Project environment:

Carrión de los Condes is a service centre, head of the region. Population, about 2300 inhabitants, decreasing continuously since 1960; it has an old population, over 25% are older than 65 years; increasing presence of men over women, due to poor working offers. Working sectors: agriculture and construction.

Altitude: 830 m.o.s.l.; Mediterranean-continental climate, long, cold Winter; short, mild Summer. Communications: by road, to Palencia (40 kms.), highway Burgos-León. Immigration is not stopping the decrease in the population. Reference town in the region suffering from social and demographic factors of the rural environment.

It is a first order reference. Located in the Way to santiago, in the French Way, Cultural European Itinerary, which made it a dynamic town in the Middle Ages and with a rich historic and cultural heritage. It has the Romanic churches of Santa María del Camino (11th C.) and Santiago (12 C.) and Monastery of Zoilo (Romanic-Renaissance); medieval wall; religious and civil monuments. It also has hostels for pilgrims, a growing, varied tourist offer around the Jacob's Way, with services for local people and visitors.

ACCOMMODATION

In a shared flat with other EVS volunteers. Costs will be paid by the organisation. The flat has all needed facilities. Food: managed by volunteers. .

What we can offer to volunteers in terms of service and learning opportunities.

A FUNDAMENTAL IDEA: AN INTERCULTURAL DIMENSION
Volunteers will know this region and its characteristics: rural area based on agriculture, social and demographic decline, climate (other than the usual cliché for Spain) and they will understand the meaning of the presence of volunteers throughout the Jacob's Way. Thus:

-They will meet a lot of people, pilgrims and tourists from different places, a cosmopolitan world in a rural micro-world.

. An the world of our young people of Carrion and its region. Young people are less and less due to migration to work and study. In collaboration with Youth House, Library and Secondary School, the daily contact with young people will be constant.
We want them to learn...
The importance we give to the added value of their presence in our community, especially for local young people. Their image, from "far away", Europe, a guide for reflection and other options for the future education of our local youth.
Collaboration tools, personal skills, non-formal education, participating in continuous training offered (Jacob's Way, in general, participation in talks, discussions, exhibitions, book presentations, audio-visual sessions, tourist sessions, medieval representations,...)

Volunteers will receive a basic, initial, intensive training, tending to:

1) Social and cultural integration, coordinated by the supervisor of the project (daily life of the town, references, basic services, history, culture, tourism,...)

2) The members of the organisation will offer them training about the organisation, Jacobean library, notions of their basic tasks,...

3) Language training: In a language school, classes given by a qualified teacher, with individual attention and adapting to the needs of volunteers: 3h/week during 1/3 of project, 2h/week during the next 1/3 and 1h/week during the last 1/3 (this may be increased or decreased if needed).

Role of EVS volunteers in the host organisation:

-Willing to actively integrate in the life of the town and the project.
-Cultural, personal background and positive person
-Multiplying role, as a fresh, young, European, voluntary person, relating with the pilgrims, local youth, citizens and involved entities.

-Providing new ideas to the EVS projects.

Activities in which the volunteers may participate and activities they can create in the organisation: Examples of typical activities for the volunteers

¢ At the Information office for pilgrims and travellers and Jacobean Library, they may carry out the following activities:

Support attention and information tasks to all visitors.

Issue and/or stamp "pilgrim's credentials", with personal data and stamps proving visits along the Way.

" Support queries of pilgrims or tourists.

" Support attending visitors or researchers: specialised queries, with help from previous training with document specialist. This entails collaboration with the data base.

" Support with the elaboration of identification cards of documents and funds, especially concerning those in their mother tongue.

" Collaboration with the Jacobean Magazine.

" Collaboration in the association's web site. Translation of bibliographic notes.

" Projection of their country and volunteering in the Jacob's Way and of the Research and Document Centre / Jacobean Library (among people, entities, organisations,...)

¢ Regarding our regular activities, volunteers will actively collaborate in them. Example:

" Cultural activities "Palencia in the Jacob's Way", July (Jacob's Day).
" Literary sessions in the library (October and November)
" Collaboration in tourist fair stands (FITUR, INTUR, Jacob's Way Fair,...)
" Exhibitions, about the Jacob's Way. Photograph, painting, sculpture exhibitions about the Way.
" Mentorshiped pilgrimage, to know the Way, especially in Palencia, Burgos and Leon. Trips of 3-4 days in Palencia, sharing experiences with pilgrims.

" Cultural trips.

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS MAY PARTICIPATE:

Activities about the way, courses and workshops organised by the City Council.

Volunteers may carry out a personal project, seeking their personal enrichment and that of the organisation.
- Volunteers will have a mentor, with experience regarding volunteering.
- Activities will always be guided by members of the organisation who will counsel about tasks, practical matters,...

Time of participation: 5 days/week, from Tuesday to Saturday, mornings and afternoons, including language training. Free days: 2 continuous days/week. Holidays: 2 days / month of project,

Profile of the volunteer(s) and selection process:

It would be interesting to have volunteers from countries with a pilgrimage tradition: France, Italy, Germany, UK and Central Europe (Poland), aware about the Way.
People who like the project and environment where it takes place. Open-minded, participative people, motivated to carry out activities in Carrion.
Information of placements will be distributed throughout Europe (Eurodesk, EC data base, regional government,...).
Organisation: serious, committing to provide initial language training and training about the programme before departure.

Number of volunteers hosted:

1