International Work Camp for dummies

International Work Camp (IWC)...

Three words that doesn't make any sense for you...until now! If you have a doubt about the real meaning of IWC, you've just clicked on the right post!

" I work for a Non Profit Organisation that organize winter and summer camps in both Taiwan and Abroad"...that's how i try to sum up work camp activities to people who ask me what i'm doing here in Taiwan. However it is not a thorough explanation for sure!

People are surprised when i introduce International Work Camp programm , and many of them seem to understand what is it about ...without really getting it. But lot most of people are curious and interested so that they ask many many many questions! International Work camp like a travel but actually is not tourism, it's not work either.

A Work Camp is a programm that involves people in welfare activities, make them work hand in hand to change the world gradually. An International work camp is a place in the world where people of all backgrounds nationalities live and provide many services together on a grassroots project organized by a local sponsor for non commercial causes.

You can easily imagine how many causes need to be supported!

In a Work Camp, we call these people volunteers, because they take part to the project by their own and want to spend a part of their free time to share their knowledge, learn from others and build or pursue their own projects during a Work Camp.

What about the lenght of Work Camp?

It depends on the project, the structure which held the programm but to sum up there are three categories:

-Short term IWC: many days to one months, most of the time it's around 2 weeks
-Middle term IWC: (MTV): the project lasts within three months
-Long term IWC: The project ends within one year, it needs specific requirements but volunteers are granted by pocket money and are exempted of accomodation and food expenses.

Is that free?

Once again, it depends on the structure and convention between the partners abroad, but most of the time subcribtion fees are requested. Volunteers have to take in charge transportation fees to get the country where IWC happens (air ticket for example), but it is still a good deal since you've given free accomodation and local food!

Many IWC issues (it can help you to figure out what kind of task a volunteer has to face :0)

Environment:
the IWC focus on protection of a specific area. Make a surrounding or abandoned place more attractiv, clean and
Example:Cleaning & gardening work, Recovery of grasslands, planting trees to prevent mudslide, water flood etc...

-Agriculture/food security : inform students of the fundamental role of agriculture as an important actor of the environmental and cultural wealth and heritage of the so called marginal territories, help local people for manual work and promote agriculture as a key sector for sustainable development etc...

Construction/Renovation/Rural development:

Example: renovating historical building (church, old farm house, castle etc॥), or building a useful place to provide a shelter or create a community space where people can meet each other (school, community house)

-Culture: IWC focus on multi cultural exchanges to reinforce mutual understanding. It pushes volunteers and local people to find the right way expressing their thoughts and their ideas..
Example:Festival preparation, arts workshop between volunteer and/or local artists, organize a performance etc...

-Social Work/Education:

Example: public awarness (fits with local threatens such as aids, women's rights, etc..) teaching foreign languages, taking care of orphans, cultural exchange with teemagers etc....

There are so many issues, this list of example won't be enought but hope you have a better understanding of IWC right now! To be honest, whatever the issue is, the volunteer makes the difference between a wonderful camp and a ordinary work camp!

Erika/愛麗佳