If you DO NOT live in the US or Canada skip this web page completely and please check the SCI address list for an SCI contact in your region.  You cannot apply through SCI USA or use this information.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

 

Note to Balkan Sunflowers Applicants:
    Please review the information at BSF Introduction and use the BSF Volunteer Questions as a starting point for opennings in Kosovo and Macedonia. To apply, read this page, fill out our form and pay the $125 SCI application fee ($50 will support volunteer coordination for BSF). Note that this fee is separate from the donation you must pay directly to BSF upon arrival of $120 for Kosovo and 200 DM for Macedonia to cover your room and board for the first three weeks.
    Be aware that BSF will consider your location/project preference, however you must agree that the final decision of your placement is left up to the BSF country coordination teams. You need to be 21 or older and volunteer for at least four weeks. You are allow to include up to five alternate SCI Projects on your application.

 
How a Workcamp Application is Processed:
 

You (The Volunteer)

 

SCI IVS USA
Placement Office

 

Placement Office in Workcamp Country


Step 1
Send your application and payment to SCI USA. You can include up to 5 altenate choices in case the camp you want is closed.
 

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Step 2
We review your application if payment is included. Then your application is forwarded to the Placement Office serving the camp.

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Step 3
They review your application and check for space in your camp. This could take up to a week or more during the peak season.


Step 6
You must arrange and pay for transportation costs. Remember to send a Confirmation Notice back to SCI USA office ASAP that you agree to do the workcamp.

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Step 5
If NO, we submit to the Placement Office of your next choice.
If YES, we send you an Info Sheet with directions, what to bring, contact names, etc.

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Step 4
They give SCI USA your status: YES you have a reserved spot in the camp or NO it was not possible to place you in the camp.

 

Please Read Before Completing the Application (you are responsible for knowing this information):

Communication with SCI USA:
During the application process, you need to have a current phone number and current address on file with us.  Having an e-mail address is highly recommended since this will speed up communication. You need to be involved and respond to requests from our office in a timely manner.

Age Requirements:
You have to be at least 16 to participate in a US workcamp, 18 to participate in a foreign projects and 21 for certain camps and in regions where greater experience is needed. There is no upper age limit except where a workcamp has stated a specific age requirement.

Transportation / Accommodation / Food:
You must arrange and pay for transportation to and from the workcamp. Please do not consider arriving late or leaving early as this is very disruptive to your host and to other volunteers. For some camps (especially for those in remote locations), a convenient pick-up point may be specified and if you miss this you may not have another way to get to the camp. Please plan your travels with care, know the stability and geography of your destination, and understand that you are ultimately responsible for all travel costs including cancel or change fees imposed by transportation companies. The workcamp host provides group living area, food and cooking facility for the duration of the workcamp.

Workcamp Application Fees:
US workcamps are $65. Most other workcamps are $125. For all workcamps, $35 is non-refundable to cover costs and goes towards a one-year SCI IVS USA membership. Applying for a second or third camp in the US is $40 and overseas is $80. Payments (via check or credit card) must be submitted with the application in order to be processed. In some clearly identified projects, the host organization asked you to pay a separate participation fee directly to them upon your arrival.

Important Travel Notes:
When crossing international borders, you may wish to declare yourself as a tourist. Otherwise, you may be mis-interpreted by border officials as having the intention to work for pay and therefore they may prohibit or seriously complicate your entry. Remember that before traveling internationally, you need to have a valid passport and if necessary need to obtain an entry visa for certain countries.

Insurance:
We strongly recommend that all volunteers have travel and  health insurance before leaving home. While participating in most SCI projects (except for travels to and from), volunteers between 16 and 65 years old are covered by a secondary reimbursement insurance policy. This supplemental policy excludes illness or accidents arising from physical or mental conditions that existed prior to coverage. (e.g. epilepsy, physical handicap, chronic illness, etc.)

Refund Policy:
If we cannot place you in any projects you requested or if the project is cancelled, all except the $35 non-refundable amount will be refunded. If we placed you and then you decided to cancel, we will return half of the refundable amount if we receive notice from you at least 31 days before the start date of the project.

Liability:
SCI IVS USA and our partner organizations exchange each year thousands of volunteers worldwide and we recognized that a) unpredictable events may cancel or change the project as described to you, b) standards for comfort and safety do vary among countries and cultures; and thus may not meet your expectations, and c) your participation may involve you in unforeseen situations where you must use common sense and be responsible for your well being.

You acknowledge that SCI IVS USA has informed you about the risks and that the agreement between SCI IVS USA and you is limited to placing you in the project of your choice. (Note: in some specified projects, the host organization asked for a separate agreement by you to pay an additional participation fee directly to them upon arrival.) You also acknowledge that SCI IVS USA does not claim a legal status beyond being a 501(c)(3) non-profit, registered in the State of Washington.


Filling Out the Application Form for all projects excluding Africa, Asia  (use this form for Japan sponsored projects in Asia), Latin America:

Instructions for filling out the application are include at the bottom section of the form. At this time, this is not an online form that you can fill out so you will need to print a paper copy by pressing print from your web browser. Our address and fax number are included in the form for you to use to send the application to us.

For workcamps and Balkan Sunflowers volunteers here is the Workcamp Application.

For Balkan Sunflower in addition to the workcamp application above please fill out the BSF Secondary Application


Filling Out the Application Form only for project in Africa, Asia (do not use this form for Japan sponsored projects in Asia), Latin America:

Instructions for filling out this are included on this Microsoft Word form. With one major exception that you should fax or send the form to SCI Office in Seattle not to the international address on the form. Here is the Workcamp A-A-LA Application.