International Group Host Programme - What is it?

Introducing the Programme:

Our Programme enables young people to fully realise and appreciate being part of the culture, traditions and way of life in community with local and international people cooperating together to meet their needs from local and regional resources.To learn something about the concept and practise of “What is sustainability?”, Rainbow Communities in partnership with local groups and neighbours, offers a group-led experience — tailored to your expectations and requirements Home-stay Up to half the personnel of the visiting group at any one time will be hosted by neighbouring families on a daily basis. 
Most hosting families will be with village elders offering a traditional experience.  You will be able to appreciate younger and older peoples view of life, value and quality of past culture with today’s needs and expectations.  Overnight accommodation includes evening meal and breakfast. 
Your stay will be divided between base camp and home stay.
Base camp environment is the eco-neighbourhood of “Quinta do Arco-Iris”.  This is our home base where we will organise our activities and review our experiences.  Four traditional earth built ruins are being reconstructed on 10 acres of fertile land set between a broad high plateau above the nearby River Mira floodplain, some 20 minutes drive from the West coast Atlantic.  Basic camping facilities are provided.Daily Agenda – creating our day Our orientation is to learn and experience sustainability at home and in the neighbourhood.
After breakfast:—      Meet to create our day; meeting needs, solving issues, arranging our activities.
Evening Review:—      Meet over dinner to review impressions of our day’s experiences.
Our Programme Structure Our morning meeting is the time when we coordinate our tasks and activities. Everyone can choose to be involved in at least one of these different experiences on a daily basis. The group divides our activities as follows:Domestic well-being We will, for example, source locally and prepare our food together.  Those staying at the Arco-Iris home base will have the responsibility of cooking and welfare ensuring everyone has enough. Home base – sustainable development You will see from the Itinerary that some activities are offered to support and develop the home base environment.  These activities focus on:—      Creating and maintaining food sources,—      Management of natural resources and diversity,—      Building work using traditional and modern technology.Community Outreach – local and regional diversity Practical activities designed to help work with local people in supporting sustainable livelihoods.Each of these three core activities has a Facilitator assigned to help you create your day from the optional activities available.

See our typical Activity Itinerary