The Laughing Body the Art of Care Gesundheit! Institute WV

Hillsboro, WV

A week dedicated to taking care of the Gesundheit Institute & it’s magnificent natural surroundings.

Join us in the work/play of health-enhancing, community-centered joyful service during this week, as part of Gesundheit’s Rural Volunteer Program! An ongoing experiment in the therapeutic role of a caring community.

This week is also an opportunity to explore the Art of Care through the tools of humanitarian clowning.

We are looking for students, volunteers, gardeners, builder and maintenance volunteers, from ages 18 to 30.

What will we do?

Every day we will have five hours of physical work, directed by Gesundheit! Staff :

– Maintenance of the buildings: the Dacha, the Art Center, the Farm House, the Library, & others.

– Cleaning the ring trail and other trails.

– Taking care of the vegetable garden.

– Rebuild & paint signs.

– Building, carpentry, woodworking or house painting.

Workshops

Each day we will offer a two-hour seminar with Ginevra Sanguigno and Italo Bertolasi on the issues, to name a few:

– Art of Care

– Humanitarian clowning

– Meditation

– Walking in nature

Selected volunteers will have free board and lodging in shared rooms, with shared bathrooms. Maximum number of participants 20.

Who is offering this?

Facilitators and presenters include:  

Ginevra Sanguigno — Actress and dancer. Since 1981, has used theatre as a vehicle for social change through her work as a clown, instructor, enthusiator. Founder of Clown One Italia in 2000. Organizer of humanitarian clown missions worldwide since 2003.

Italo Bertolasi — Body worker, shamanic culture researcher, writer. Since 1965, travels and walks in the wilderness to explore the world in search of ways to build bridges between people and culture. Organizer and instructor of Clown One Italia.

Holly and Adam — Land managers of The Gesundheit! Institute.

Who is invited?

You are! No prior background is required, just concern for the welfare of others and willingness to try things out.

General informations

Where? | The program takes place on the Gesundheit Institute’s 320 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with mountain trails, waterfalls, extensive gardens, and a lake. Gesundheit’s project-in-progress is a  unique model of holistic health care that will serve as an inspiration for us to coax each other to dream big—in our personal lives, in our community involvement, and in our contributions to global peace and justice

Facilities | Gesundheit lays on a pristine tract of farm and mountain land in rural West Virginia. The dacha, with its onion domes and Russian architecture, serves as a residence and meeting place, and has won awards for its unique design.

Meeting Spaces | Gesundheit Institute offers many unique meeting spaces and classrooms. There are quiet spaces for meditation or study and large rooms to house workshops and classes. Gesundheit hosts events focused on education—at the site of the future hospital and elsewhere.

Accommodations | Accommodation are in dormitory-style group settings. There are laundry machines at Gesundheit that you can use. We offer very slow WIFI (cannot download, cannot use skype, sorry!). Clean sheets and towels are provided.

⇒ Gesundheit staff will shuttle people to and from the train station in White Sulphur Springs and the airport in Lewisburg .

Registration form: Please take a moment to fill out the registration form. We are only accepting 20 participants and we suggest you submit your application as soon as possible to guarantee your spot.

Information : contact Holly and Adam at hollygrowlightly@gmail.com