What are International work camps?

 International voluntary projects, where volunteers from all over  the world live & work together with local people for environmental & cultural protection, social justice, rural & human development, etc.

In 2005, over 3,000 projects were held in over 90 countries!
Most of the projects are for 2-3 weeks though LMTV (Long/ Middle Term  Volunteers) projects between 2 and    12 months are also increasing.
There are also some weekend workcamps for 2-3 days.
This movement has been deeply supported by UNESCO, UN.

(1) Brief History

(2) Voluntary Works
(3) Accommodations & Free time activities
(4) Workcamp Organizations
(5) Project Finance
(6) Common Aims

---

(1) Brief Histor

---

(2) Voluntary Works

Normally 5-8 hours in a day and 5 days in a week. The types of works are varied by the local needs
(these are just examples!!);

Environment	* Cleaning rivers * Planting trees * Protecting animals * Creating eco-villages
Agriculture (food security)	* Picking organic fruits * Reviving uncultivated fields * Weeding in orphanage farms * Constructing fish ponds
Culture	* Organizing festivals * Archaeology * Renovating castles, temples
Construction (rural development)	* Building infrastructure such as  schools, clinics, toilets, canals. * Reconstructing shelters * Converting farms into youth centers
Social work	* With/ for disadvantaged children * Refugees and other minorities * Mentally/ physically challenged * Elders
Education	* HIV educational play in schools * Teaching English, computer * Anti drug education on streets
Others	* Making proposals of town planning * Recycling bicycles for India * Making & translating war records * Organizing campaign for peace

---

(3) Accommodations & Free time activities

<Accommodations>
 Usually youth centers, public halls, schools and sometimes tents or temples that are simple but even better for the group life!

 Volunteers often cook by turns and enjoy global tastes.

 The common language is English in most of workcamps  though you had better to try local languages.

 

<Free time activities>
 In some workcamps, the hosts or we volunteers organize  discussions, excursions, cultural 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 guests!

---

(4) Workcamp Organization

Organized locally
Coordinated nationally
Exchanged internationally

Most of Workcamp Organizations (WOs) are
1) Non-governmental/ non-profit organizations(NGO/NPOs)

2) Affiliated with CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) founded by UNESCO, UN  in 1948 to assist & promote workcamps in the world.

3) CCIVS publishes booklets and organizes conferences of WOs and a few workcamps where no workcamps are existed yet.

4) Each WOs independently & freely organize workcamps mainly in their own countries and cooperate by exchanging volunteers, etc.

5) In each workcamps, WOs cooperate with local partner organizations of governments or NGO/NPOs.

---

(5) Project Finance

 Many WOs manage the running finances by inscription fee from volunteers & some are supported also by governments, foundations, etc.

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, etc.

---

(6) 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.