go eco - Volunteers for Ecological & Humanitarian Projects
call us on US +1 917 477 3931 US +44 208 133 8041

Volunteer in Israel - Sagol Ecological Village

Israel -

Looking for a place where body, mind and spirit connect as one, then the Sagol village project is the one. In addition to helping with the construction and maintenance of the village, volunteers will learn about sustainable living and self growth, with unique people from across the globe.

Participation Fee



$400

Fast Facts

Project length: Min 2 weeks - Max 8 weeks
Project costs: US$400 for for 2 - 8 weeks
Location of project: Moshav sde zvi (one hour from tel-aviv)
Arrival airport: Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv
Volunteer work: Earth, planting, mud building and maintenance
Number of participants: Up to 5 International volunteers
Age limit: 18 - 40

What's Included

Training: GoEco volunteer and travel orientation in Jerusalem
Accommodation: Basic tipi or hut
Food: Extra 100 NIS per week, to be paid upon arrival
Support: Pre-departure assistance, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's Not Included

Flights, airport transfer to Jerusalem (budget around $20), local transportation to and from project (budget around $40), travel insurance, personal expenses.

Location

The Negev is a desert region that covers the southern half of Israel. The least populated area in Israel, it is home to Bedouins as well as unique African wildlife. The Negev offers some spectacular scenery with captivating sites and beautiful nature.

Kfar Sagol is located in the Negev 25km North of Be'er Sheva in Moshav Sde Tsvi, one hour from Tel Avi.

 

About the project

Sagol Village is a unique eco village built from mud, local materials and recycled materials. The village features many trees, and blissful eco-pools. Sagol-Eco Village was created by a young couple with a dream of uniting hundreds of people with the unique goal of bettering themselves through an explicit connection to the earth and to one another.

The small community welcomes GoEco volunteers with open arms, and volunteers will immediately feel at home, especially whenthey get the opportunity to live like the locals; get dirty, have fun, and build reliable structures, all with dirt, water, and recyclable materials.

 

Orientation in Jerusalem

The volunteer adventure will start off with a GoEco orientation at the Abraham Hostel in the center of Jerusalem. The orientation is a great base to meet fellow volunteers / travelers and includes the following:

  • Volunteer preparation and travel directions to the program
  • Expert travel advice in Israel for during and after your volunteer placement
  • Walking tour of Jerusalem, including the Old City and the famous Machane Yehuda market
  • Discount card to experience Jerusalem's vibrant night-life
  • 1 night dorm accommodation and breakfast (private rooms available for extra price)

The GoEco orientation will begin at 10:00 AM on arrival day. The next morning, volunteers will travel to the volunteer project with public transportation. Full travel details to Jerusalem and the project will be provided upon registration.

 

Volunteer work and contribution

During the project, volunteers will be involved with the daily tasks of the Sagol Community. Volunteer activities on the village will include:

  • Building new volunteer huts from mud and earth
  • Helping to design new sections of the village
  • Baking bread over a stone fire
  • Assisting with cleaning and cooking duties in the village

Working with earth is completely different to working with cement, acrylic plastering and other materials. Earth is a durable material that can be revived and endure a long sculpturing process. The process is also alot of fun!

Volunteers will be expected to work for about 6 hours per day and will have one day off per week to discover the area or enjoy the facilities of the village.

 

Accommodation & facilities

Volunteers will stay in a shared basic hut or tent with mattresses. Facilities include: communal porch, eco pools, shared toilets and hot showers. Vegan cooking supplies will provided provided.   

The site also provides an option to stay in a private ecological mudhut building for an extra fee while volunteering.

Internet: Wireless connection available

Laundary: Washing machine available 

 

Travel highlights

After work hours, volunteers can enjoy this unique region, relax by the eco pool and under the stars. Volunteers will recieve 1 day off a week to explore other regions of Israel such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

 

Minimum requirements

  • Conversational English or Hebrew
  • Good physical fitness
  • Strong work ethic
  • Motivation to do physical and demanding work
  • Able to work in desert climate
  • Able to live in basic conditions
  • Highly independent
  • Full travel &medical insurance
  • Immunizations (please consult your doctor)

 

 

Check out our Volunteer Blog at blog.goeco.org to read a great experience complete with pictures written by Lindsey, a GoEco volunteer who went to Sagol.

 

"My experience at Sagol was a very good one. I was there for two weeks. I learned so many amazing things while I was there. Most importantly, I learned how to construct mud structures. What I enjoyed most about being at Sagol, is the spirit of community that everyone shares. We all ate together and worked together. Everyone tries to support one another. I felt very welcomed and valued the whole time I was there."- Nicholas Breznick, GoEco Volunteer, 2011

 

 

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The GoEco Volunteer Blog Watch our YouTube Channel

News & Updates

created by MeZoo