Botswana Work camps Association (BWA) - BOTSWANA History: Botswana Work camps Association (BWA) is a non-governmental, nonprofit making voluntary organization, it was started in 1979 in Mochudi and was registered with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in April 1980 under societies act. It also known as Lekgotla La Baithaopi in Setswana, which means: voluntary organization. BWA was started in 1979 in Mochudi. Its first president was Kgosi Linchwe II, who was responsible for publicizing organizational events and other meetings that generated awareness about BWA. Mr Kagiso Nazarullah Ntime is the President as of from 2006-2008. Work Camps: The International volunteer projects that BWA offers bring together individuals from around the world for 2-3 week work camps. Participants work together as an international team on different kinds of projects, including: Environmental: Tree planting, improving nature trails in parks, recycling, refuse removal, soil erosion prevention and maintenance of footpaths. Construction: public toilets, classrooms, community halls, irrigation channels, clinics, paving and brick moulding. Renovation: historical monuments, archaeological sites, cultural centres, community centres, old bridges and any other related work. Social Work: with/for children, refugees, people with disabilities, women groups and play schemes for children in difficult situations. Others: solidarity camps, cultural camps and debushing. When Are the Work Camps Organized: The work camps run between set dates for two-three weeks in length:
Summer: Autumn: Winter: Spring: November, December, January February, March, April May, June, July August, September, October The work camp programme is available at the beginning of each year. Requirements for Volunteers: Commitment of volunteers: Project or work camps are not just cheap holidays Hard work and full participation is required Specific motivation may be required for some projects ENGLISH is usually the medium of communication during the work camp Enthusiasm and flexible approach Costs: The work camp participation fee is US $200 per participant, which covers simple work camp meals, arrangements for the whole work camp preparation in terms of communication, electronic mailing and transport for meeting with different stakeholders. BWA organizes transport for participants from the airport to Mochudi (BWA office) only, where the orientation of participants takes place prior to the departure to work camps destination. Not covered by the US $ 200 are the travel expenses from the BWA office after the orientation to the work camp places and back. Volunteers are therefore advised to spare US $ 50 for travelling to and from the place of the work camp.!!!airport PICK UP!!!: Participants are urged that they will ONLY be picked up from the airport or bus station (to Mochudi which is 35km from the city where orientation will be conducted) UPON REQUEST, otherwise the volunteer is liable for transport costs to Mochudi. This can cost up to roughly US $25.
Voluntary Work camps Association of Ghana (VOLU) GHANA History: The Voluntary Work camps Association of Ghana (VOLU) was founded in 1956. It is a non-political, non-sectarian voluntary organization. Its membership is open to everyone over the age of sixteen, irrespective of nationality, religion, race, political view, or educational qualification. It has numerous partner organizations in Europe, North America, and Asia. Work Camps: Each year VOLU organizes about 25 to 35 work camps. These camps involve about 1000 participants of who come from other African countries, Europe, North America and Asia. There are six types of work camps: Local or National Camps are open to Ghanaians only. For various reasons some are unsuitable for foreigners. International Camps are open to volunteers from all countries, including Ghana. Experimental Living Camps are organized during which volunteers stay in the houses of local families. Meals, camp meetings, entertainment and common meetings of villagers and work camp participants are held at the camp leader s place or the chief s palace. Ecumenical camps are for religious people: one such camp is organized each year. Leadership Training Camps are selected for VOLU members to train in leadership.
Weekend Camps are organized for VOLU members who due to their occupation are unable to attend a full-length camp, and to tackle urgent or smaller work project. When Are the Work Camps Organized: Most camps are held during the summer holidays (May October) with a small number during Christmas and Easter holidays. Costs: Registration fee of 200 is paid when attending only one camp and 300 when attending multiple camps. Make sure you collect official receipts for all payments. You then complete camp registration form(s) at your camps(s). You will be given a VOLU identity card to identify you as one of our volunteers. All VOLU members, whether local or foreign, are expected to pay their own transport to and from the camps.
Associação Juvenil Para o Desenvolvimento do Voluntariado em Moçambique (AJUDE) - MOZAMBIQUE Aims & Objectives: AJUDE (Associação Juvenil Para o Desenvolvimento do Voluntariado em Moçambique) is a non-profit organization which brings together young Mozambicans without distinction to race, sex, religion, tribe, level of education or any other way of discrimination. The idea of creating AJUDE dates back to 1993 when a group of students of the Higher Institute for International Relations formed this organization with the main objective to actively participate in the reconstruction of Mozambique after a long and destructive civil war.. Aims and objectives of AJUDE are to promote volunteer activities for young people in their spare time and holidays, to promote community development and encourage participation of community members in activities for their own benefit, to promote exchange of youth volunteers in the different regions of Mozambique, of Africa and the rest of the world, to send young Mozambican volunteers to participate in voluntary work in other countries, to create opportunities to exchange experiences between youth from different parts of the country and the rest of the world, to assist with community development, to promote international understanding through voluntary services, to enable young people to encounter and understand different cultures, to encourage the concept of voluntary services as a force in search for peace equality, democracy and international understanding, and to provide opportunities for the people of Mozambique to become aware of international issues. Work camps: The work greatly varies from one project to the other. It normally involves: Construction work in remote rural villages Nature conservation work and environmental education Restoration of historical monuments Bricks mounting Health and Aids awareness campaigns
Sanitation projects such as digging water wells and erecting Blair toilets The communities may ask to perform other specific tasks beyond the scope of the agreement. This is seen as a way of promoting intercultural understanding. Volunteers: Portuguese and English are the Camp Languages. Each project is made up of people of various nationalities, ages and backgrounds. On every project there is camp leader usually chosen and trained by AJUDE. The leader depends on the full participation of each volunteer, so it is the whole group s responsibility to ensure that the project is a success. Cost: The work camp participation fee is strictly US$210 and this covers simple accommodation, food and project expenses during the camp. Please note that this does not include travel expenses to and from the camp, so participants are asked to reserve a small amount of money for transport to the camp and vice-verse. All volunteers are asked to contact AJUDE when planning to book their ticket to Mozambique.
Zimbabwe Work camps Association (ZWA) - ZIMBABWE Aims and Objectives Zimbabwe Work camps Association (ZWA) is a non-political, non-religious voluntary organization, registered with the Zimbabwe Youth Council. ZWA brings together youth, nationally and internationally, to work with each other in work camps on community based projects. Aims and Objectives are to promote national, regional and international understanding through voluntary services, to enable young people to encounter and understand different cultures and situations, to assist in community development by motivating the hosting communities to do work which they would otherwise be unable to do themselves, to provide opportunities for the people internationally to become aware of international developmental issues, and to supplement formal education with experiential / practical learning. Work camps: The Work camps bring together local, national, regional and international volunteers (from Asia, Europe, America, Australia and Africa) to assist the community on specific projects. After work, there are opportunities for leisure activities such as discussions, talks, dancing, games and excursions. The work camps usually last for 2 days, 2 or 3 weeks. The various projects consist of: providing humanitarian assistance and food security services such as the provision of agricultural inputs providing information on sanitation, reproductive health information emphasizing HIV / AIDS, Sexually transmitted diseases and other infections Conducting capacity building programs such as Leadership Training and other survival skills
Volunteer: English, Shona & Ndebele are the camp languages. Each project is made up of people of various nationalities, ages and backgrounds. On every project there is a camp leader usually chosen and trained by AJUDE. The leader depends on the full participation of each volunteer, so it is the whole group s responsibility to ensure that the project is a success. Cost: The workcamp participation fee is strictly 210 Euro (No Zimbabwe dollars shall be accepted) and this covers simple rural accommodation, food and project expenses. Please note that this does not include travel expenses to and from the camp, so participants are asked to reserve an extra amount of money for transport which is between 20 & 30 for the return journey.
Les Ententes - SENEGAL Buts & Objectifs: Les ENTENTES est une association non gouvernementale formée par les paysans. Elle se veut une alternative économique dont les bénéficiaires sont les communautés villageoises, avec, pour objectifs : un travail d éducation, moins d inégalités dans les villages entre les plus riches et les plus pauvres, ralentir l immigration vers les grandes villes. Le Chantiers: Il s agit d un chantier d immersion dans un petit village agricole. Par groupes de deux ou trois, les volontaires seront accueillis et hébergés dans une famille du village. Les volontaires participeront aux activités quotidiennes des habitants. Prix: La participation aux frais sur place est de 107 euros par chantier, transports locaux non compris. La Fenagie SENEGAL Djinrda FENAGIE is a fishermen s federation. Its aim is to facilitate the life conditions of its members concerning production s trade, materials purchase, funds access and healthcare. The volunteers will be hosted by the local union of women of Fenagie. Work: with the women of the community, the volunteers will participate to different tasks : tree plantation in the mangrove, oysters harvest, bissap fields, and other works depending the meteo. Study: Djinrda is an island near Ndangane in the Saloum region. Accommodation: by host families. Qualifications: very good french speaking. Extra info: 60.000 Fcfa (92 euros), local transport costs excluded.
UVIKIUTA - TANZANIA Aims and Objectives: The Bega kwa Bega [side by side] Work camp Program is a cross-cultural exchange program involving people from across the world, living and sharing life in the local hosting community. UVIKIUTA has been running this program since 1994 when the first work camp was organized in cooperation with Service Civil International (SCI), Germany Branch. Since then the work camp has become a year around activity for UVIKIUTA. Over the years the work camps served to enrich the lives of approximately 3000 participants through camp programs fostering International understanding and promoting ideas of peace, human rights, cultural heritage, self reliance, environmental conservation and sustainable development. Aims and objectives are to promote contacts between people of different cultural and social backgrounds, breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers, creating understanding and appreciation of others; to increase among the participants an increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of socio-economic realities of their own countries and Tanzania; to provide inter-cultural learning experience and opportunities to explore a new country/region and culture in a deeper and more respectful way; to integrate the participants into the local community; to promote the culture of peace by developing integration, solving problems peacefully and respecting differences. Work camps: The type of voluntary work varies in accordance with the host community, the availability of material, the number of volunteers and, occasionally, the weather. In general, volunteers work 5 days a week for 4-6 hours a day. Voluntary work is a combination of tree planting, construction of community facilities (like classrooms, health centers), painting, community development initiatives (like reforestation, recycling, health/environmental education). Volunteers furthermore get involved in family and community activities, such as sports, social, cultural and religious ceremonies. For the entire period of the work camp, volunteers will share a common room. They normally stay in a hostel, residential house, school or tents depending on the facilities available in the host community. At regular intervals, volunteers and the local community gather to reflect on the project. Moreover, volunteers and the local community participate in various workshops in which they learn about community issues related
to the environment, economic initiatives, HIV/AIDS, gender issues, as well as the cultural traditions of the region. Volunteer: Anybody, with a minimum age of 18 years old, can join the international work camps. Parents or authorized guardians should accompany younger volunteers. Of course, positive attitudes, flexibility, and openness to new experiences are essential for every volunteer. Cost: Work camp fees of US$250: This amount will be paid on arrival before the orientation. If a volunteer is doing 2 camps the fee will be US$400 for both and will be paid together on arrival. Pocket money: Each volunteer should have some money to cover medical costs, leisure activities and other personal expenses. Transportation costs: The cost of transport from the meeting point to the orientation center is US$2. If you prefer to be met at the airport or the center, a taxi costs around US$25. After an orientation day, the volunteers will take the coach to Bagamoyo. The cost of this coach is US$5 one way. Volunteers willing to arrive at UVIKIUTA center before the start of the work camp will pay US$15 a day to cover accommodation and meals. However, reservation is required.
Association Togolaise des Volontaires au Travail (ASTOVOT) Au regard de sa vision actualisée assortie d une mission sans équivoque, ASTOVOT se positionne comme une institution d appui et de développement durable. Elle centre ses actions sur le renforcement d un mouvement de volontariat et de bénévolat, formateur d une nouvelle génération de jeunes diplômés sans emploi et sur l appui à la responsabilisation des communautés de base vulnérables à travers un partenariat actif au plan national, sous-régional et international. Il s agit d un recentrage stratégique visant à concrétiser leur ambition de leur affirmer comme une institution crédible avec une audience plus étendue en développement local et participatif. A cet effet, leurs objectifs s expriment en terme de : 1. Renforcement des capacités institutionnelles et opérationnelles au service des communautés de base; 2. Développement des échanges et du partenariat au plan national, sous régional et international, en intégrant les réseaux d ONG et des associations de volontariat, 3. Création d un corps de jeunes volontaires en développement local. Chantiers: Durée de chaque projet: 3 semaines. Les sujets sont: Mobilisation et sensibilisation sur les IST/VIH/SIDA: L objectif primordial de ce projet est de mener une campagne de mobilisation/ sensibilisation avec et pour les jeunes des collectivités rurales sous informés mais très souvent exposés et victimes du ravage de la pandémie. Soutien scolaire et animation socio éducative avec les enfants: L objet de l association Envol est de faciliter l intégration de l enfant handicapé en lui offrant une éducation scolaire et en suite une formation professionnelle compte tenu des compétences de l enfant. Protection et sauvegarde de l environnement écologique: Participer à la lutte contre la dégradation de l environnement écologique à travers l organisation des camps chantiers dans les milieux ruraux au Togo.
Rénovation et construction des infrastructures socio collectives: Favoriser chez les populations rurales défavorisées une bonne condition sanitaire et éducationnelle. Volontaire: Il faut parler un minimum de français ou anglais et avoir 18 ans au minimum. Prix: Frais de participation : 120 000f CFA soit (entre 183 et 185 euros environ selon les cours) à payer en arrivant. Les frais de participation des volontaires internationaux et nationaux servent dans la prospection, l exécution des projets, l achat du matériel et la nourriture des volontaires. A cet effet un budget d exécution général dégagé est réparti en trois(3) parties : 1/3 pour le projet dans son ensemble, 1/3 pour le transport aller-retour du siège à la localité du projet et la nourriture, 1/3 pour la gestion de la structure
BENIN Jeunesse Ambition (JA) Buts & Objectifs: Créée en 1993 par un groupe de jeunes, la Jeunesse Ambition ( JA) est une Association de jeunesse, à caractère social. Elle est caractérisée par la volonté de toujours réussir, même là où certains ont échoué. Les objectifs de la JA sont la recherche de solutions aux problèmes de la jeunesse que sont le chômage, la délinquance juvénile, l'analphabétisme et l'exclusion. La promotion des activités socio-éducatives à l'intention des populations démunies et à faibles revenus ( jeunes et femmes en zone urbaine et rurale). La promotion de la démocratie à la base par l'organisation des populations pour la défense de leurs intérêts. La finalité de la Jeunesse Ambition est d'améliorer les conditions de vie des couches les plus démunies et défavorisées que sont les jeunes et les femmes de nos villes et campagnes, par la formation et la sensibilisation, l'assistance et la réalisation d'ouvrages socio-communautaires. Chantiers: Les principales activités de la JA sont : Santé: Construction d'ouvrages sanitaires à coût réduit : latrines, citernes hors sol (impluvium), puits. Education sanitaire et environnementale. Lutte contre le SIDA dans la communauté des jeunes, des adolescents et des femmes, par la sensibilisation. Recherche, formation et emploi: Promotion des outils de fabrication locale. Agriculture biologique et transformation: La JA vulgarise les techniques d'agriculture biologique (sans aucune utilisation de pesticide et engrais chimique) sur les fermes agro-pastorales. Elle œuvre pour le développement des technologies, des énergies et des ressources renouvelables et à faibles coûts. Activités féminines génératrices de revenus. Des Groupements de femmes sont installés par la JA pour la transformation de produits locaux et la préparation de savons, crèmes, pommades dans le but de valoriser les ressources locales et de créer des activités au profit des femmes à faibles revenus.
Youth Association Zambia (YAZ) The Youth Association of Zambia (YAZ) is a Non-Profit making youth organization whose objective is to improve the living standard of the youth and children in Zambia. It was founded on 11 th May 1994. YAZ provides capacity building for youth organizations and groups in organization development, strategic planning, Human Resources Development, project management and advocacy based on Millennium Development Goals (MDG s). The organization involves young people in the activity implementation in order to contribute in making a difference in the community and as well as contributing to personal growth and national development through work and study camps and volunteering. Work camps: YAZ work and study camps usually include manual work activities, study sessions and excursions in a concept of living learning, civic education and cross cultural cooperation. Hence, challenging tasks are organized aimed at meeting our main organizational goals: HIV/AIDS awareness and mainstreaming Child Rights and Protection Youth Business Initiative Democracy and Good Governance Gender awareness and Development Environmental Conservation Local and International Youth Exchange Programmes Volunteer: Camp official language is English and local Zambian languages. Furthermore, dedicated and committed male and female volunteers who want to volunteer their time and energy may join the work camp. Cost: The work camp participation fee is 210 Euro, a cheap way of touring Zambia while contributing to community development. Volunteers pay cash direct to YAZ office on arrival. Volunteers are advised to carry extra 20 Euro for airport transfer. A taxi is about 20 Euro from the airport to YAZ offices. Please use only taxis that are painted Blue and white, which is the official color for all public transport in Zambia.
Lesotho Work camp Association (LWA): Aims & Objectives: LWA is affiliated to several organizations including Lesotho Association of Non-Formal Education (LANFE), Lesotho Volunteers Commission (LVC), Southern African Workcamps Cooperation (SAWC) and Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS). Aims and objectives are: to encourage, enable and mobilize young people to participate voluntarily in national and community development activities, to promote peace, international understanding and inter-cultural learning through volunteer exchange, to create opportunities for acquiring understanding and concern for social, economic and physical challenges of the country, to organize and use work camps as a tool for local development and to encourage adults to take greater interest in affairs of the young people. Work camps: Since its inception in 1977, LWA has carried out more than 390 projects in various communities of Lesotho in the following categories: Construction: roads and foot-bridges, low income housing, schools, clinics, churches and community centers Renovation: royal buildings, archeological and historical sites Environment: Soil and water conservation, tree planting Health: Water supply, pit latrines, health awareness and mitigation Economic: Poultry, piggery and irrigation schemes, communal and home gardens, and other income generating enterprises. Volunteer: An international work camp consists of volunteers from different races, nationalities and other backgrounds although local volunteers are usually in the majority. The latter are made up of two groups namely LWA members and host community project participants. Work camp participants must be 18 years or above. Although English is used as a medium of communication individuals are encouraged to learn
other languages and cultures as part of the objective of promoting international understanding. Price Participation fee of US$200,00 is required from certain non African based volunteers and this covers transport between LWA head-office in Maseru and the work camp sites, food and accommodation, insurance cover during service as well as processing of applications. Accommodation at the LWA Training Centre is free during training workshops, orientation and general community service but volunteers are expected to take care of all personal expenses outside the work camp business.
Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) Aims & Objectives: Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) is an indigenously inspired non-profit voluntary organization founded in 1962. It aims at making Kenyans and others aware of developmental problems, it supplements formal education with experiential learning to enable those involved to become active citizens. Furthermore, KVDA fosters peace, understanding and respect of other people s culture through living, communicating and working together. Their dedication is aimed at mobilizing all-purpose resources within and across international borders to support community development initiatives in the fight against poverty. Work camp: The location of the projects changes every year depending on the communities necessities, but they are always held in the most marginal regions of the country. Work is mainly done in the areas of education, health and construction, and both the international and local volunteers have to live and work with and within the local community as to develop a better understanding of the country. The volunteers work together with the locals in order to reach specific targets as, for example, the construction of a hospital or the building of a school. After the departure of the volunteers, the local community should finish the work initiated by the volunteers. Price: Airport transfer on arrival day: two-way transfer on entry to Kenya and exit after the project after officially signing out at KVDA secretariat. On entry, volunteer will be taken to the YMCA South Hostels 40 US Dollars Camp fee: 200 US Dollars Orientation on arrival, one day before the project: -Info pack about Kenya and projects -Volunteers' expectations -Team building, cooperation, confidence games & problem solving games. -Visits to the Slums in Nairobi 20 US Dollars