“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. In the 2013 year NGO ”Mir tesen” include in the St-Petersburg city special List (Reestr) NGO, who work under support of St-Petersburg Governmental. “Mir tesen”- the Partner of Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations since 2004. Since 2012 our NGO took participant in the World UNESCO project World Heritage Volunteers under support CCIVS.
Our objectives are: to develop mutual understanding and solidarity between people, to promote tolerance and intercultural dialogue between young people all over the world, to encourage youth to find their own value in the world and to introduce Russian cultural Heritage to the world .
Our objectives
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 improve intercultural communication, participating in non-formal education and cooperation;
ü To promote Russian cultural heritage, Russian language and traditions in the world.
Our activities
ü short terms volunteers work camps: sending and hosting;
ü short terms volunteers work camps for Russian diaspora;
ü EVS programmes.
ü Our Work camps in St-Petersburg
Summer camps
Two kinds of work camps: World Cultural heritage and language camps.
ü World Cultural Heritage camps
ü Cultural Heritage Protection has been an important feature of the volunteer projects of “Mir tesen”.
ü 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”.
The 2012 edition of the World Heritage Volunteers is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (1972-2012). There is begin new project World Heritage Volunteers 2013 (WHV 2013). In the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, this initiative is co-organized by the World Heritage Centre (WHC) and the Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS). Project WHV MT03/13 is organized in immediate connection to a site inscribed on the World heritage List http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540 “Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups Monuments". That’s why we present a special project. It is combines, “mobile” work camp. World Heritage of St-Petersburg consist of not onlyof well-known historical centerof modernSt. Petersburg,the palace andpark ensembles ofits suburbs– Peterhof www.peterhofmuseum.ru , Lomonosov www.oranienbaum.org , TsarskoyeSelo www.tzar.ru , Pavlovsk www.pavlovskmuseum.ru , Gatchina www.museum.ru/W1335 . But it is also alittle known historical part of Kronstadtwith itsfortress andforts, a fortressof 14 century, Imperial estates and other ofhistorical andcultural monuments. Some time international volunteers will be work in historical centerof modernSt. Petersburg, also in the parks of St-Petersburg suburbs. Some days of work camp will organize in other World Heritage places, such us: Russian Orthodox Monastery , in the Imperial estate , in fortress in Leningrad region and in other historical places. Volunteers are permitted to see different parts ofthe Russian Culture Heritage, can learn architecturalstylesof theRussian construction indifferent historical periods (17-19 centuries).
Our special projects WHV MT03/13 and WHV MT03/13
«Saint -Petersburg and UNESCO Heritage sites of 17–19 centuries»
Volunteers are permitted to see different parts ofthe Russian Culture Heritage, can learn architecturalstylesof theRussian construction indifferent historical periods (17-19 centuries).
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 out of the garbage etc.
The formation of a local team of representatives who would have knowledge in the conservation, promotion of cultural heritage. The project will have a strong part for study the experiences of the World Heritage organisations.
ACCOMMODATION: In St-Petersburg.
The age of Volunteers should be 18-30.
Language camps (Lang/Reno/Envi)
} We consider assistance learning Russian language, whose native speakers were such famous writers as Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, to be significant in order to give possibility for young people to discover Russian culture. We offer you spring and summer lessons of learning Russian language. The group of people from different countries will be formed as in ordinary work camp, including living and spending leisure time together, but 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 linguistic-cultured component.
} 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”). “Mir tesen” doesn’t provide any certificate.
} The volunteers will have daily classes of Russian and making outside and inside repair of old historical building, where Mir tesen situated. Various outside works, 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. Work camps with language-part have an extra-fee 150 euro.
}
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 6-10 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 12 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.
} 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+. 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!
MT01/13 “The bridges raise”
Dates: 03.06 – 14.06 Age : 18+ Type : Reno/Cult Language : English Vols : 8 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 very 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 white nights, islands (42) and palaces, it’s also the city of opening bridges. In the city more than 400 bridges . This unique event to see the bridges raise during the White Nights in St. Petersburg. Camp is held during the White Nights in St-Petersburg. This unique phenomenon continues c11 June to 10 July. Camp is held in celebration of the 400 year anniversary of the Imperial House - the Romanoff Dynasty (1613-2013) (http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/. WORK: participants of our camps will be involved in the variety of exciting activities. Volunteers will discover historical center of the city St-Petersburg, where a lot of buildings are under protection of UNESCO. The participants will drag 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 it`s 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 you will have the opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions. The volunteers can go to some country residences for 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 good to take something special from their country (photos, food and small things) for international party in the workcamp and demonstrating others characteristic features of home country. Take this vacation in Russia as a chance to develop enduring ties with Russians, they are a warm-hearted people! SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-camp 31.05-03.06. More information see in the Infosheet.
MT02/13
“Saint-Petersburg’s White Nights”
Dates: 17.6 – 28.06 Age : 18+ Type : Reno/Cult Language : English Vols : 8 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 very 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 - a kind of symbol of St. Petersburg .This unique phenomenon continues c11 June to 10 July. Camp is held in celebration of the 400 year anniversary of the Imperial House - the Romanoff Dynasty (1613-2013) (http://www.imperialhouse.ru/eng/. WORK: participants of our camps will be involved in the variety of exciting activities. Volunteers will discover historical center of the city St-Petersburg, where a lot of buildings are under protection of UNESCO. The participants will drag 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 it`s 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 you will have the opportunity to visit numerous museums, theatres, galleries and exhibitions. The volunteers can go to some country residences for 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 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 good to take something special from their country (photos, food and small things) for international party in the workcamp and demonstrating others characteristic features of home country. Take this vacation in Russia as a chance to develop enduring ties with Russians, they are a warm-hearted people! SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-camp 14.06-17.06. More info see in the Infosheet.