This June we say goodbye to two young women who have been practically family at the Garden Botanical Marimurtra: the German volunteers Vianne and Melina. They have been with us for nine months, since October, within the “Volunteers for a Green Future” project, funded by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme and coordinated by the German organisation Naturkultur, e.V.
During these months, they have actively participated in tasks of:
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Maintenance of the vegetable garden and green spaces.
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Sustainable conservation and management of biological extracts.
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Environmental education and scientific outreach.
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Observation and care of biodiversity, including feeders and birdwatching.
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Accompaniment to Catalan language courses from the Consorci de Normalització Lingüística (CNL) to facilitate their integration.
Their curiosity, enthusiasm and desire to learn have been an injection of energy for the team and visitors.
Living experience and cultural exchange
According to first impressions, they have highlighted:
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The warmth of the team of gardeners and teamwork.
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Learning Catalan as a tool for connection with the environment.
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The complementary activities: yoga classes, canoe trips, beach excursions and meetings with other volunteers at a regional and national level.
Continuity and commitment
This project marks the sixth participation of Marimurtra in the ESC programme (the fifth with German volunteers), consolidating a programme born in 2019 and receiving more than 90 annual applications.
Thank you, Vianne and Melina!
They have left an unforgettable mark at the Garden, contributing to improving the conservation and outreach of the space, bringing a fresh perspective and promoting cultural exchanges with the team and visitors. At the same time, they had the opportunity to live by the Mediterranean Sea and to discover Blanes and the local culture, fully integrating into our environment.
What comes next?
In October we will welcome new volunteers and continue this programme that enriches both the Garden and those who do the volunteering. Would you like to know how the ESC project evolves?
We leave you a compilation video with some moments experienced by the volunteers during their stay at Marimurtra.
