Detroit volunteer stay with Jenny & Alex

Hi everyone, Jenny and Alex here!

We moved to Detroit in 2013 after living in Asia for five years. Alex is originally from California and Jenny is from Hong Kong. We met in Germany during an internship and later fell in love in a hostel in Spain while road-tripping through wine country. Alex has a background in tech start-ups in New York and California, while Jenny worked in marketing for L’Oréal in Hong Kong and Germany.

We love to travel and have lived and adventured throughout Europe and Asia. When we decided to return to the US, we thought we would end up in California, but when we heard they were tearing houses down in Detroit we decided to see the city for ourselves. After driving into Detroit, we fell in love with it. People here have a lot of pride and heart. There is a spirit of resilience and you can feel the energy as the city rebuilds. We have seen that visiting the city gives people a chance to reflect, grow and make a difference in their own life. We hope you will consider joining us on this adventure.

Who we are looking for

At the moment, we are looking for people who do not mind getting their hands dirty. We need help keeping the house running and we are excited to develop the garden this coming season.

From our years of hosting, volunteers who are learning English and stay one to three months usually have the best experience. We also enjoy hosting travellers who are searching for alternatives to the classic career path: people leaving or questioning corporate jobs, recent graduates, or those starting their own projects. Because of our language skills and life experience, we are well suited to support these two groups.

If you want to experience a classic American city that is going through an exciting rebirth, please get in touch.

What type of host are you?

• Private/individual / family.

What kind of help is needed?

• Animal care
• Cleaning
• Film-making and content creation
• General help around the house
• Guest support is similar to a small hostel/guesthouse
• Marketing

Our project and mission

We are bringing a 1925 mansion back to life. It used to be an abandoned hospital. The work is intense, but knowing that we will be able to host travellers from around the world in this house gives us the energy to continue. Our dream is to have a positive impact on our society and offer deep travel experiences.

We believe that through meaningful travel and friendships with people from diverse backgrounds we can all better understand one another and become better global citizens. Being part of this movement motivates us to keep going.

Stay details

• Minimum stay: 1 month
• Hours: usually 1–3 hours per day
• Days: help most days, schedule agreed together
• Children and pets: we cannot host kids or pets

Bikes

Bikes are an important part of our daily transport. Volunteers can use a bike during their stay to explore the city.

Example projects

• Cleaning and maintenance: keeping shared spaces tidy and welcoming for everyone.
• Greeting guests: showing new guests around the house, helping with questions and sharing your favourite places in Detroit.
• Photography and videography: documenting the house, the renovation work and our events. Since 2019 we have been posting daily videos on YouTube (search “JennyandAlex”) and regular social media updates. We would love to collaborate with creative volunteers.
• Community garden: helping build and maintain raised beds, planting and watering, weeding and harvesting fresh veggies for cultural exchange events and shared dinners.
• Bike repair: helping maintain and repair our bicycles so everyone can ride safely.

Art projects

You can collaborate with guests, other volunteers and us to create artwork of different kinds. This can include sculpture, painting, street art or anything that adds beauty and character to the house. It can also include off-site art that reflects the values and spirit of our project.

Other interests

We are also passionate about food, brewing, fermentation and many other topics. Our YouTube channel is a good place to see what we are into at the moment.

Are accommodation and food included?

Yes, we offer food and accommodation.

Accommodation

Dormitory / shared rooms. Single bed “cabins” in the shared room have individual lights, plugs and privacy curtains, so you can enjoy community life and still have your own space.

Diet and food

Groceries and basic food are included. Usually someone in the group cooks lunch or dinner for everyone after the work is done. If there is something specific you would like, you can add it to our grocery list and we will try to get it. When the garden is productive, you are welcome to harvest and experiment with local ingredients.

Visa information

No, we cannot help with visa or invitation letters. Similar requests will be ignored.

Volunteer benefits

We believe we can offer a rich cultural exchange and learning opportunity for the right volunteers.

Language and cultural exchange

We host guests from around the world. Jenny is an avid language learner (fluent in four languages, has studied seven and is now self-learning Spanish). Alex is a native English speaker from the US West Coast. If you want to improve your English or pick up new languages, we are happy to help with practice and self-learning strategies. There are also free English classes in the city that we can connect you with.

Guidance and mentoring

Because we met through an internship ourselves, we know how to help create a meaningful experience. We have experience in both the start-up and corporate worlds and can offer different perspectives if you are exploring your next steps.

Learning what it takes to realise a dream

With us you will see first hand what it takes to renovate an abandoned old house, welcome guests from around the world and work with people from diverse backgrounds.

An alternative to the classic corporate path

This is a good experience if you want to try something different before entering a corporate job or if you need a break from that world.

Discovering Detroit

Detroit is changing quickly and is a fascinating city to experience now. Some guests have fallen in love with the city and later decided to move here or start their own projects. Who knows, maybe you will be inspired too.

A fun place to contribute

Detroit is developing a growing diversity. Festivals like Movement and the International Jazz Festival attract visitors from around the world. Many guests compare Detroit today to East Berlin after the wall came down. You can be here while things are still in transition.

Free time

Detroit offers a vibrant dining scene, craft beers, rich history and architecture, sports, museums (DIA, Ford Museum, Motown Museum and more) and live music. The city is great for cycling and you will be within a short bike ride of many major attractions. There is also a strong urban farm culture.

Languages

Jenny is fluent in English, German, Mandarin and Cantonese. Other volunteers and guests often speak Spanish, Portuguese and other languages.

Location and climate

• About 3.2 km (2 miles) from downtown Detroit
• About 1.6 km (1 mile) from Belle Isle, Detroit’s island park

Detroit has strong seasons. Summers are hot and humid, winters can be very cold with snow. If you come in winter, bring warm clothes or plan to buy inexpensive second-hand items once you arrive.

How to get here

• Detroit is large, so cars and bikes are common. We chose this location because many attractions are within cycling distance.
• Uber and Lyft are widely used. City buses 031 and 067 connect the neighbourhood with downtown. Service is improving but still basic compared with other big cities.
• From the airport you can take the 261 bus to downtown, then the 067 to Kercheval & East Grand Blvd, which is a short walk from the house. If your budget allows, ride-share from the airport is more convenient.
• Bike-share and electric scooters (Bird, Lime) are popular and fun options in the city. We also provide bikes for volunteers.

Internet access

Yes, there is internet access.

“Paying guests” option

Yes, we can also accommodate paying guests.

Contact details 📧

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