Intercultural Exchange Programs & Community Participation 🌿🌍💚

Each year, between April and September, we receive many requests through our partners, social media platforms and direct applications for our official outdoor intercultural exchange programs. Most participants bring their own small tents, especially during the spring and summer seasons.

Since 2018, we have been truly grateful for the growing interest and for the many wonderful people who have become a temporary part of our community farm while helping at Narava Farm and with it supporting local families, social clients, youth groups and children within our region. ❤️

During the winter period, and with prior arrangement and mutual agreement, we also offer indoor accommodation options, including our micro farm hostel or studio room when available. The studio is sometimes also offered, subject to availability, to families and single parents with children throughout the year.

If you are a minor and would like to participate in an exchange program as part of a group through your youth association or scout group, you can learn more about our youth and scout exchange program with partial sponsorship here:     Narava Farm – Scouts & Groups Program

Our Mission & Community Focus

At Narava Farm, together with the Narava Group EU – Foundation Narava and our official partners, we are not a commercial tourist farm or private holiday destination.

We are a Social Intercultural Community Farm focused on:

✨ Intercultural exchange
✨ Youth and family support & reintegration
✨ International community projects
✨ Educational experiences
✨ Family friendly environments & safe haven initiatives
✨ Social and nature based activities and non-profit community food days for local families and the elderly

Because of this, safety, transparency, responsibility, and mutual respect are extremely important to us.

Why We Work Through Personal Contact & Responsible Guidance

Unlike some online volunteer platforms with which we are not affiliated, we choose to work through personal communication, responsible guidance, and a legally registered organization structure.

Many online volunteer platforms mainly operate through expensive subscription systems with no screening, limited direct support, and often no physical contact address in case difficulties arise for hosts or participants. In addition, different countries and legal organizations operate under different laws and regulations, something that is unfortunately not always sufficiently considered. 

As we regularly work also with young students, youth participants, and intercultural exchange groups, we also keep in mind the comfort and trust of parents while their children are abroad.

Our programs are not intended for people looking for a free holiday stay, party tourism, or a way to avoid increasing seasonal rental prices while expecting others to carry the responsibilities. We fully understand that the costs of vacation rentals, studios, hostels, tent pitching places, and campervan stops continue to rise each year.

However, commercial tourism pricing is not the purpose of our exchange programs and would not be compatible with the values of our non-profit organization. For participants who wish to stay with us on a cultural and community basis outside the official exchange program, this can sometimes be possible through a small financial contribution that directly supports our local projects and social support initiatives for families and single parents.

More information:
https://www.farmnarava.eu/tent-pitch-studio-room

Over the years, many private farms, community projects, and organizations throughout Europe have experienced situations involving:

• Lack of accountability by participants or connected platforms

• Inappropriate behaviour 

• Privacy violations

• Libel or slander through social media

• Financial damages to private property

• Unsafe situations caused by unverified volunteer systems without proper screening or guidance

• Individuals joining through paid platforms, unofficial social media groups while hiding serious personal or mental health difficulties that may later create unsafe or harmful situations for others or host families

For these reasons, we choose a more professional, structured, and respectful approach so that everyone involved can feel safe, welcome, supported, and treated with mutual respect.

How We Work at Narava Farm

At Narava Farm and with our official partners, we operate differently:

✅ Personal contact by phone and screening before acceptance
✅ Upfront legally signed agreements
✅ In some situations or countries, a proof of good conduct may be requested, especially when projects involve youth groups or vulnerable participants
✅ All exchanges are legally organized and supported
✅ Guidance and support before, during, and after the stay

This approach is not about exclusion. It is about creating a safe, respectful, and positive environment for everyone involved.

In cases of inappropriate behaviour, privacy violations, aggression, discrimination, or unsafe conduct, immediate action will always be taken to protect the safety and well being of all participants and the host community.

Our Community Values

Our projects regularly involve:

• Families, single parents and children

• Youth participants

• Students and schools

• Scout and Youth groups

• People within social support programs

Because of this, mutual respect, cultural understanding, positive behaviour, privacy, and responsibility are essential values within our community.

About Our Intercultural Exchange Programs 🌱

Our intercultural exchange programs focus on:

• Learning and cultural sharing

• Helping around the farm and nature-based projects

• Community involvement

• Experiencing a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle

• Building friendships and understanding between cultures

Participants generally contribute around 4 hours per weekday or in the best of their ability in exchange for:

• A natural pitch place for their own tent during summer periods

• Shared accommodation outside the main season

• 3 Basic meals

• Activities and workshops

• Guidance and community experiences

We always adapt activities and tasks as much as possible to the abilities, experience, age, health situation, and family circumstances of each participant.

The purpose is never commercial labor, but educational exchange, solidarity, human connection, and community support.

Accessible Participation & Sponsored Support Programs

We understand that financial situations can be difficult for many people, and we never want anyone to feel excluded because of limited resources.

For this reason, we created accessible and highly sponsored initiatives such as our:

🌍 Participant Cultural Exchange Program (PCEP)

Small Contribution Fee

💚 €35 per adult per week only
💚 €15 one time contribution per child from the age of 12
💚 Children under 12 (sponsored by the Narava Foundation)

The remaining costs are largely sponsored by the Foundation, the host family and some light community services

What the PCEP Contribution Helps Support

The contribution supports additional community experiences during your stay and makes sure everyone has the same and can join in, such as:

✨ Cultural evenings with snacks, music, and drinks outside the basic offer
✨ Campfires and BBQ evenings
✨ Workshops and pizza workshops
✨ Use of bicycles and kayaks
✨ Community and outdoor activities
✨ Shared family friendly experiences within the local cultural environment and joint activities

The contribution is made through a bank transfer after the signed registration, which participants receive an official confirmation receipt.

In cases of last minute participation when possible, the contribution can be done cash or by card upon arrival

Our Commitment to Safe & Positive Cultural Exchange

Slovenia is known as one of the safest and healthiest countries in Europe. Together with our local community, volunteers, and partners, we want to help keep it that way  respectfully, legally, safely, and positively for everyone throughout the entire year.

We sincerely thank everyone for their understanding, trust, support, and respect for our mission for many years.

We look forward to welcoming kind-hearted people who truly value:
🌍 Cultural exchange
🌿 Nature
💚 Respect
🤝 Community
✨ Human connection and solidarity