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| Our
mission is to promote peace and understanding among people
through international and local voluntary service and education. [more] |
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| International workcamps
- what does it mean? |
One of the methods of promoting peace
and mutual understanding among people of different origins are the international
camps for voluntary workers, called workcamps.
These are short-term projects during which small groups of voluntary workers
from different countries are working together to achieve some goal that
is crucial for the local community and/or a non-governmental organizations.
This work is intended as a help for local initiatives and undertakings
which will be continued after the workcamp has ended.
Voluntary workers work for about 6hours a day, five days a week. The type
of job they are to do depends on the theme of the workcamp. For example,
voluntary workers may work with children (teaching English, games etc.),
renovate buildings or organize a festival to promote peace, tolerance or
ecology.
Who may go for a workcamp?
The age limit for participation in workcamps is 18, however, there is no
upper age limit. To participate in a workcamp in Poland one needs to be
only 16. No special skills or qualifications are required. The crucial
thing is the willingness to do something for others and for our world.
What is also important is the knowledge of the language obligatory at a
particular workcamp. As some of the workcamps may not be adapted for the
disabled or for families with children, please read the workcamps descriptions
in the catalogue with proper attention. If you look carefully, you are
bound to find something suitable for you!
How long are the workcamps?
Workcamps are usually 10 days to 4 weeks long; most often they are 2 weeks
long.
What about food, accommodation and insurance?
Food and accommodation during a workcamp are free of charge (in case
any additional payment is required, this has been indicated in the description
of the project). Usually the members of a group take turns at cooking
and cleaning. Please take some recipes with you! Accommodation varies
greatly from case to case: it may be a camping place, tents, tipis or
a youth hostel (where the voluntary workers most often stay together
in one room).
How do I get there?
Voluntary workers must organize their journey there and back on their
own (and they should also insure themselves for the journey).
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There are different ways of spending
holidays. There are also different ways of travelling: on foot, by bike,
by bus, by taxi, by train, by plane.
Traveling by plane is quick, easy and not so expensive any more. Unfortunately,
the flying machines use a lot of energy. Exhaust fumes are one of the main
causes of the global climate changes and the aerial traffic poisons the
atmosphere more than any other transportation means. So, before you book
your airplane ticket, please check: there may be some other way to get
to your destination |
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Is this only work?
NO! The social life of the group is an integral part of each workcamp. After
the working hours are over, and during the weekends, there will be a lot of
time to have fun, visit places, swim, dance, talk, play with the ball, sing,
write letters, learn the local sayings and... Many of these activities are
chosen/decided on by the group and you will also have a say in this issue at
any of the regular
meetings of the group's members. On some camps you may be asked for a small
sum of money to cover the costs of a journey, museum/disco tickets, etc.
Am
I insured?
YES! SCI ensures the insurance for the time of your stay at the workcamp,
after your arrival at the place of the project (this does not include
the journey!). This is the accident insurance and it covers the costs
of medical treatment - it is intended as an additional insurance,
supplementary to other insurance policies.
If you have no experience in doing voluntary service abroad you can
only choose from among the workcamps that are organized in one of
the safe European countries.
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| To go for a workcamp a few
conditions must be met |
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the potential participant must be
over 18 years old (or 16 years old, if you want to participate in a workcamp
in Poland); |
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one needs to know the language required at the
particular workcamp in a sufficient degree |
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- most often it is English, but there are also workcamps
where German, French, Italian, Spanish or Russian are required |
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one needs to be a member of the One World Association. |
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In order to become a supportive member of the One
World Association one needs to pay the yearly member fee which, from 15
May 2003, equals 230 zł. The fee is valid for the 12 months
from the day it was paid; within its limits Associations members have
the right to
participate in one workcamp or a long-term project; one may also participate
in other Association's activities and receive our newspaper, "Ramol".
Those voluntary workers who wish to participate in more than one workcamp
may submit more applications if their participation in the first project
has been accepted and after they have made a 130 zł. payment on behalf
of the Association |
| REMEMBER - the member fee is not a payment for a
workcamp! It only gives you the right to participation in such project.
You may choose either a summer holidays project or a winter or a spring
project. If for one reason or another you will not be able to participate
in a workcamp, there is no possibility of claiming the fee back! |
Should you be interested in the projects organized
on other continents (Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australia),
please come to the Association's bureau fto receive more detailed information.
Before
going for a workcamp an application form must be filled in. The application
form includes questions about personal data, 6 chosen workcamps
and the motivation - that is why you want to become a voluntary worker
in an international project.
The descriptions of holiday projects can
be found in a yearly catalogue. The catalogue is published each April and
it may be consulted in the
Association's bureau or bought for 20zł. The descriptions of the projects
can also be found on the  Association's
website. If you are making your
application in June please make sure (in the bureau) if the upper limit
of applicants for your chosen workcamp has not already been reached!
The information about the autumn, winter and spring workcamps may be
accessed all over the year in the Association's bureau.
Our adress - click HERE
[searching engine
for the workcamps] |
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