Karin with the "brown hats" team on the island of Nólsoy (turquoise jacket)
Would you be interested in the opportunity to winning a place on a sustainable tourism project on the Faroe Islands?
Apply to be selected for an ÉcoVoluntaire Tourisme Durable spot in the Closed for Maintenance Program in the Faroe Islands (DK), taking place from 1-3 May 2025.
The application period opens Tuesday, 14 January 2025 and closes Thursday morning, 16 January 2025. It is highly competitive with over 6,000 applicants last year vying for 80 places.
Karin Holm writes, "I participated last year 2024 as one of the only Swiss participants in this fantastic experience, contributing to building a remote stone hiking trail as a proud member of the “brown hats” on Nólsoy. This experience galvanized my enthusiasm for sustainable voluntourism. I highly recommend it!"
Here is a selection of frequently asked questions about the Closed for Maintenance working days found on their website.
1. WHAT WILL I NEED TO PAY FOR?
You will need to pay for your travel ticket. We have an agreement with the national airline, Atlantic Airways, about promotion codes, which provide a discount for participants. Indeed, you can choose other travel solutions, but the promotion codes are only for flights with Atlantic Airways. Accommodation and food will be provided during the Closed for Maintenance period.
2. WILL I NEED A WORK PERMIT?
All non-Nordic citizens will be required to obtain a work permit. Obtaining a work permit is simple, and we will handle the applications for you. We will provide more information and guidance once you have been admitted to the maintenance crew.
3. DO I NEED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE?
To become a volunteer, one must be at least 18 years old before the working days. Our projects have various difficulty levels, so all volunteers don't need to be highly skilled. We only require a willingness to assist and some physical fitness, as volunteers may need to walk on uneven terrain.
As something new, out of all the applicants, 50 people will be selected randomly, while 30 will be selected based on their relevant skills and experiences that align with our 2024 projects.
6. WILL FOOD BE PROVIDED?
All volunteers will receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the maintenance days. They will also receive a light meal upon arrival and a meal during the celebratory party on the final day. We do our best to provide vegetarian and gluten-free options, but it can be challenging on some of the more remote working sites.
17. WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I'M ADMITTED TO THE TEAM?
The 80 people admitted to the Maintenance Crew 2024 will receive an email from Visit Faroe Islands on Wednesday, 24 January 2025.
The timing of your registration during the 48-hour registration window will not affect your chances of being selected for the Maintenance Crew.
The program was featured in an RTS émission led by Delphine Gianora Stoll: “Chaque année, les îles Féroé luttent contre le tourisme de masse en faisant appel à des écovolontaires”
on the 19h30 show on 26 May 2024 (5 minutes long).
Read more about Closed for Maintenance on the webpage:
https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/closed
On the afternoon of Friday, 27 October 2023, the TPG (Transports Publics Genève) and the AGMT (Association genevoise du musée des tramways) will exceptionally open the doors of their exhibition "Mobility at the heart of Heritage" that is running through 5 November 2023.
It traces 120 years of public transport history in Geneva (from CGTE to TPG), from the construction of the Jonction building to the present day, and also sketches out the future of mobility, through various cross-cutting themes (changing working conditions, the social dimension of the company, crisis periods, women's careers, public transport as an urban planning tool, etc.).
Aimed at a wide audience, the exhibition is rich in iconographic elements, archive documents, oral history testimonials from pensioners and films.
Image: ©La Gruyère Tourisme
Gruyères = Medieval City. The total number of inhabitants is about a hundred people. The city also gave its name to the "commune" of Gruyères which includes the villages of Pringy, Epagny, Moléson-sur-Gruyères and Gruyères.
La Gruyère = This is the name of the district of La Gruyère, it corresponds to the whole region. The four main touristic sites are Bulle, Charmey, Gruyères and Moléson.
Le Gruyère AOP = This is the name of the famous cheese produced in our region. Here are a few of its features:
Press releases from the Swiss Post released on 12.02.2020
Due to the coronavirus, many international flights to China have been cancelled. This is why deliveries of letters and parcels from Switzerland to the People’s Republic of China are only possible to a limited extent for the time being. Swiss Post is no longer accepting any letters or parcels addressed to China in Swiss Post branches or branches with partners until further notice.
A number of international airlines have either significantly reduced the number of flights to China or even cancelled their flights to China due to the corona virus. This is having an impact on international postage from Switzerland to China. As a result, Swiss Post is currently only able to use about a third of the capacity it actually requires for deliveries to China. Consequently, Swiss Post is no longer accepting any letters or parcels addressed to China in its Swiss Post branches or branches with partners with immediate effect and until further notice.
Customers who urgently need to send letters and parcels to China, however, can still post them using the “URGENT” shipping option. However, we are currently unable to guarantee the delivery times specified.
Importing deliveries from China
China Post is responsible for the transport of consignments that are sent to Switzerland from China. As such, Swiss Post is also unable to rule out the possibility of delays when importing consignments from China into Switzerland due to the very limited transport options.
From now through 16 September 2019, board the Petit Train and discover the town of Morges and the surrounding vineyards from a different viewpoint!
Ferme aux Cretegny
On Wednesdays from 10 July to 14 August, all ages will enjoy the ride to the "Ferme aux Cretegny" in Bussy-Chardonney. Besides being able to observe many animals, you will also bake a sugar bun that you can munch on after partaking in a buffet lunch highlighting local products. https://www.ferme-aux-cretegny.ch/evenements
The Wine Train
The Petit Train will also take passengers to the wine-growing areas of the region. On Thursdays from 11 July to 29 August, travel through vineyard routes to regional wineries. Explanations about the vine, visit of cellars, and wine-tastings will be on the program!
Rent or hire the train
It is also possible to rent the Petit Train for private outings. Whether for a wedding, business outings, or school outings, the train drivers will be happy to take their passengers wherever they wish. Itinerary routes may be obtained at the tourist office, or custom-made to suit your needs.
In 2018, 3,230 people boarded the Petit Train for a city tour or vineyard. The Train des Vignes was equally a success with nearly 210 passengers taken to the cellars of the region.
