What was the motivation for establishing a foundation?
Even in children’s games, I clearly saw the artistic and social potential, and at age 15 I began my search for meaning.
I earn my livelihood with my artistic work. With my social projects I make my contribution to the success of the community and to improving social conditions, primarily in the educational sector.
To bring the various projects under one roof and facilitate their management, I established this foundation and donated my property to the Foundation. My hope is that the projects I have initiated will be continued by dedicated people, even if I should go in other directions.
Sincerely, Gina Gonsior.
Can one carry out a practical course or in training with the Foundation?
You can complete a voluntary internship in all of our projects.
In childcare centre The Wolpertinger in Munich, you can complete all training courses to become a state-certified educator or state-certified childcare worker. The prerequisite for this is a place at a specialist academy for social pedagogy or a specialist school for child care.
Applications to Bianca Wild, info@diewolpertinger.de
The projects in southern Italy can accept volunteers and interns from June to November as needed.
Applications to Gina Gonsior, info@gioiadivita.de
How does a voluntary practical in southern Italy work?
Once it has been discussed, we can take on voluntary trainees from May to mid-November.
Trainees can be 16 to 26 years old, and work together every day between 4 to 6 hours on building up the life academy. They live in wooden cabins or caravans.
The work is varied, in the organic vegetable garden, at fig and olive harvests, constructing caravans or a tree house, rebuilding collapsed terraces, helping in the restaurant and in the kitchen, or taking care of children and adolescents.
Trainees blend into the community, pay their travel expenses themselves, and 10 € per day for accommodation and full board (these costs do not apply to trainees with EU funding). They must bring their own pocket money for trips, public transport, extra requests, etc.
The Foundation can issue a certificate of training.
Can the camp in Italy be booked for courses and seminars?
The project is suitable for artistic courses, cooking classes and seminars in the area of personality development. The courses must be organized and promoted by the instructors themselves. The Foundation organizes the conference room, accommodation and meals for participants (enquiries and prices available via our Email address)
From June to September the camp is suitable for outdoor courses (for example, sculpting, painting, music, and dance). For courses that need complete peace and quiet, such as yoga, meditation, etc., a separate seminar room is available.
Can one simply have a holiday in the camp in Italy?
Yes, you can, if no fixed groups have booked. Enquiries and prices via our email address: info@gioiadivita.de
Is there Internet in the camp in Italy?
Yes, we have Wi-Fi, which we can switch on and off as needed.
What is expected from future members of the community?
The project in Italy is currently managed by Gina Gonsior, Dieter Hoffmann, Avril Arthur-Goettig, Katharina Winkelmann and Daniela di Matteo plus temporary employees.
We currently have a building permit for 3 more octagonal houses, a large swimming pool, a sauna and a greenhouse for the organic vegetable garden.
We are looking for people:
– Who want to invest in the project in Gioi and actively cooperate and live there.
– Whose life experience has given them courage to change.
We ourselves have taken steps into uncertainty and learned that work for yourself and for the community dissolves the initial fears.
Why projects with children and young people?
Because they enrich our present and will shape our future.
We offer space, time, knowledge, support and encouragement to recognize their own potential and to take the next development step confidently and without fear.
How can one support the project?
We appreciate all the people who want to support our work through donations, interest-free loans, information, cooperation, volunteer work and friendship.
The Foundation is a non-profit organization and can issue donation certificates that are recognized by the tax office.
How is the Foundation funded?
The childcare centre in Munich is funded by mandatory funding from the city of Munich and the Government of Upper Bavaria.
The fees from the parents for the kindergarten and primary school day care places also cover the costs.
The projects in southern Italy are funded by private investment, donations, the sale of our olive oil and the fees for the summer camp or the workshops.
How can one sponsor an olive tree?
Please simply fill in this form and send it back to us.
How can one obtain Gioiadivita olive oil?
Please send an email and we will send the latest price list.
We only provide oil from the current harvest. Your order must be with us by mid-October. The harvest is completed in November.
The oil is delivered in November and in January to Munich and can be sent from there or be picked up directly at the childcare centre.
What does the Foundation do for the environment?
On the Foundation’s grounds we have built a natural water-recycling plant, which cleans the wastewater so that it can be used as utility water – a pioneering pilot project! We use compost toilets, water filters instead of water in plastic bottles, compost our waste, grow our own fruits and vegetables and instigate eco-art environmental actions, for example, eliminating wild rubbish dumps in the area together with local inhabitants.
Where is the life academy in southern Italy and how does one get there?
The Foundation’s 42,000 square metres of land is located 140 km south of Naples in the Cilento National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.
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Cilento Italy
@ Gioi
http: //www.map-generator.net
Directions: Munich – Gioiadivita (print)
By Car
Route from Munich
Distance: 1250 km
Driving time: approx 12 h plus pauses
- Brenner motorway-Verona-Modena-Bologna-Firenze-Roma-Napoli – ca. 20 km before Napoli at Caserta South take the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway
- pass Salerno keeping in the direction Reggio Calabria
- at Battipaglia exit the motorway
- stay on the main road keeping in the direction Agropoli / Vallo della Lucania / Sapri until the exit Omignano (warning those using navigation systems: the device often shows a route via Perito, which is one exit earlier and wrong)
- in Omignano turn left in the direction Gioi, after the petrol station and before Pasticceria Malibeo (from here it is a small country road)
- in Casino Lebano keep to the right in the direction Gioi – after about 4 km turn right at the bridge direction Gioi (from here serpentine road up the hill, for about 2 km). Attention, we are on the right half way below Gioi
- Lost? Just call: +39 339 424 7584
Tip: Leave Saturday afternoon from Munich and travel as far as Verona or one exit further on. There have a relaxing dinner and overnight stay dinner. Sunday after breakfast continue the longer part of the journey: on Sunday there are no trucks on the road!
Route for romantics
Distance 1150 km
Driving time: 15 h plus pauses
- From Munich to Tirol (Sankt Johann) on the A8 Bernau / Prien
- then exit towards Bernau-Grassau-Marquartstein-Pettendorf
- after Pettendorf turn right (307) in the direction Schleching-Kössen
- along the Tiroler Ache through the Bärenschlucht (Bear’s gorge)
- in Kössen turn right at the roundabout, direction St. Johann
- at the next roundabout straight ahead to Schwendt-Griesenau-St.Johann-Kitzbühl
- stay on this road (it becomes the Felbertauern road)
- Felbertauern pass to Lienz
- in Lienz turn right at the roundabout to Toblach
- then continue on the SS51 to Cortina d. Ampezzo (lovely pass through the Dolomites!)
- continue on the SS51 to Belluno.
- there either the state road to Vittorio Veneto Conegliano-Treviso-Mestre or alternatively from Belluno on the A27 to Mestre (costs only EUR 6.-, and saves 1 hour).
- After Mestre take the E55 to Chioggia-Ravenna
- continue on the SS16 to Rimini-Pessaro-Ancona-Chivitanova-S.Benedetto-Pescara
- then on the 5SS to Popoli- Sulmona.
- Stay on this road, it becomes the SS17 and goes to Roccarasso-Isernia-Benevento-Avelino-Salerno.
- From Salerno: see instructions above.
By plane:
Fly to Naples (NAP) and then continue with a rental car to Salerno, exit Battipaglia, then see above.
– Or continue with the ALI bus: It is orange, stops at the airport about 100 m from arrivals, left after the taxi stand, and shuttles from the airport to the train station and the port of Naples (so you can not go wrong!). Near the station (“Stazione Napoli Centrale”) get off and continue by train to Reggio Calabria or Paola or Sapri to Omignano or Vallo della Lucania. From here you can be picked up by car.
By train:
Night train with sleeper to Rome, from here continue with the IC direction Reggio Calabria. Travel as far as Vallo della Lucania, from here you can be picked up.
Those who do not like the night train should enquire about fast trains to Bologna. Then continue from Bologna to Salerno with the Frecciarossa.
