Solidarités Jeunesses

PARTENAIRE

In the summer of 2025, SIW will organise two two-week periods in which 24 young people from Europe and neighbouring countries will contribute together to the maintenance of the historic Miljoenenlijn, with a focus on both the railway and the station and the nature around the railway. This project offers the participants the opportunity to develop their practical skills in historical railway maintenance, nature management and restoration, while at the same time gaining intercultural experiences. The project contributes to the mission of the European Solidarity Corps by promoting solidarity and cooperation across borders. It supports young people in their personal development and helps them to make an impact on the local community and the preservation of cultural heritage. In this way, SIW wants to offer participants an intercultural experience in line with our slogan: Discover your impact abroad! The partner organization is the foundation Zuid Limburge Stoomtrein Maatschappij. In reality also known as the Miljoenenlijn. https://miljoenenlijn.nl/

Localisation

Simpelveld

gare la plus proche

Staion Kerkrade

aéroport le plus proche

QDU

Itinéraire vers le point de RDV

From Airport Schiphol, or Düsseldorf (Germany), you can easily catch a train to station 'Kerkrade'. From their a train will pick you up to the accomodation.

Informations supplémentaires

This project will be realized as a European Volunteering Teams (ESC-VT) project. This means that the project is co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps subsidy program 2025 and has certain requirements for participation. Who can volunteer? European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-30 year old people who reside in programme and partner countries. This means an EU member state, a Non-EU country associated to the programme (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of North Macedonia, Turkey, or Norway) or a partner country (Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine) Young people who want to participate in the European Solidarity Corps must register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/register_en). Volunteers travel costs will be compensated by this program and volunteers will receive €5,- pocketmoney per day. The travel cost reimbursement has a maximum amount and is based on the distance from your hometown to Leens, the Netherlands. Following the distance, we will reimburse based on the actual costs with a maximum of the following amounts (in between brackets the amounts if you use green travel, meaning low emissions means of transport for the main part of the travel, such as bus, train or car sharing): 0-99km: 23 euro 100-499 km: 180 euro (210 euro) 500-1999 km: 275 euro (320 euro) 2000-2999 km: 360 euro (410 euro) 3000-3999 km: 530 euro (610 euro) 4000-7999 km: 820 euro >8000km: 1500 euro It is very important to keep at the receipts, booking confirmations, boarding passes and travel tickets with you. Any missing documents may affect your reimbursement amount. Furthermore, we can also provide up to 100 euro for visa purchase. For this, please keep your receipt as well.

Remarques

Due to the system limitations, the option to select 'other' gender is unavailable. However, our projects are inclusive and open to everyone, regardless of gender, religion, or cultural background. If you specifically identify as LGBTQ+, feel free to share this information, and we will make sure to be mindful of it. Young people who want to participate in the European Solidarity Corps must register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/register_en). PLEASE SEND US YOUR PRN (PARTICIPANT REFERENCE NUMBER) AS SOON AS YOU APPLY. Volunteers travel costs will be compensated by this program and volunteers will receive €5,- pocketmoney per day.

Travail

The activites takes place along the historical railway trajectory where you ca find many green areasand also historical railway stations. A large part of the work will therefore consist of the fencing and pruning of shrubs and small trees along the trajectory. To ensure variety, this will take place at different locations and routes. Painting of old railway bridges and or fences and benches at the railway stations, also are part of the work.

Logement & nourriture

The accomodation is a stone scouting building, located at the border of the village Simpelveld. It has separate bedrooms for boys and girls including sanitation facilities. The bedrooms have airbeds. You need to bring your own sleeping bag. A kitchen is available with all facilities. Outside, there are open space for outdoor-games. Ther is a large bbq facility at the premise. Volunteers have to organise their own food and drinks. Volunteers as a group have to organise their food and drinks. Cooking the meal from your homecountry is recommendable.

Emplacement & temps libre

The Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij (South Limburg Steam Train Company) or ZLSM is a heritage railway operating from its main station of Simpelveld to Schin op Geul and Kerkrade in the south of the Netherlands. It also runs across the border from Simpelveld to Aachen-Vetschau and has an extensive collection of stock. The construction of the original Miljoenenlijn, as a part of the total railway trajectory in the south of Limburg, started in 1925 and was carried out by the Spoorwegbouwbedrijf from Utrecht, a subsidiary of the NS. Construction was difficult and expensive due to constant threat of subsidence due to mining. The railway line between Kerkrade and Simpelveld will be 18 meters below ground level. To this day, the Miljoenenlijn is a railway monument of great cultural-historical value that still appeals to the imagination. Volunteers will discuss the recrational program together with camp leaders and the host organisation. For example, they can explore the area by bike, go swimming, visit cities like Simpelveld, Maastricht, Aachen. Volunteers have free use of the train in the south of Limburg.

ESC Discover Steamtrain - Preserve history by maintaining the historic steam train's railway