Samen werken, spelen, eten, genieten is zoveel leuker dus verwelkomen we je met open armen. Iedereen die een 'ja' voelt bij onze missie en visie is welkom, maakt niet uit welke leeftijd of nationaliteit, ieder met zijn unieke verhaal en talent.
Praktisch betekent het, dat je als vrijwilliger, je committeert om vijf dagen per week, 5 uur per dag mee te helpen in Vale da Alegria. 

's Ochtends na het ontbijt starten we samen om met elkaar te verbinden daarna kies je waar jij je kwaliteiten wilt inzetten óf misschien juist iets wat je graag wilt leren. De variëteit aan werkzaamheden is groot.
Hiervoor krijg je onderdak in één van de grote opgedeelde tipi tenten met een eigen slaapvertrek met bed inclusief beddengoed en drie vegetarische maaltijden per dag.

Je maakt automatisch deel uit van het community leven en mag meedoen met alle gratis activiteiten die daar plaatsvinden zoals yoga, meditaties, aerial silk les, muziekavonden met kampvuur, pizzaparties, fanclubs. Verras ons met de talenten die jij wilt inbrengen. 
De gezamenlijke auto 'Bassie' kan gebruikt worden voor uitstapjes. 
Vanaf oktober 2023 kunnen we plek geven aan zeven vrijwilligers.

We staan ingeschreven bij Workaway.info. 
Maar je kunt ook rechtstreeks een mail sturen naar punam@valleyofjoy.nl
Schrijf in de mail een korte uitleg over jezelf, je motivatie om naar Vale da Alegria te komen, welke periode en hoe lang je wilt blijven, het liefst minimaal twee weken. We vinden het leuk om te horen welke talenten je hebt die je eventueel wilt inzetten.

• Houten vloer timmeren in de grote tipi tent
• Organisch compomst toilet huis bouwen
• Buitendouche maken en waterleidingen aanleggen

• In de moestuin, planten, oogsten, wieden, verzorgen
• Planten van voedselbos, boomgaard
• Op speelse wijze metselen van muurtjes langs ons strand
  

• Zagen van eucalyptusbomen en schillen van de bast
• Vlonder maken in de tooltempel
• Trappetjes maken in de moestuin
• Opschonen van de barrage (zwemvijver)

Met veel dankbaarheid geven we elke vrijwilliger een plekje in onze vrijwilligers galerij. 

Noor from the Netherlands:

What a magical experience at Vale de Alegria. A place to connect with different aspects of life: community, nature, yourself, learning and playing. It has offered me so much. Wim & Punam created in such a short time already such a warm, beautiful and playful place. You see the love they have for each other and life really back in what they create. And they welcome you to join them, to create, to learn, to play, to go deep in your experience of life.

Every morning, after having breakfast, we gathered for a cup of tea, to talk about how we feel and what kind of work needs to be done that day. Wim mostly coordinates the different tasks and he is really open for your aspirations and the things you would like to do and learn. This made that everyone could work in the field you like. I feel really grateful for the trust and patience he gave me, so I could learn and grow in building with natural materials!

Everyday we had lunch and dinner together, with a schedule we decided who was cooking or cleaning when. I felt this was a good way to distribute the task and have an overview. Everyone took so much care in what they prepared and every meal was a fest. And next to that a lot of laughing, playing games, beautiful conversations around the campfire and pizza parties.

I couldn’t recommend this place more if you like to be in nature, learn about natural building, arts, like to play and share your experiences in life.

Suzanne from Belgium:

My stay was a beautiful, enriching experience. It was a privilege to contribute to this emerging community. Wim and Punam hold a special place in my heart. I resonated with their values, and it was a place where I could truly be myself; even more, I could discover new parts of myself. All of this is possible in a peaceful and serene environment where creativity seems to spring from the ground.

Wim and Punam are very good educators, without explicitly trying to be. In the short time I was there, I learned a lot about eco-building, communal living, and creating in harmony with nature. I really enjoyed the felting & dancing together, the bonfire singing, our little chats about sometimes big things, tea time, washing in the river, the jokes and the laughing, the inspiring stories about how this place came to be,…

I'm grateful and I hope to return soon to build further with them.
Thank you, dear Wim and Punam, and all the other wonderful people who surrounded me during this experience. I carry you all in my heart!

Josefina from Argentina:

My experience with Wim, Punam and other volunteers was life-changing. Dificult to describe in just a few words. But I will try my best!
There is no doubt why the valley carries that name: JOY. Every day was a perfect combination of responsability, co creation, caring for each other, helping, learning, having beautiful and sometimes dificult conversations, laughing and enjoying absolutely every moment. Wim and Punam are beautiful souls who really cared for our well-being and growth. Every moment with them felt like a life celebration. They both are transparent and kind and super generous with their knowledges.
Everyone had the oportunity to express their needs/thoughts/emotions, and this where always taken into account, there was always a feeling of being really heard.
They where also very opened to learn from what we had to offer. I personally could teach some Acroyoga and share some aereal silk knolwdge and that made me feel amazing, bc I love sharing this and seeing how much joy it brings!
We also had some beautiful rest days where we were able to explore the land as we wished to and also go to the beach all together.
I just loved it and I definitely recommend the experience if you resonate.
Love u, Wim and Punam <3

Juliette en Tristan from Cananda:

We loved working on this project surrounded by lovely humans, sharing meals together, playing music and dancing together, making the balance of work super playful and enjoyable. Vale da Algeria has been a nourishing place to learn about community living and about oneself, thanks for the deep conversations around the bonefire.
Wim and Punam are both extraordinary humans, filled with love and wisdom, ready to share their gift with anybody ready to receive it. Couldn't recommend more, for experienced Workawayers as well as first timers. much love and prosperity's for this project, we are so excited to come back to see how far the magic went 🤍

Tracey and Graham from the UK:

Well what can we say ! We had a truly amazing 2 weeks with with Wim, Punam and the 'Workawayers' in May. We got back to the UK last week and we have reflected on our time working in the community:
Both Wim and Punam are exceptional and inspiring people. They have depth and breadth of community living experiences and are now creating their own vision. It is beautiful - it's sunny, the river (and beach) is amazing, the water is delicious (if water can be described as that !), the skill and craftwork in the communal kitchen is inspiring.
I loved caring for our food in the vegetable garden and cooking for everyone. Mealtimes were delightful, fun and strengthened our 'togetherness'. Songs and discussions around the campfire were joyful and affirming.
Graham loved working with the others re-tiling the roof, wood-working, surfing, wiring the pump in the frog-pond - and making curry !
We also loved quiet afternoons by our campervan and bathing in the stream.
Huge thanks to everyone that made this special - we will see you 'in five' !

Brieuc and Thea from France:

It has been lovely staying in Vale da Alegeria! During the three weeks that we were there the main focus was on creating a terrace garden which involved a variety of jobs from leveling soil and planting to building steps. Wim and Punam made a lot of effort to find a job for everyone that everybody felt happy and comfortable with. This is really a place for motivated people, who are excited to work on a bigger project and contribute with own ideas and input, there is lots of opportunity and space for creativity.
We had lots nice, fun or deep chats over shared meals and campfires, thank you Punam and Wim for this precious time!

Rosemary from Australia:

Wim and Punam's property is in the starting phases of building a community. It’s rugged and beautiful nestled amongst trees (I think I only heard two cars go by in my entire stay!). If you are someone who needs all of the luxuries of modern life this might not be the place for you—you will be showering and drinking water from a well, have to walk up a steep hill to get mobile reception and be looking more muddy than model for most of it. However, if you’re hoping to get back to nature with really skilled and friendly hosts you’ll love it. Punam and Wim went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable- including setting up the most luxurious glamping tent for us to sleep in, allowing our interests to guide some of the tasks we undertook (mosaicing and cooking took my heart) and providing a communal car for use! It is very much a lifestyle rather than job that they provided us. We all ate our meals together and worked throughout the day (a chunk in the morning and a chunk in the evening) at a comfortable pace. They provided a huge insight and vast amount of knowledge about building, art and communal living enabling us to connect with them and the landscape throughout. Because this is their home rather than a business there are some basic rules they have established- vegetarian communal meals, no drinking or smoking and a general ethos of respect and communication. Other than this the experience is shaped through communication and guided by the weather and the tasks most needed doing.

If you want to get back to simple living with considerate and generous people I highly recommend! I cannot wait to come back to see how this beautiful space has flourished in the next few years!

Julian from Germany:

Punam and Wim are great people! They welcomed us with a great hospitality.
Both are conscious, grounded, kind people with a good sense of humour. You can learn a lot from both of them. Punam is a great artist and expert in felting, Wim has so much knowledge in eco-building. Both are passionate in what they do and so it was fun to learn from them. We loved the attitude of keeping the balance. Being productive on the land as well as our trip to the beach and the pizza- campfire party. :) It was a pleasure to meet you, to share moments of depth and to co-create.

Marc from the Netherlands:

'What an adventure and how lucky I was to be among the first group of pioneers. There was almost nothing yet, a nice well, a toilet in the wide world, a small old farmhouse, some roads and plateaus. So there was plenty to build and fix up.
I slept in a tent with two other men. In no time, we were able to share personal stories and sometimes support each other. 
Punam and Wim are very warm, hospitable people, with whom I soon felt very connected and familiar. The group was very close, we shared daily and worked together on small projects. Dividing into the little projects was actually automatic and I thoroughly enjoyed doing them. 
I really felt alive, enjoyment was that. So I got to work with the motor-strimmer, chainsaw and grinder and was towing the broken-down ambulance bus with Wim behind the wheel with the land rover. I enjoyed the space, trust and appreciation I got, which is a lot less in my work in the Netherlands. In short, I had a very nice time with super nice weather so I will definitely go back again..... ' 

Patrick: 

'What a rich experience to contribute as a member of the first group of volunteers to realise Wim and Punam's dream in this beautiful and unique place! 
Wonderful to pick up concrete jobs with my hands and see the village community grow, with highlights like a new roof and the first self-generated electricity. 
I experienced the group dynamic as pure and intimate, where everything is welcome. I am very curious to see how this place develops and wish Wim and Punam and all future residents and volunteers every success and pleasure in doing so.'