Hello everyone,
My name is Louise from Belgium and I am currently spending a year in Burgos, Spain, doing an ESC volunteering project with Huerteco and Brujula Intercultural.
During my studies and my first professional experiences, I became more and more interested in healthy and sustainable food systems, as well as in the different initiatives that help support the ecological transition.
That is one of the reasons why I wanted to join Huerteco: I really liked their practical and local approach to sustainability and environmental education.
These first months in Burgos have already been very rich in experiences. I have had the chance to participate in different activities linked to sustainability, education and local community projects, such as:
- helping in the community garden and at the chicken coop, taking care of the black Castilian hens, an endangered local breed;
- participating in workshops with people with brain damage and cerebral palsy. These workshops mainly included garden related activities as well as educacional workshops about the fauna and flora of the surroudings.
- working in the community gardens alongside retired local volunteers ;
- taking part in environmental workshops related to the community gardens or the black Castillian hens in local schools and centers;
- collaborating with different local organisations and community projects in Burgos.
I have had the opportunity to meet several people from organisations working either on sustainable development or with people with disabilities. For example, I propose to my organisation to collaborating further with another rural development organisation, leaving to a co-organised workshop.
What I enjoy most so far is the variety of the activities and the opportunity to meet many different people through the project. It is a very hands-on experience, and I am learning a lot ; not only about sustainability and environmental education, but also about community life and the local culture here in Burgos.
I am very happy to be part of this project and excited for everything that the next months will bring.
Louise
