A part of
The adventure of helping out
Preserving coral in far-flung places, working on summer camps for deprived children in the US - I often read about worthwhile working holidays like this in my early twenties. The trouble was the price. I resented being asked to pay to help someone, and besides, I needed to spend my holidays working to pay for school.
Earlier this year, however, as I was edging towards my mid-thirties, I started revisiting the idea of a work holiday adventure. I thought of WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), but when I started researching, I found myself on a site called Helpx, where a whole new world of free, awe-inspiring work opportunities opened up to me.
Short for ‘help exchange’, the site has a bulging list of fascinating projects around the world, from eco-house and garden design, to assisting with women’s community groups.
The deal is that your host pays you in food and accommodation in exchange for up to 28 hours of work per week. Some hosts will also take you on day trips, lend you their car, bikes and more.
This summer, I started my magical helpx journey and have found myself working on the restoration of a 13th century monastery deep in the French countryside; serving local beer at a charming Tirolean hut in the Austrian mountains and helping create a website for a cooperatively-owned guest house in Morocco.
In each place I’ve had traditional food, a lovely room, fantastic company with locals and fellow travellers, and importantly for me, I’ve learned new skills. I’ve become an amateur sander, chicken keeper and gardener who can restore buildings using lime plaster.
It’s also worth considering helpx if you have a project that needs help. The site is free to join for hosts and it can save money as well as make ones life more sociable and interesting. Rob Prince, who founded the site ten years ago, will assist anyone wishing to be a good host.
There is a wonderful cooperative feel to helpxing. A lot of the hosts are ethically-minded, generous people who love opening their homes to a colourful pallet of guests. Helpxers span all generations, from teenager to grandmother, some come as families, and many have an interest in sustainable living and travel. There are currently over 135,000 registered helpxers worldwide.
More Information:
www.helpx.net
Story from Positive News UK
Earlier this year, however, as I was edging towards my mid-thirties, I started revisiting the idea of a work holiday adventure. I thought of WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms), but when I started researching, I found myself on a site called Helpx, where a whole new world of free, awe-inspiring work opportunities opened up to me.
Short for ‘help exchange’, the site has a bulging list of fascinating projects around the world, from eco-house and garden design, to assisting with women’s community groups.
The deal is that your host pays you in food and accommodation in exchange for up to 28 hours of work per week. Some hosts will also take you on day trips, lend you their car, bikes and more.
This summer, I started my magical helpx journey and have found myself working on the restoration of a 13th century monastery deep in the French countryside; serving local beer at a charming Tirolean hut in the Austrian mountains and helping create a website for a cooperatively-owned guest house in Morocco.
In each place I’ve had traditional food, a lovely room, fantastic company with locals and fellow travellers, and importantly for me, I’ve learned new skills. I’ve become an amateur sander, chicken keeper and gardener who can restore buildings using lime plaster.
It’s also worth considering helpx if you have a project that needs help. The site is free to join for hosts and it can save money as well as make ones life more sociable and interesting. Rob Prince, who founded the site ten years ago, will assist anyone wishing to be a good host.
There is a wonderful cooperative feel to helpxing. A lot of the hosts are ethically-minded, generous people who love opening their homes to a colourful pallet of guests. Helpxers span all generations, from teenager to grandmother, some come as families, and many have an interest in sustainable living and travel. There are currently over 135,000 registered helpxers worldwide.
More Information:
www.helpx.net
Story from Positive News UK
Help Exchange volunteer elves ready for action
