Work Camps
Insider Info
Would you like to volunteer on an archeological dig? Help host a children's
camp in the Swiss Alps? Repair houses in a poor neighborhood in Latin America?
You can volunteer to work anywhere around the world by participating in a
work camp program.
Work camps are organized camps that aim to help people in other countries.
Camps also allow young people to meet others with different cultural backgrounds.
Work camps are usually one to four weeks long and are held during the summer.
They are held almost everywhere in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and
North America.
There's a variety of camps to attend. You could help with the construction
of new housing or the restoration of old buildings, take part in an archeological
dig, work with children or do agricultural work.
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| Work camps provide volunteers with the opportunity to experience
other cultures and other parts of the world. |
| Courtesy of: Amizade |
Work camps are sponsored by international organizations. The camps themselves
are coordinated by people in the community where the activity is taking place.
The typical camp involves 10 to 20 volunteers from at least four different
countries. They meet in the host community. The campers may be housed in a
school, church, private home or community center. The volunteers are told
where they will be working and what hours they will work. This is also the
time when people meet who they will be working with.
Campers share the day-to-day chores such as cooking and cleaning. They
work together on the project and also spend leisure time together. Since work
camp participants spend so much time together, they usually develop close
friendships. With workers from several different countries, work campers can't
help but learn about different cultures.
There's always time set aside to explore the local community. The group
will go on excursions in the region. They'll also enjoy dinners at their host
families' homes.
There is lots of challenge involved in these camps. Part of the challenge
is doing the work assigned to you. The other challenge is learning to get
along with your co-workers!
To make the most of these challenges, you should be the kind of person
who is interested in people and other cultures. Volunteering at a work camp
will help you learn about the culture of the country. You will also learn
about the cultures of your co-workers.
"You see the little differences," says work camper M.C. Campbell of Montreal,
Quebec. "But mostly you just realize how similar we all are."
You can be at any level of fitness to join in these camps. The physical
demands vary greatly with each kind of camp. Be prepared for heavy lifting
and hard work in construction. Generally the work is casual and won't cause
too much strain.
Social camps don't require much physical labor. Some camps are suited to
physically challenged people.
Going to a work camp is usually an inexpensive way to travel. Costs vary
from camp to camp. You likely have to pay your own travel, but have your food
and lodging covered. Or, you may have to pay a stipend for food and shelter
too.
Campers also have to pay for any extras they might need.
The reasonable cost is one of the reasons that work camping is becoming
increasingly popular.
"It's less expensive than any other form of travel," says Volunteers for
Peace director Peter Coldwell.
Many people combine a work camp with travel.
"It's great if you want to travel alone but are a bit apprehensive about
always having to find a place to eat and a place to sleep," says Campbell.
You often meet people to travel with in the camps.
Some work camps are designed for those 13 to 17 years old. Others are for
people over 17 years old.
Work camping is most popular with people aged 17 to 25. As many as 200,000
people volunteer for work camps around the world every year.
Volunteer work prepares you to work in other fields. Helping to run a children's
camp will be useful knowledge if you decide to work with kids once you're
back home, either as a recreation programmer or teacher. If you work on a
construction project, you may learn skills helpful to you as a backhoe operator
or engineer.
Likewise, learning how to work with others and learning about other cultures
is a valuable experience that will help you in all aspects of your life.
Work camp experience also looks good on a resume.
"Doing voluntary service is in vogue because of reduced employment opportunities,"
says Coldwell. And doing this work may also get you into the school of your
choice. "Many educational institutions now require service of some sort prior
to graduation," he says.
Getting Started
To volunteer at a camp, call or write to an international work camp organization.
There are many organizations to consider. Make sure to find out all you can
about the organization first, before you sign up.
Acceptance into a camp is usually given on a first come, first serve basis.
Registration normally occurs from mid-April to mid-May. It's still a good
idea to check with an organization to find out the earliest date that you
can choose a camp.
If you're going to be doing construction or restoration work, you probably
won't need references. Just sign up and that's it! If you want to be involved
in counseling or work with children, be prepared to write an essay explaining
why you would like to go. Have references ready to send with your letter of
application.
Campbell advises that you choose your camp carefully, and be prepared to
work hard.
If you'd like to do more than one camp in a summer, Campbell and the Volunteers
for Peace advise that you take at least a two-week break between camps to
regroup.
"It's emotionally stressing to work so closely with a group of people,"
says Campbell. "It's too much to jump right into another group."
Do your homework. Planning ahead with the dates of arrival, departure,
choice of work and your desired country will give you the best chance of getting
the camp you want.
"Most of the best camps fill early," says Michael Baedke, a University
of Richmond student who worked at a children's camp in Germany called Waldpark.
Keep an open mind at all times.
"You must be open-minded to get the most out of the camp," says Baedke.
You can't expect that life will be the same as it is at home.
"Be prepared to learn other ways of looking at the same issues and be willing
to share your own," says Baedke. "And be prepared to have a great time while
doing it."
Associations
WorldTeach, Inc.
Harvard Institute for International Development
Internet
:
http://www.worldteach.org/
Volunteers for Peace
Internet
:
http://www.vfp.org/
Links
Action Without Borders -- Idealist
A directory of volunteer opportunities nationwide
Association of Voluntary Service Organizations
Find out more about voluntary service in Europe
Global Citizens Network
Sends small teams of volunteers to rural communities around the
world
Institute for International Cooperation and Development
Trains volunteers for work in community development projects
in Africa, the Americas and Asia
World Relief Foundation
Offers emergency aid and development assistance to other countries,
thanks to volunteers
Amizade
A non-profit organization with a focus on saving the rainforest
by helping the people of the rainforest
American Jewish Society for Service
Camps usually involve construction or repair in locations across
the U.S.
Volunteer for Our Children
Volunteer work can be done year-round and close to home
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