CM Odemira / ROTA VICENTINA - Responsible Tourism

ROTA VICENTINA - Responsible Tourism

Dates: 01/10/2023 - 30/09/2024 (12 months)

Venue: Odemira (and the region between Santiago do Cacém and Lagos) Portugal

Hosting organisation: Rota Vicentina Association

Website | rotavicentina.com

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/rotavicentina/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rotavicentina/

Video about Rota Vicentina | Fall in Love with this Land // Amor a esta Terra - Rota Vicentina

Office | Rota Vicentina

The Association

Rota Vicentina – Association for the Promotion of Nature Tourism in Alentejo and Vicentina Coast was created in 2013 with the purpose of managing the network of trails and strengthening the potential of this territory as an area for dynamic and sustainable tourism with regenerative capacity.

With about 100 founding members, today it has more than 200, mostly local companies, but also individuals, some public entities, more than 40 tour operators from 11 different countries and a network of 200 volunteers, which have supported and enabled the project at various levels.

Serving the interest of its Associates, Rota Vicentina follows the route of public interest, managing a network of trails as public infrastructure and the brand Rota VicentinaⓇ as private capital for the economic stimulation of the network of partner companies, which in turn invest in a joint model of sustainable commitment in the region. Because of its innovative model, Rota Vicentina has been a reference for many similar projects, whilst it has itself continued seeking inspiration in other places in Portugal and the world.

Volunteering in Rota Vicentina

Rota Vicentina is much more than trails with its diverse and unique offers. It is a living network that connects people, territory and heritage, contributing to the sustainability of the rural areas of this special region.

There are different ways of contributing and collaborating behind the scenes of the development and preservation of Rota Vicentina and its region, one of them is volunteering. Being a volunteer is an act of love. And in Rota Vicentina we want to receive those who dedicate themselves to the same cause as we do. Long term volunteering is the perfect way to help the Association.

Local context

The current ESC activity takes place essentially in the town of Odemira, which is also the county seat, in Baixo Alentejo region. This municipality is the largest in the country, in terms of territory area, with a marked population dispersion. It has rural characteristics, especially in the interior areas. The coastal strip has many beaches with a strong tourist activity in summer.

Odemira currently has about 3200 inhabitants, a primary school and two kindergartens, two pharmacies, a library, a day care center and a home to support the elderly, a long term care unit, a recreational society, health center, banks, mini-markets and a traditional market, gas stations, several cafes and restaurants, other small local commerce initiatives. It is a region with a marked rural exodus, with a tendency for the population with higher academic qualifications to move to the cities.

DESCRIPTION OF ESC VOLUNTEERING PROJECT

ESC POSITIONS

Position 1 | Walking trails maintenance and communication

Video about maintenance in Rota Vicentina | Manutenção na Rota Vicentina significa… - Rota Vicentina 2018

The volunteer will be welcomed by the Rota Vicentina Association for 12 months, with the aim of integrating the Walking Trails Maintenance program, supporting the Volunteering area (on the field, but also with the remote volunteering platform) and producing compelling and quality multimedia content - articles, photography and video - on the various dimensions of the Rota Vicentina project.

Tasks include:

To support the organization and effective field work during the walking trails maintenance and other specific activities, such as garbage collection, invasive species removal, collection of field monitorization data, environmental awareness activities;
To cover all maintenance activities with photography and/or video for sharing via social networks;
To produce content about walking trails, maintenance and volunteering for social networks and Rota Vicentina blog;
To recruit, support and monitor volunteers and caretakers, with the aim to strengthening the current network of volunteers;
To assist in the preparation of the internal newsletter for partners, volunteers, caretakers;
To assist in the preparation of special events.

Learning outcomes:

How to work in the associative environment
To work with a team and to collaborate
To develop/manage projects
To communicate online
To contact partners, volunteers…
To register information and organize it
To visit other projects and to learn from them
To support the community and be part of it.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Interests:

Passion for the rural world and for living in small environments (one year living in a rural community)
Interest in the areas of nature tourism, responsible tourism and sustainable development
Conservation
Photography and / or video
Travel writing
Outdoor sports - trekking, cycling
Social networks
Mastering communication and information technologies
Language skills and clear motivation to learn Portuguese language

Personal skills:

Responsibility, autonomy, dynamism and creativity
Organization and proactivity
Good communicator and excellent interpersonal skills
Teamwork
Proficiency in spoken and written English and/or Portuguese
Native language and English traduction
Flexibility to work at weekend
Interest and technical knowledge for creating and publishing digital media files - audio, video, photo and other graphic materials (flyers, posters), design and communication
Having a driving license is recommended.

It’s necessary that the volunteer brings his/her personal equipment, in particular a computer. If you don’t have one, please mention it in the motivation letter.

Position 2 | Local community and touristic offer

The volunteer should support the promotion of qualified tourism with a cultural aspect, using storytelling: connect local companies, local communities and heritage elements.

It is intended, through this mission, that the volunteer becomes aware and that he can contribute to the manifestation of responsible tourism practices.

Tasks include:

To make research about material and immaterial heritage, cultural initiatives around Rota Vicentina members (touristic companies);
To visit and to interview Rota Vicentina companies about cultural aspects;
With the work did before, to produce content (texts and/or photos) to present the qualified tourist offer of Rota Vicentina members in English end/or Portuguese;
To produce innovative content (text, photos, illustration, video…) for Rota Vicentina social networks and Rota Vicentina blog) about local community, heritage and touristic offer in English and/or native language;
To participate and support the team in all the activities of the association.

Expected learning outcomes

How to work in the associative environment
To work with a team and to collaborate
To develop/manage projects
To communicate online
To contact partners and local community
To register information and organize it
To visit other projects and to learn from them
To support the community and be part of it.
To turn a descriptive content in a promotion content

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

Interests:

Interest in the areas of nature tourism, responsible tourism and sustainable development
Capacidade/interesse em adaptar-se a um meio com low density population
Contactar com comunidade local, conhecer várias facetas da uma cultura
Photography and/or video
Travel writing and/or drawing
Outdoor sports - trekking, cycling
Social networks and communication
Mastering communication and information technologies
Language skills and clear motivation to learn Portuguese language

Personal skills:

Responsibility, autonomy, dynamism and creativity
Organization and proactivity
Good communicator and excellent interpersonal skills
Teamwork
Proficiency in spoken and written English and/or Portuguese
Traduction Native language/English
Graphic Design
Photography and/or Vídeo
Storytelling and copywriting
Interest and technical knowledge for creating and publishing digital media files - audio, video, photo and other graphic materials (flyers, posters), design and communication
Having a driving license is recommended.

It’s necessary that the volunteer brings his/her personal equipment, in particular a computer. If you don’t have one, please mention it in the motivation letter.

ACCOMMODATION / FOOD / TRANSPORT

The volunteer will be accommodated in Odemira in a shared house (together with other 3 volunteers), in which she/he will have a single room. The house will be fully equipped, with a common room and kitchen where they can prepare their meals.

All meals will be the responsibility of the volunteer, guaranteed through a budget delivered to the volunteer on a monthly basis.

For travel within the scope of Volunteering, transportation will be provided by the Association. The remaining trips will be provided by the local transport network.

To apply:

Read carefully each of the available positions, the hosting conditions, expected tasks for the volunteers and the profile of participants. Then:

Fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Be specific to which position you’re applying to! We are expecting to read about your motivation to be a volunteer in that specific project.
Be ready to send a short video (simple one, homely made) of 2 minutes, presenting your personal profile & history
Submit your application form(s) until the 15th of June.