| Summary of the project: | Project Environment:
GEAL is a non-profit organization created in 1981 in Lourinhã and has as main aims: to protect the natural and cultural heritage; to promote the study and divulgation of the heritage through the Museu da Lourinhã (Lourinhã museum), to defend the environment and the conservation of the environment and promote scientific knowledge.
The actions of GEAL - Museu da Lourinhã include 3 different thematic areas: Ethnography, Archaeology and Palaeontology.
- Archaeology: it shows the instruments worked by Men since Palaeolithic and gives evidence to the main changes that he has been suffering since then.
- Ethnography: it offers the opportunity to examine tools and working methods of different professions (some already extinct), all owing to revive a recent past in different fields of daily life.
- Palaeontology: Is one the most appreciated by the visitors where is possible to find the bigger collection of dinosaurs in Portugal that occupies 2 floors of the building. It is possible to understand the greatness and diversity of these animals.
The museum provides guided visits that are adapted to the visitor's age and knowledge. The target group of the hosting organization is mainly children and young people coming from schools from all t he country and also common citizens interested.
The hosting organization owns the only laboratory for preparation of fossils in Portugal that is full time dedicated and is possible to see it working.
The museum also provides guided visits to selected place s of the excavation fields, so the visitors can understand all the process of knowledge about the dinosaurs and other fossils.
The GEAL - Museu da Lourinhã is located in the centre of Lourinhã, that is a municipality located on the coast of the Oeste (West ) Region. It has an area of 146 km2, and a population of about 23,000, distributed among 11 parishes. Lourinhã is 65 km far from the capital Lisbon and close to other important cities like Torres Vedras (20km), Peniche (17km) and Caldas da Rainha (40 km).
Tasks for volunteer:
- office/reception work: digitalization of documents, contacts with partners and visitors, schedule school visits, create translation of documents, etc.
- information and education materials: update the database and adapt the information about the dinosaurs and fossils in order to create an internet platform that works as an educational tool, create informational and educational materials, etc.
- exhibitions and guided visits: setup exhibitions, assist in guided visits, reception of t he visitors, promote animation activities, surveillance of the museum
- divulgation and promotion of the museum: update the website information, create divulgation flyers and posters for new activities, write press releases, etc.
- practical work: fossils preparation, excavation work, cleaning, cataloguing museologic reserves;
- Promote EVS and other youth activities: organize exhibitions, presentations in schools, universities and in youth clubs, etc.
- Participation in the planning of the work: the volunteers might attend to the planning meetings to propose ideas, solutions for specific problems, become aware of the working methodologies of the organisation, place their doubts or questions about the work, evaluate, etc.
- Personal project: the volunteers have freedom and will be challenged to promote a personal project, an original idea or whatever they desire that comes in accordance with the regular philosophy of the organisation.
Profile of the volunteer:
Self-motivated, dynamic, versatile, good mood, flexible, with self initiative, creative, with handwork skills, willing to take on new challenges, opened to work with people of all backgrounds and cultures; mature to work and to relate to a group of people with different ages; willing to develop new activities and with sense of responsibility; like to work indoor and outdoor places; motivated to work in a dusty environment (excavations), interest in fields like biology, museology, archeology, paleontology, preparation of fossils, conservation, history, m otivation to work with informatics in office work.
We will look for volunteers who are interested in working with a commitment to volunteering, with interest in the field of the project, and had chosen the project because of the experience and development they will gain not only because it's in Portugal. |
