Kunst Raum Burg

Voluntary Service

Mid-Term-Volunteering at Lohra Castle

Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. The history of the castle covers more than 1000 years. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times, for example, medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany called the Harz. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place at the castle.

Camp Leading

Kunst Raum Burg Many Groups of the Open Houses Network, for example, volunteers who are working together at the castle site, participants of art workshops, as well as other groups with their own projects or interested guest will visit Lohra Castle during summer and autumn.

The volunteers will independently take the responsibility for the organisation and the social support of the art workshops, workcamps and building weeks, which are going to take place at Lohra Castle.

The volunteers will start with two weeks of an introduction period. During this time of preparation the volunteers will actually be supported to become camp leaders. They will gain some more experiences in leading and handling with other people through learning from role plays, as well as improving their communication skills, becoming aware of the cultural differences and different models of behaviour.
During this preparation weeks volunteers will be introduced to the organisation and different projects and will have the ability to cope with the situation around. They will exchange their first experience and clarify questions related to their role and responsibility on their further project, in which they will work independently.
It is also a time for the volunteers to prepare the coming months and to set their personal goals and motivation towards the project.

After the first two weeks the mid-term volunteers will start their work. It is important to have on mind that mid-term volunteers will not actually be participants of the workcamps. As social leaders, they will have the responsibility for supporting and bridging the organisation and workcamp participants. Their task is to support the work leaders as well as the participants, making sure there is a balance between the organisation, the goals of the workcamp and the expectations of the participants.
There will be the necessity of organising work activities, together with the other leader, such as daily or weekly planning and forming working teams as well as discussing and making decisions about what kind of work (Who shall do what? Which person is suitable for which work?) suits each participant best – based on the needs of the workcamp and the ability of the participants.
The mid-term volunteers will also be responsible for organising free-time activities.

Application and Participation

  • Open Houses Network searches for volunteers who are well motivated, open minded and have already some experiences in handling with others people.
  • Motivation letter and CV with photo are required.
  • Volunteers must have at least good knowledge of English.
May, 16 till August, 15 Lohra Castle 2 participant 18+ M01 motivation letter
June, 16 till September, 14 Lohra Castle 2 participant 18+ M02 motivation letter
July, 06 till October, 05 Lohra Castle 2 participant 18+ M03 motivation letter

Mid-Term-Volunteering at the Chapel of Reconciliation, Berlin

Kunst Raum Burg The Chapel of Reconciliation can be seen as a symbol to remind the local population and guests of the partition and the reunion of Germany during the second half of the 20th century. The construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13th, 1961 is still unforgotten. At the Bernauer Straße the Wall even separated the Church of Reconciliation itself. Therefore it was not possible anymore for the parishioners to use their building. In 1985 the church was pulled down. Because of its situation it had been a thorn in the eye of the GDR-regime, a long time before.
On November 9th, 1989, the Wall was brought down. After the political changes in 1990 the former parishioners of the Chapel of Reconciliation started to make plans for a new, small chapel to be built on the empty site.
This chapel was not constructed with concrete or glass, but out of compressed-clay. The work was realized by the support of a lot of international volunteers of Open Houses Network during a couple of years.
Nowadays this chapel is understood as one of the most famous, modern religious buildings in Europe and the only public building made out of clay in Germany.
The chapel is a tourist place as well. Because of its symbolic historical function and many special events like concerts, prayers and services it is well known all over Europe.

Guest Guiding

The work of the mid-term volunteers will be to support and care for the visitors, to administrate the guest book and to do some maintenance work for the chapel and the area around. They will be the tour guides not only during the week, but also on public holidays or on special events. But when there will be two volunteers they, of course, can alternate individually. The daily working hours will be from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The first two weeks of their stay the mid-term volunteers will spend at Lohra Castle, which is situated in the heart of Germany, in Northern Thuringia. The castle is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape and it is possible to enjoy a breathtaking view. During this time of preparation the mid-term volunteers will actually be motivated and introduced to the main ideals, the historical background and the philosophy of Open Houses Network.

Application and Participation

  • Open Houses Network searches for volunteers who are interested in architecture, history and politics to work in this meaningful and important place. They should be highly motivated, open minded and have already some experience in handling with other people.
  • Motivation letter and CV with photo are required.
  • Volunteers must have at least good knowledge of English.
April, 13 till July, 13 Chapel of
Reconciliation Berlin		 1 participant 18+ M04 motivation letter
June, 15 till September, 14 Chapel of
Reconciliation Berlin		 1 participant 18+ M05 motivation letter
August, 24 till November, 23 Chapel of
Reconciliation Berlin		 1 participant 18+ M06 motivation letter

Long-Term-Volunteering at Lohra Castle

Kunst Raum Burg Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. The history of the castle covers more than 1000 years. Today, it includes 20 buildings from different times, for example, medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. From the top of the buildings you will have a wonderful view over one of the most impressive landscapes of Germany called the Harz. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place at the castle.

Camp Leading

Many Groups of the Open Houses Network for example volunteers who are working together at the castle site, participants of art workshops, as well as other groups with their own projects or interested guest will visit Lohra Castle during summer and autumn.

The volunteers will independently take the responsibility for the organisation and the social support of the art workshops, workcamps and building weeks, which are going to take place at Lohra Castle.

The volunteers will start with two weeks of an introduction period. During this time of preparation the volunteers will actually be supported to become camp leaders. They will gain some more experiences in leading and handling with other people through learning from role plays, as well as improving their communication skills, becoming aware of the cultural differences and different models of behaviour.
During this preparation weeks the volunteers will be introduced to the organisation and different projects and will have the ability to cope with the situation around. They will exchange their first experience and clarify questions related to their role and responsibility on their further project where they will work independently.
It is also a time for the volunteers to prepare the coming months and to set their personal goals and motivation towards the project.

After the first two weeks the long-term volunteers will start their work. It is important to have on mind that the long-term volunteers will not actually be participants of the workcamps. As social leaders, they will have the responsibility for supporting and bridging the organisation and workcamp participants. Their task is to support the work leaders as well as the participants, making sure there is a balance between the organisation, the goals of the workcamp and the expectations of the participants.
There will be the necessity of organising work activities, together with the other leader, such as daily or weekly planning and forming working teams as well as discussing and making decisions about what kind of work (Who shall do what? Which person is suitable for which work?) suits each participant best – based on the needs of the workcamp and the ability of the participants. The long-term volunteers will also be responsible for organising free-time activities.

Application and Participation

  • Open Houses Network searches for volunteers who are well motivated, open minded and have already some experiences in handling with others people.
  • Motivation letter and CV with photo are required
  • Volunteers must have at least good knowledge of English.
May, 16 till October, 5 Lohra Castle 1 participant 18+ L01 motivation letter