volunteers will be engaged in improving the parks: take care of plantation of trees, mow the meadows, cure the trees, clean the hollows, sweep the grounds, cleaning them from old grass, leaves, brunches, twigs, garbage etc. Cleaning the foundations of restoring building; Restoration the paths; Cleaning the park’s ponds; garden’s design by flowerbeds and decorative bushes.
} Accommodation: «Mir Tesen» provides an accommodation in St-Petersburg and in Leningrad region
} Camp leader: There is 1 leader at the camp, who is responsible for work coordination and link between participants and the host. We train our leaders during the special sessions and seminars. The leader participates in daily life equally with volunteers. We are interested to host Russian speaking camp leaders from the FSU Region, Balt and other countries. Welcome Russian speaking camp leaders.
}
What to bring
For all the camps volunteers should bring sleeping bag, work clothes & gloves, summer clothes & swimming suit, but also warm clothes and rain-coat because weather in St. Petersburg is really unpredictable. Volunteers are also asked to bring information about their country, photos, music, songbooks, games, musical instruments, etc to organize an intercultural evening.
Conditions for participation
The age of Volunteers should be 18+. The age of World Heritage workcamps is 18-30 years. Participants should be motivated to do voluntary work and be quite open for the new experiences. For language camp we kindly ask to send the motivation letter on Russian from the volunteer with the VEF and the copy of passport.
Insurance
In Russian camps insurance is not provided. Therefore volunteers need to bring their own insurance against illness, accident and third party risk.
Visa issues
To arrange the Invitation we need the following data: First name, Last name, Gender, Date of birth, Your Passport number, scan Passport copy, date of issue and expiry, Citizenship.
· For EU-citizens we can make an invitation letter ourselves for 1-2 days and send it quite quickly by fax or scan. Then we send it by post, it takes 1-2 weeks.
· For non EU-citizens (the USA, Canada, Australia, Latin America) we provide tourist visa - it is enough for participating in any short term project we organize (no more 30 days). Making invitation in tourist agency takes for 1-2 days, cost of invitation letter – 10 euro, should be paid by volunteers upon arrival.
· Unfortunately, according to Russian laws we can’t make an invitation letter ourselves for countries of migration risk (countries of African and Asian continents). It should be formed by volunteers individually – the volunteer can apply to tourist agency in his/ her country.
Registration
As any foreigner arrived in Russian Federation for more then 7 days should have the registration, we will make this registration ourselves.
Info sheets
Camp details, practical information and travel directions will be sent to the exchange partners 3 weeks before beginning of the camp.
Meeting point
for the camps is “Mir Tesen” office in St Petersburg at the day camp begins.
NGO «MIR TESEN»:
5-line Vasilyevsky Island, 4, St-Petersburg, 199034, Russia
; www.mir-tesen.org
Tel. +7 (812)323 44 43, Tel./fax +7(812)323 43 87
Welcome to St-Petersburg!
“Mir tesen” WORKCAMPS-2014
№ / CAMP / WORKCAMP’S NAME / LOCATION / WORK CAMP DATES / TYPE / VOL / AGE / COMMENTS1 / MT01/14 / “The bridges raise” / St. Petersburg / 02.06-13.06 / Reno/Cult / 6+2 / 18+
2 / MT02/14 / “Saint Petersburg’s White Nights” / St. Petersburg / 16.06-27.06 / Reno/Cult / 6+2 / 18+
3 / MT03/14 / “St-Peterburg of Dostoevsky” / St. Petersburg / 30.06-11.07 / Lang/Reno/Envi / 6+2 / 18+ / Extra fee 120 Euro
4 / WHV MT04/14 / «Saint -Petersburg and UNESCO Heritage sites of 14–18 centuries» / St. Petersburg / 14.07-25.07 / Cult. Heritage / 6+2 / 18-30
5 / MT04/14 / “Russian Country Estates 1” / St. Petersburg/
Leningrad Region / 14.07-25.07 / Cult/Envi/Reno / 6+2 / 18+ / Pilot project
6 / WHV MT05/14 / «Saint -Petersburg and UNESCO Heritage sites of 18–19 centuries» / St. Petersburg / 28.07-08.08 / Cult. Heritage / 6+2 / 18-30
7 / MT05/14 / “Russian Country Estates 2” / St. Petersburg/
Leningrad Region / 28.07-08.08 / Cult/Envi/Reno / 6+2 / 18+ / Pilot project
8 / MT06/14 / “The Apple Spas and Russian traditions” / St. Petersburg/
Leningrad Region / 11.08-22.08 / Cult/Envi/Reno / 6+2 / 18+
9 / MT07/14 / “The Orthodox Monasteries” / St. Petersburg/
Leningrad Region / 25.08-05.09 / Cult/Envi/Reno / 6+2 / 18+
MT01/14
“The bridges raise”
Dates: 02.06 – 13.06 Age : 18+ Type : Reno/Cult Language : English Int. Vols : 6, local vol.1-2 Location : Saint Petersburg
PROJECT: The 'Venice of the North' is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 by Peter the Great. World Heritage of St. Petersburg consists well-known historical centerof modernSt. Petersburg, palaces andpark ensembles ofits suburbs– Peterhof, TsarskoyeSelo, Pavlovsk, Gatchina. The historic center of St. Petersburg is included in UNESCO World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540 “Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups Monuments". Vasilievsky Island is the historical part of Saint-Petersburg and the largest island in the Neva delta. From the foundation of St. Petersburg Vasilievsky Island was intended to become an administrative, scientific and cultural heart of downtown. St. Petersburg is not only the city of white nights, islands (42) and palaces, it’s also the city of opening bridges. More than 400 bridges are in the city. This unique event can be seen during the White Nights in St. Petersburg. This unique phenomenon continues since 11 June to 10 July. Camp is held during this time. WORK: Participants of our camps will be involved in the variety of exciting activities. Volunteers will discover the historical center of St-Petersburg, where a lot of buildings are under protection of UNESCO. Also they will attract public attention to the preservation`s issues and contribute to the renovation process of the building on the Vasilievsky Island, where host organization is situated. Volunteers will be responsible for the development an art project, regarding inside and outside design of the office and its execution. The work will be combined with a cultural program. ACCOMMODATION: In St. Petersburg. LOCATION: St. Petersburg. LEISURE TIME: St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia, so participants will have an opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions. The volunteers can go to some country residences of Emperors, Grand Princes and grandees: Peterhof www.peterhofmuseum.ru, Lomonosov www.oranienbaum.org, TsarskoyeSelo www.tzar.ru, Pavlovsk www.pavlovskmuseum.ru, Gatchina www.museum.ru/W1335. TERMINAL: Pulkovo International Airport is located about 17 km from the St. Petersburg center. We know that some of the volunteers have problems with the high cost of tickets to St. Petersburg, so we can recommend them to find economy flights not to St. Petersburg, but to Riga, Helsinki or any Finland city. It is a very short way from Riga or Helsinki to our city not only by plane, but also by bus or train. SPECIAL REMARKS: Volunteers should bring working clothes, gloves and sleeping bags. Besides, it would be great to take something special from their countries (photos, food or souvenirs) for international party in the workcamp and demonstrate them as special features of home country. Take this vacation in Russia as a chance to develop enduring ties with Russians, they are very warm-hearted people! SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-camp 30.05-02.06. More information see in Infosheet.
MT02/14
“Saint Petersburg’s White Nights”
Dates: 16.06 – 27.06 Age : 18+ Type : Reno/Cult Language : English Int. Vols : 6, local vol.1-2 Location : Saint Petersburg
PROJECT: The 'Venice of the North' is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. World Heritage of St-Petersburg consist well-known historical centerof modernSt. Petersburg,the palace andpark ensembles ofits suburbs– Peterhof , TsarskoyeSelo, Pavlovsk , Gatchina .The historic center of St. Petersburg is included in UNESCO World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540 “Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups Monuments". Vasilievsky Island is the historical part of Saint-Petersburg and the largest island in the Neva delta. From the foundation of St.Petersburg. Vasilievsky Island was intended to become the administrative, scientific and cultural heart of downtown St Petersburg. St-Petersburg is not only the city of the islands (42) and palaces, it’s also the city of opening bridges, of White Nights. Volunteers Camp is held during the White Nights .This unique phenomenon continues c11 June to 10 July. White Nights is a kind of symbol of St. Petersburg. This unique phenomenon continues since 11 June to 10 July. WORK: Participants of our camps will be involved in the variety of exciting activities. Volunteers will discover the historical center of St-Petersburg, where a lot of buildings are under protection of UNESCO. Also they will attract public attention to the preservation`s issues and contribute to the renovation process of the building on the Vasilievsky Island, where host organization is situated. Volunteers will be responsible for the development an art project, regarding inside and outside design of the office and its execution. The work will be combined with a cultural program. ACCOMMODATION: In St. Petersburg. LOCATION: St. Petersburg. LEISURE TIME: St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia, so participants will have an opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions. The volunteers can go to some country residences of Emperors, Grand Princes and grandees: Peterhof www.peterhofmuseum.ru, Lomonosov www.oranienbaum.org, TsarskoyeSelo www.tzar.ru, Pavlovsk www.pavlovskmuseum.ru, Gatchina www.museum.ru/W1335. Camp is held during the White Nights in St-Petersburg: at this time of the year the city hosts a variety of festivals, concerts and folk events. Each year millions of tourists come to Petersburg, walking at night on the Neva river, watch the bridges raise. TERMINAL: Pulkovo International Airport is located about 17 km from the St. Petersburg center. We know that some of the volunteers have problems with the high cost of tickets to St. Petersburg, so we can recommend them to find economy flights not to St. Petersburg, but to Riga, Helsinki or any Finland city. It is a very short way from Riga or Helsinki to our city not only by plane, but also by bus or train. SPECIAL REMARKS: Volunteers should bring working clothes, gloves and sleeping bags. Besides, it would be great to take something special from their countries (photos, food or souvenirs) for international party in the workcamp and demonstrate them as special features of home country. Take this vacation in Russia as a chance to develop enduring ties with Russians, they are very warm-hearted people! SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-camp 13.06-16.06. More information see in Infosheet.
MT03/14
“Peterburg of Dostoevsky”
Dates: 30.06 – 11.07 Age : 18+ Type : Lang/Reno/Envi Language : English/Russian Int. Vols : 6, local vol.1-2 Location : St. Petersburg
PROJECT: St. Petersburg is not only a city of palaces and mansions. "Another" St.Petersburg is very near - Petersburg intersections and alleys, narrow canals and picturesque bridges, apartment buildings and courtyards-"wells". St.Petersburg is considered to be the city of the great Russian writer and philosopher Feodor Dostoevsky. He embodied the city in his books, creating the phenomenon of "St. Petersburg of Dostoevsky". The most famous works were written in this city: “Crime and Punishment”, “The Idiot”, “Karamazovy Brothers”, etc. His characters walked along the streets of the city. The spirit of his novels soars in the air. Dostoevsky’s grandson lives in St.Petersburg. Meeting with him is quite possible. So this is a challenging question to say if St.Petersburg is recognized through the novels of Dostoevsky, or it is Dostoevsky through walking around the city. So that’s why we invite volunteers to the wonderful city St.Petersburg to get a closer look at the world and the language of the great Dostoevsky! The group of people from different countries will be formed as an ordinary workcamp, including living and spending leisure time together, but the main idea of the project is to allow volunteers increase their Russian by taking part in informal study. The methodology of teaching based on using of linguistic-cultured component. The teacher will be native speaker with the degree of bachelor of Philological faculty (specialty: “Russian as Foreign”). We ask volunteers to send us their motivation letter and CV. Please, specify your language level. “Mir Tesen” doesn’t provide any certificate. NB! This camp course is for the basic level. WORK: The volunteers will have daily classes of Russian. They will be engaged in improving the territory of Vasilievsky Island and making outside and inside repair of old historical building, where host NGO “Mir Tesen” is situated. Works are various, but not requiring any special qualifications: to seat grass, bushes and flowers; to paint the iron fenders of the windows. Inside building: to paint walls and windows, to decorate rooms. Creative volunteers, you are welcome! ACCOMMODATION: in St-Petersburg. LEISURE TIME: The historic center of St. Petersburg is included in UNESCO World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540 “Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups Monuments". St-Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia , so you will have an opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions. The volunteers can go to some country residences of Emperors, Grand Princes and grandees: Peterhof www.peterhofmuseum.ru, Lomonosov www.oranienbaum.org, TsarskoyeSelo www.tzar.ru, Pavlovsk www.pavlovskmuseum.ru, Gatchina www.museum.ru/W1335. TERMINAL: Pulkovo International Airport is located about 17 km from the St-Petersburg center.We know that some of the volunteers have problems with the high cost of tickets to Saint Petersburg. We can recommend them to find economy flights not to St. Petersburg, but to Riga or Helsinki or other Finland city. It is a very short way from Riga or Helsinki to our city not only by plane, but also by bus or train. SPECIAL REMARKS: Volunteers should bring working clothes, gloves and sleeping bags. Besides, it would be great to take something special from their countries (photos, food or souvenirs) for international party in the workcamp and demonstrate them as special features of home country. SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-camp 27.06-30.06. More information see in Infosheet. The workcamp will take place if quantity of volunteers is no less than 5 persons. Deadline for sending application (VEF) – not later than 1 month before the camp. EXTRA FEE: 120 euro (included: accommodation, food, Russian lessons).