We might already have answered in our FAQ: How to sign up? How to get there ? How much does it cost? Are travel expenses included? etc...

There is no such thing as a stupid question, so if you can't find your answer in the FAQ feel free to contact us directly !

At Emmaüs Scherwiller you will participate at the collection, sorting, recycling and sale of donations at the side of Emmaüss compagnons, other volunteers and employees. Outside of your activities having to do with the Emmaüss missions of reemployment and reintegration, you might participate in collective activities like the meals and joint outings in order to build bonds with the other members of the Emmaüs structure and other young people. On site, you will be fed and accomodated at no cost: You will be accomodated in a tent. During your stay, you will have acces to shared showers and sanitary installations. You will only have to pay for your travel expenses to get to the Emmaüs community. The summer camp are organised to respect the sanitary measures. 

Staunch defender of a society in which everyone has his place, Emmaüs develops innovative solutions with victims of exclusions, which help them get back in control of their life... Faithfull to the will of the Abbé Pierre,  Emmaüs has become a factory of social innovation and solidarity to help the public in precarious situations and a commited movement fighting for a more humane and just society.

Emmaüs Scherwiller is above all a place of welcoming, life, activity and solidarity, which works without any subsidies and only with the recovery of objects.

In fact, we should have started with that... 

In 1949, Henry Groues called "Abbé Pierre", restores a house in which he lived. This house, a place of encounters, becomes an international youth hostel, which he names "Emmaüs".

The Emmaus movement was born out of this initiative with the goal to act in a way that every person, every society and every nation can live, assert themselves and fulfil themselves in exchange and sharing, as well as in equal dignity.

The association Emmaüs is created in 1953 to organise and develop this movement. After the destruction of the second World War, the hardships of the winter of 1954 becomes deadly. In the context of an important housing shortage, the abbé Pierre famously calls out to the french population.

This triggers the so called insurrection of kindness (insurrection de la Bonté) and strongly influences the public authorities. A huge movement of solidarity is born: the appeal brings in 500 million francs in donations. The following days saw the creation of numerous structures within Emmaus and the gradual emergence of many Emmaüs communities (117 in France). In 1985 the assosiation Emmaüs France is created, which regroups all of the french Emmaüs groups. 

In April 1983, the Strasbourg Emmaüs community sends 1 employee and 3 compagnons to Scherwiller in order to host a workcamp during the summer season. The group moves to the Alumnat Ste-Odile, a former public school owned by the Assumptionist Fathers. The location becomes an annex of the Strasbourg community. 

Emmaüs summer camps are an opportunity for young people of all backgrounds to voluntarily participate during a week or more in the activities of the emmaüs structure and to live a human and enriching experience for a good cause. Fed and accomodated during the lenght of your workcamp, you will share your daily life with the compagnons, volunteers and employees of Emmaüs. You will discover the actions through which Emmaüs helps others to which you will contribute in the context of your volunteering. On the weekends, you can participate in excursions and activities organised by Emmaüs.

You can participate from the ages of 18 to 118... However, the younger you are, the more in advance you should sign up, as the places are quickly taken! No training or qualifications are required to participate with the exception of your interest for the project, your motivation and good will. Beware ! You might learn plenty of new things during your stay ... volunteering risks to change your life ! 

You're not french, but you live in France: you’re welcome ! You live abroad : you’re welcome too!

It would be better! However just because you flunked your french classes (or never had any), that is not a reason not to participate in the project: on the contrary! France is the perfect place to learn and improve your french. Further many people travel around the country with no notion of the local language : in any case a big smile and a bit of sign language will usually do the trick. And don't worry, important information will be translated. 

To register in a workcamp, you have to fill out a registration form. You will be able to register starting the 1st of July.

Send us a mail at contact@emmaus-summercamp.org

You will be fed and accomodated free of charge. You will only have to take in charge of the following costs: travel expenses, insurance and financial participation for leisure activities.

Remember to pass on the coordinates of your workcamp to your relatives and loved ones and to notify them when arriving and during your stay. Also, bring along something from your home to share with the others (a song, a snack...) to contribute to a welcoming atmosphere at the workcamp. 

Your registration is free and we take charge of your housing and meal costs. You will only have to take charge of your travel expenses. 

French adults (18 years and up) have to bring along their carte vitale or their attestation de CMU. European volunteers coming to a workcamp in France have to bring along their european health insurance card, so they can be taken in charge by the the social security in case of an accident. 

Find out about the formalities to be completed before leaving for your work site and obtain the necessary documents: identity card, passport, residence permit, visa depending on the country.

Be sure to check the place and time of the meeting point of your arrival with the responsible of your summer camp. If you need to be picked up at the train station, remember to ask the responsible of your summer camp in advance. Be very careful whilst traveling! We would recommend you always keep an eye on your belongings when entering or leaving a train, in the train and metro stations and in the nearby restaurants and cafés. The travel expenses to get to your summer camp are at your charge. 

You will be accomodated in tents on the campsite of the village (Scherwiller). The meals will be the same for everyone and are prepared by Emmaüss cook. We do not offer vegan, halal or kosher meals. 

You will work from monday to friday from 9 am to 12 am and 1 pm to 5 pm. You will have free time on saturdays and sundays.

You will participate in the daily activities of the community and integration project with the compagnons, other volunteers and employees.

You can dispose of your free time as you wish. To get around, a bike will be put at your disposal or you can also take the bus. Joint outings can be organised in groups with a vehicle put at your disposal.

Each year, youth from the entire world participates in a collective experience of solidarity at the sides of Emmaüs

You have talent, skills, ideas, a network, free time... and you want to use these for concrete actions and a good cause with a commited team?

Come experience the summer camps, everywhere in France we await you at Emmaüs !

You might ask ...

L’insurrection de la bonté.

About the summer camp

Our history !

If you too are interested in joining the team, sign up !

Do you need more details, more informations or an answer to your questions? You will get the chance to directly get in contact with an Emmaüs agent, who can give you more informations, assist you in your choices and who can propose solutions to any potential problems. 

We're here for you!

Contact us

Well connected? In this case, we might need you to work on our Instagram account or to help us select products to put in our online shop: emmaus-etikette.fr

You are an artist and would like to share your skills? Spread a little culture by proposing a cultural activity or workshop for the different participants of the community: compagnons, volunteers and employees. 

You will participate in the daily life of the compagnons by taking part in the different activities to gather, sort, restore and sell donations.

Our slogan against wasteful overconsumtion: Why buy, when you can also rent ! Whilst working with the employees in integration of Emmaüs Ethiloc, you could help among other things to prepare order, to clean reuseable cups or even come along for a delivery. 

You like fashion and working with cloth? You could help with the sorting, recycling and the sale of second hand textiles, at the side of specially trained employees in integration.

Emmaüs Horbourg-Wihr is an exiting new adventure! This annex is located around 30 Km away from the facility in Scherwiller close to the city of Colmar, but the activities stay the same: gathering, sorting, repairing, arranging and selling incoming donations and more... 

13 Km away from the Emmaüs community in Scherwiller, the festival Decibules is a diverse and intergenerational festival with many iconic french artists. 

Discover new areas of activity. Each summer, we propose to the youth (18 years or older) from around the world to discover the Emmaüs movement by partaking in its daily life and activities. 

To feel useful, the volunteers will work hand in hand with the so-called compagnes and compagnons, the employees in integration and the other volunteers...

40 Km away from the Emmaüs community, the biggest amusement parc of germany with over 100 attractions and shows for all ages.  Fun and a good time are guaranteed.

A small campsite at a farm, close to the village center of Scherwiller, less than 5 minutes away by foot from the Emmaüs community. The Campsite includes showers and sanitary installations. A washing machine is provided in the premises of the community. It is strongly discouraged to take along any valuable posessions as we decline any responsibility in case of loss or theft. However, you will have the possibility to lock away your important documents (Passport, etc...) in a secure location during your stay. 

In Emmaüs Scherwiller located at around 50 km south of Strasbourg in the beautiful region of Alsace. Emmaüs Scherwiller is in a region full of magnificient sites like: the alsacian and european capital (Strasbourg), small, typical alsacian villages (Mittelbergheim, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg), the Mont Sainte-Odile, the alsacian medieval castles (Haut-Koenigsbourg), Colmar, the Vosges (le Grand Ballon), wine route of Alsace, ...

Each summer, Emmaüs groups organise many different workcamps in all of europe. Intended for the youth of 18 years or more, these camps offer a meaningful experience by sharing life in an Emmaüs community for one or more weeks. The camp is a simple exchange: You will be fed, accomodated and will get the chance to experience community life in exchange for daily work. 

You will have the chance to go on many scenic walks in the surroundings of the community, as well as to go to the local swimming pool, cinema, bowling, etc... Everything will be organised once you have arrived here ! 

Encounter a (culturally) diverse range of men and women from all kinds of atypical walks of life. An excellent way to discover an entirely new universe and opening your mind, while at the same time actively participating in helping others!

The meals will be the same for everyone and are prepared by Emmaüs own cook. We do not offer vegan, halal or kosher meals. 

Together, experience solidarity and a strong community!

Commitment, experience and discovery

A mission in the heart of Emmaüs supportive ecosystem !

How to get there ?

Live a meaningful experience!

Activities

Summer camp Emmaüs, What is it ?

At the cultural centre EmmaCulture

At the community of Emmaüs

At the branch Emmaüs Horbourg-Wihr

How does it work ?

We take in charge your expenses for accomodation and meals. You only have to take in charge your travel expenses.

Discover the many sights and events not to be missed in the vicinity of the Emmaüs community: Castles, the Monkey Mountain, eagle aviary and much more... 

You will have the chance to visit the other emmaüs communities in Alsace and might this way meet volunteers from other summer camps.

5 Km away from the Emmaüs community in Scherwiller, the association Zone 51 offers many events, concerts and festivals all year long. This summer the festivals Summer Vibration and Rock Your Brain Fest should not be missed!

Registration