Description of organisation

Initiated by Sophie Rabhi-Bouquet, the Ferme des Enfants is an association created in 1999 which is interested in all living systems and supports the preservation of nature based on understanding what promotes well-treating human behavior. "La Ferme des Enfants" is an associative structure which depends on the french law of 1901(non-profit organization). Its statutes and its social purpose are favorable to the ecology, respect for children and the development of intergenerational relations. Its goals: "Building the future while respecting life". The central aim of the association is to understand the needs of children and adolescents in order to provide support and a supportive and respectful context for their development. The educational approach is based on human ethology (attachment theory), non-violent communication, connection with nature and self-determined learning, in order to enable young humans to be empathetic, honest and connected to living principles, in and around them. La Ferme des Enfants develops and manages a private non governmental school; The association La Ferme des Enfants played a major role in the existence of the Hameau des Buis. It is at the origin of the development of this ecovillage which now has 20 bioclimatic dwellings, the school and the farm on 6 hectares of land in southern Ardèche. 53 residents of all ages live on the premises, and several dozen families from the surrounding area educate their children and adolescents on a daily basis.
The association also welcomes volunteers. Volunteering and welcoming interns has been and still is very important for the school, the farm, the construction and the life of the ecovillage. The activity spaces that are the ecovillage, the school, but also the goat farm, market gardening and wood-fired bakery, the farmers' market, mini-businesses, open house tours (which attract around 1500/2000 visitors per year), allow students to follow their practical internship and / or their research work. The Le Hameau des Buis ecovillage is a member of GEN (Global Ecovillage Network Europe), the NGO Colibris and the association for Oases in all restful places in Paris. La Ferme des Enfants is a member of EUDEC (European Organization for Democratic Schools).
The main mission of the European volunteers is educational support into a ecovillage: contact with the children, animation of the network, awareness of the "living" ecosystems through the game, the garden, the farm, the artistic life, the sharing of knowledge or experiences, solidarity and civic actions...
La Ferme des Enfants welcome 3 ESC volunteers
The activities proposed to the volunteers are as follows:
To help teachers in their daily work by giving kind support to children, propose their own workshops, participate to others workshops, help professionnals for their specific jobs organic cooking, organic farming, organic bakering, organize public relations, participate to daily life with children and teenagers, participate to collective projects and evants (as camping, outdoor events, shows, parties...), stimulate intergenerationnel cultural, artistic and ecological events.