By Bo Yan, volunteer in the workcamp ‘Nature Parc Ela – Reconstruction of dry stone walls (Savognin GR)’ in 2023.
At first, I applied to participate in this workcamp because I wanted to go abroad and see the world. I didn’t think too much about which project to choose, but I was lucky to be accepted for the one in Switzerland, and I was happy to join.
The focus of this project was building a dry stone wall. It was a bit demanding, but I never felt bored. There are some basic skills required for building a dry stone wall, like placing big stones at the bottom and flatter ones at the top. At first, we worked slowly, but as we found the best strategies, we became faster. Sometimes, we even encountered animals like snakes, worms, and grasshoppers while working.
During breaks or picnics, we enjoyed chatting with one another. Our group was diverse, with participants from Spain, Poland, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, and Switzerland. We organized some activities to share our cultures, which was both fun and enriching.
We had two days off each week. On these days, we hiked, took cable cars, climbed mountains, swam in a lake, visited nearby villages by bus, and even participated in a stone festival. The experience was unforgettable—I even saw a shooting star, which was truly impressive.
Throughout the camp, I often reflected on why we were here. After a conversation with my partner, I realized that the purpose of this experience wasn’t just about helping with the physical work but also about cultural exchange, expanding our perspectives, and learning new skills. The most important takeaway is to bring back these insights and skills to make positive changes in our own countries. That, I believe, is more than enough.
