International Voluntary Service
Volunteering for Peace and Social Justice

USA: Maple Hill Community, New Hampshire

SCI USA

Maple Hill Community

Theme of the project: Disabilities

Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE

Work starts: on-going

Work ends: on-going

Application deadline: on-going

Decision date: on-going

Total number of volunteers: 2

Project language: English

Local language: English

Short description: Maple Hill Community, located in NEW HAMPSHIRE, is a not-for profit organisation that is an extended family of a mother (Anitra Sorensen), two boys aged 16 and 19, 2 volunteer co-workers, and three adults with special needs.

Long description: Maple Hill Community is a not-for profit organisation that is an extended family of a mother (Anitra Sorensen), two boys aged 16 and 19, 2 volunteer co-workers, and three adults with special needs. These seven people share all aspects of daily life including work, educational and artistic activities, meals, house and grounds maintenance, gardening and animal care, and recreation. Each member of the community contributes what he or she can do and can be, and all are appreciated and respected for their individuality. In this and other respects, Maple Hill is inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher and educator, who provided the impulse for the Waldorf Schools as well as for a worldwide network of social and therapeutic communities. An important part of the community is a barn that houses horses used for a therapeutic horseback-riding program; goats that provide milk, cheese, and yoghurt; sheep that provide wool for weaving and other projects; and chickens that provide eggs. There is a bio-dynamic vegetable garden; maple trees used for making maple syrup in the spring; and 22 acres of land that provide grazing for the animals and forest land used for recreation and firewood that helps keep everyone warm in winter.

Period: for 3 to 12 months

Qualifications: Openness, willingness to learn and help where needed

Work: Helping with the needs of others might mean reading a book out loud, helping with teeth brushing or bathing, going to a concert or art gallery together, helping someone learn a new skill, helping someone with homework, going skiing with someone, assisting with artistic activities (sculpture, weaving, watercolour painting, form drawing, etc.), or just sitting and talking and being a friend. Helping around the house and farm might include cooking, washing the dishes, helping cut and stack firewood, feeding the animals, collecting eggs, milking the goats, cleaning the house or barn, working in the garden, doing the laundry, helping with a building project, helping with the horseback riding program, helping collect and boil down maple syrup, or clearing a walking trail in the woods. Our goal is to find what each person enjoys and can contribute joyfully to keep the household and activities flowing in a harmonious way that all can enjoy.

Accommodation: In the house, private bedroom, shared bath, room and board

Pocket money: provided

Other remarks: Must be non-smoker. We have vegetarian meals. Prefer to have women to keep the gender mix in the house balanced.