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Experience the peace and tranquility and help with various projects around my home in rural Occitanie, France

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am an independent, free spirited 55 year old Australian who will be living most of the year in France when I am not running my charities overseas in Africa or in Oz checking on my parents who are not in good health. I am qualified primary school teacher who has taught in the west (Australia, France, Italy and the UK) and in Tanzania, Ghana, Sudan, China, and Thailand. I founded a small community school in Thailand and for three years, we had a constant stream of amazing workaways. I could not have achieved what I did without them. I also founded an educational maths charity that operates in Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya and last year I founded a washable period pad charity that provides menstrual products to vulnerable teens in East Africa and Zambia.

    I am a vegetarian, who is into mindfulness, breathworks, yoga and also enjoys a laugh. My number one passion is backpacking, preferably on the road less travelled, followed closely by volunteering which I have done since I was a young child.

    When I am at home I borrow my neighbours black Labrador each day when she goes to work so be aware that some days a very happy lab will be about.

    If you have your own dog, it is of course most welcome in my home!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I am an avid backpacker and have travelled to more than 100 countries, along with teaching, my passion is travel. I can share my knowledge of the world and you can experience the peace and tranquility of rural France.

    I am an open minded person who values integrity and honesty in people.

  • Help

    Help

    I have small projects and larger ones. I want to sort out my garden, I have a small forest area that I have started creating things with recycled bits. I like the rustic feel and feel the area has potential, I just need some inspiration and helping hands. I like to buy old bits and pieces and I want to incorporate these into the forest area. I want to build a leaf composting toilet. There are small odd jobs around the house- gardening, mowing, pruning etc and my garden beds are in need of updating as they are starting to fall apart, I have some ideas but welcome others.


    I have a rising damp problem and am thinking about putting in a French drain so would welcome any expertise and help with this. I have recently put in guttering but it is not making much of a difference. I only want a drain down one side of my house where the land is higher than the base of my house, it is about 16 m long. I want to replace some tiles above my sink in my bedroom, if someone shows me what to do, I am happy to do this.

    My laundry is a bit of a mess in terms of stuff everywhere so I will sort that but would like some bigger shelves up and and some door fronts.

    Language
    My French is not good at all, so I welcome someone who even wants to come and stay for a week or two just to teach me French as I have limited money to pay for French lessons- one can only learn so much on Duolingo.

    Charity Help - INSTAGRAM and Social Media.
    I am in need of someone savvy to help with my charity Instagram and social media, in order to maximise awareness and try to get some funding.

    So my jobs range from small to larger ones and I am happy to go with whatever anyone feels most comfortable with. I will work with you the whole time.

    This year I am away in Africa running my charities from mid July to mid August.,



    .

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    My house is small but gorgeous and has 140km views of the Pyrenees (on a good day). It is situated on a ridge. The closest town is 4 km away and there you can find just about everything. I am one hour south of Toulouse.

    You will have your own bedroom and share the lounge, dining, kitchen and bathroom with me.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    You can take off for a walk from my house. There is an outdoor swimming pool in town. I have a bike you can borrow. The closest town is L'isle en Dodon. There is great walking in the Pyrenees and the Spanish border is about an hour away... a good day trip for tapas, good wine and cheaper petrol!

    There is a local bus that cost just over 2 Euros that goes from Lisle En Dodon into Toulouse city if you wish to explore its sights!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    I am surrounded by farm land so I am sure if we ask my farmer neighbour, you could park up your van.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Dogs most welcome

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 967338626658

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