March 6, 2025
Country: Switzerland
Date: 10th – 23rd August 2025
Number of volunteers: 14
Age: 18 and over
Project Code: CH-SCI 10.6
About the project:
The Fondazione Mont Grand is dedicated to enhancing the landscape of the Mont Grand mountain pasture. The foundation cares for the unique chestnut forests, maintains historic buildings, and offers educational activities to share knowledge about biodiversity and cultural history. Their commitment to sustainable tourism ensures the preservation of both the environment and the local heritage.
Type of work:
During your stay, you will focus on the maintenance and care for the Chestnut Forests. Tasks will include:
- Grass cutting
- Haymaking between the trees
- Clearing buses
- General conservation work
In addition to hands-on work, you’ll have the opportunity to explore other projects of the Fondazione through a half-day excursion. Volunteers will also gain insights into botany, biodiversity, cultural history, and landscape management.
Accommodation:
Volunteers will stay in a shared mountain house with other participants. Mattresses and pillows are provided, but you can also bring your own tent and sleeping bag if you prefer to camp. The facility includes toilets and hot showers, but there are no washing machines available. Note that there is no internet access except via mobile phones.
Volunteer requirements:
Good physical fitness is essential, due to steep working environments. Volunteers should bring:
- A sleeping bag
- Sturdy mountain boots
- Work clothes, rain gear, and clothing suitable for sunny weather
- Working gloves, tweezers, and tick repellents (as ticks are common in the area)
No application deadline, open until all spaces are filled.
More info and how to apply
This project is part of VSI’s International Volunteer Projects (IVP) programme, a unique form of values-based volunteering that brings together people from around the world to work on short-term projects with local communities. More info on the programme here.
1. Apply online on the SCI international website
Please note: When you click on the links below you will leave the VSI website and go to the website of Service Civil International (SCI) VSI is the Irish branch of SCI.
Application is through our international online placement system. You need to register on the website to apply: How to Apply
View this project on our international database here: Chestnut Forest preservation in Misox, Switzerland CH-SCI 10.6
View other available projects on the: SCI database
The projects listed on the database are managed by SCI branches and partners across Europe, the project titles and descriptions are generally written by non-native English speakers, so please excuse us if some of them are hard-to-understand or use unusual language! The database serves over 130 organisations in more than 90 countries worldwide!
2. Pay the project fee - return to this page and follow the links below
VSI is a small charity and we charge a fee (€55 - €155) to volunteer on our projects, this includes food, accommodation, basic insurance whilst on the project and VSI annual membership. Volunteers pay for their own travel to the country and internal travel to/from the projects and any visa fees. More info here.
Please note, some of the descriptions mention an additional fee (of €50.00) when applying through non-SCI organisations, VSI is an SCI branch and this additional fee does not apply.
No fundraising is needed to volunteer on our projects.
Fees
Project in Europe:
European Project Waged €155
European Project Unwaged €105
Click here to pay the project fee
If you have any questions or would like more info on a project, please contact us at info@vsi.ie