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International Workcamps
International Workcamps
| International Workcamps |
| Monday, 07 January 2008 | |
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Signing up for workcamp Why do we do this? Feedbacks from participants of Travel & Service projects suggest that we should work on full-scale voluntary projects. As a business, we find it difficult to plan and execute such projects. We decide to work with reputable, established non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We approach a member organisation of UNESCO, an international non-governmental, non-profit organisation (NGO/NPO) - Network for Voluntary Development in Asia (NVDA). We are proud to announce that we have been assessed and accepted as the exclusive organisation in Singapore to promote international workcamps organised by NVDA's partners in various countries. What are Community Immersion Programmes or International Workcamps? These immersion programmes or international workcamps are voluntary projects where 10 - 30 international volunteers from various countries would live & work together with local people for 1 - 3 weeks. "International Voluntary Service in its modern form started after 1920 when volunteers from former enemy countries rebuilt a village near Verdum, France. World war II gave it greater impetus: new organizations sprang up to help reconstruct Europe. These needed coordination. With the support of the recently established United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), the Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service(CCIVS) was created in 1948, expending its membership to include youth movements in eastern Europe and voluntary organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America........" - ( CCIVS handbook RUNNING A WORKCAMP) Brief History In 1920, the first project started in France by German & French youths to reconstruct the farms destroyed during World War I. Since then, it has been spreading to all over the world. In the 1960s, many workcamps with construction works were organized in newly independent countries as well as peace projects between East & West in Europe. Environmental ones have been increasing since 1980s. According to research, about 2,700 projects in 94 countries were held in 2004. Voluntary Works The voluntary works normally last for 6-8 hours in a day, 5 days in a week. The types of works are broadly categorized: Environment – rivers cleaning, trees planting, animal protection, creating eco-villages etc. Agriculture – fruits picking, seeding in organic farms, reviving uncultivated fields etc. Arts/Education - Organizing festivals, performing play against AIDS in schools, archaeology etc. Construction - schools, toilets, castles renovations, converting farms into youth centers etc. Social work - With/ for children, refugees, mentally/ physically disadvantaged, elders etc. Others - town planning proposals, recycling & sending bicycles to India etc Accommodations & Free time activities Generally, the accommodations are in youth centers, public halls, schools and sometimes tents or temples. It is usually simple enough to benefit communal living. Volunteers often take turn to cook. You are sure to have a taste of global foods. The common language is English in most of workcamps. However you are strongly encouraged to pick up and use local languages. In some workcamps, the hosts or volunteers organize discussions, excursions, and exchange parties with local people, school visit, sports programs, etc. It is very important to note that workcamps should be made by all volunteers with local people. Volunteers are not expected to be served and act like paying customers. Workcamp Organizations Most of Workcamp Organizations (WOs) are non-governmental/non-profit organizations(NGO/NPOs). Most of WOs are affiliated with CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) founded by UNESCO, UN in 1948 to assist & promote workcamps in the world. It publishes booklets and organizes conferences for WOs and a few workcamps where no workcamps are existed yet. WOs are not lower branches of CCIVS, but the creators of this network! Each WOs independently & freely organize workcamps mainly in their own countries and cooperate by exchanging volunteers. In each workcamps, WOs cooperate with local partner organizations of governments or NGO/NPOs. Whilst X-Trekkers is not an NGO, we have proven ourself with the successful Travel & Service programmes which promote in-depth travel with elements of community aids. NVDA has also assessed that X-Trekkers shares the common spirit to achieve a peaceful, fair and sustainable world through promotion of international voluntary service. Finance Many WOs manage the running finances by inscription fees from volunteers & some are supported also by governments or foundations. Volunteers need to pay the travel cost to/from workcamps and fee to WOs in their own countries. Food & accommodations are provided by local partners, though there are participation fee around 100-200 US$ in some workcamps in Africa, Asia. Common Aims Although each WOs and workcamps have their own aims, the common aim is to achieve peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world by a) Creating/ supporting voluntary movements for ecology, human rights, self-sufficiency, etc. b) Activating and involving new people to local communities and NGO/NPOs. c) Promoting global understanding, friendship and solidarity. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 ) |