The project
“Youth for Smile” is collaborating with a local NGO on the revitalization of the former orphanage in the village of Lauderi, transforming it into a center for non-formal education and community activities. Volunteers play a crucial role in this transformation. Through practical work and joint initiatives, you will help prepare the grounds and the building for their new purpose. The local community is currently not very active, and hosting international volunteers is also a new experience for them. One of our goals is to encourage dialogue and collaboration in an accessible way. Together with volunteers, we are taking the first steps to build communication with local residents – through small gatherings, informal conversations, and shared moments. This is an important social aspect of the project, alongside the physical renovation work. This project is not just about practical tasks, but also about forging connections – with the place, with its history, and with the people who live there.
Volunteer work
Volunteers are engaged in maintaining the outdoor area (approx. 4 hectares). This includes mowing grass, removing bushes and overgrown areas, and cleaning and organizing the grounds. This work is essential to make the area safe, accessible, and ready for future use by the community. Inside the building, volunteers assist with dismantling damaged interior finishes (such as wall panels or other worn elements), clearing debris, and preparing spaces for future renovation work. This is preparatory work; the goal is to create clean and ready spaces for the next phase of the reconstruction.
Accommodation
Volunteers stay in a rural house near the project location. Beds are provided, but the living conditions are simple. The accommodation reflects the rural surroundings and offers an authentic experience close to nature. Please be prepared for modest comfort and a shared living space. This is part of the experience of simple and eco-conscious living. Meals are prepared by the volunteers themselves in a shared kitchen. Living conditions are simple, but the experience offers a close connection with nature, a sense of community, and shared responsibility—all essential elements of this project.
Leisure
The project takes place in the village of Lauderi, located in the municipality of Ludza in Eastern Latvia. The area is rural, quiet, and surrounded by forests and nature. It is a good place to experience peaceful country life and nature. In their free time, volunteers can explore the surroundings, go hiking, and enjoy the calm atmosphere. There are also opportunities to visit nearby towns and historical sites in the region. Life in a small village offers volunteers the chance to meet the locals and learn more about their daily lives and traditions. Volunteers plan their leisure activities together as a group. This can consist of short excursions, cultural visits, outdoor activities, or simply relaxing in nature. This location offers a simple and authentic rural experience, with time for both exploration and community life.
Travel
The international arrival terminals are Riga International Airport or Riga International Bus Station. The final destination of the camp is the Zilupe train station. Volunteers are picked up there by the project partner.
You arrange the travel to your project yourself. IBO asks all volunteers to travel in the most sustainable way possible, so preferably by train or bus. What you at least can do, is compensate your CO2 emissions. You can find more information about this on the website of Milieu Centraal. You can also compensate your emissions via IBO, by donating to our partner’s tree planting project in Uganda. You can read more about that here..
Preparation
IBO offers a good preparation for your volunteering work abroad.You will receive a digital information package and an invitation to a preparation meeting. Read more about the proces from departure until return.
Cost
IBO asks €50 registration fee. In addition, you pay a participation fee of €189 for this project. You can also become an IBO-supporter, then you do not pay a registration fee.
Would you like to know more about how your contribution is made and how it is spent? Read about the costs for participation.
Register
Register as a volunteer at IBO here.