[Updated 21 Feb 2000]
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How can I create
a workcamp in the US or Canada with SCI IVS USA?
Q: What is a workcamp?
A:
A workcamp is a place anywhere in the world where people of all backgrounds,
ideologies, and nationalities live and volunteer together for two to four weeks
on a grassroots project organized by a local sponsor for non-commercial causes.
Most workcamps occur during the Summer months and have between 5 and 20 international
participants. You volunteer, you socialize and you work (usually no more than
6 hours during weekdays) with local people. You are a multicultural, voluntary
workforce promoting tolerance and understanding through your activism. That
is a workcamp - and it works!
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Q: How old do
I have to be. Are there any upper age limitations?
A: You have to
be at least 16 to participate in a US workcamp, 18 to participate in a foreign
developed country and 21 for a third world country. There is no upper age limit
except where a workcamp states specific age requirements.
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Q: Do I need any special skills?
A: No. Workcamps are designed mostly for generalist volunteers. You do need
to be aware of your physical limitations for certain types of projects. Sometimes
there are language requirements. You are expected to participate with other
volunteers in a group atmosphere; cooking together, planning activities together,
working out differences together, etc.
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Q: Can I participate
in more than one camp?
A: Yes, you may sign up for up to three camps
per season. Be sure you leave yourself enough time to get from one to another.
Arriving on time and staying for the whole camp is crucial and required for
camp participation.
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Q: Can I go with
my friend (spouse, children)?
A: In most camps no more than two
people of any one country are accepted. If you want to go with a friend or as
a couple, be sure you sign up early and chose a camp with a larger amount of
volunteers. Some camps are specifically designed for family participation.
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Q: Do I need health insurance?
A: We strongly recommend that all volunteers have travel and health insurance
before leaving home. While participating in most SCI projects (except for travels
to or 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.)
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Q: How much is it going to
cost?
A: US workcamps application fees are $65. Most other
workcamp are $125. For all workcamps, $35 is non-refundable to cover costs and
goes towards a one-year SCI USA membership. Applying for a second or third camp
in the US is $40 and overseas is $80. You must provide your own transportation
to and from the workcamp and you must have enough pocket money for outside expenses.
The workcamp host provides group living area, food and cooking facility for
the duration of the workcamp. In most projects there are no other costs that
you will be responsible for; however in some clearly identified projects, the
host organization asked you to pay a separate participation fee directly to
them upon your arrival.
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Q: Who makes travel arrangements?
A: 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.
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Q: How about
travel before and after the camp?
A: Many of our volunteers combine
travelling with volunteering. In fact it is often possible to travel with newfound
friends after the camp.
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Q: When will
the summer 2000 camps be published? How do I get a copy?
A: The
summer listings are published toward end of March (that is when we receive most
of the information). We will publish on our web site. If you would like to have
a printed copy which includes our newsletter, please send $5.00 to our office
at:
SCI International Voluntary Service
814 NE 40th Street
Seattle,
WA 98105
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Q: How do I become a member or
make a donation?
A: Membership donation is $35.00 per year for which
you will receive a printed copy of our summer workcamps and our newsletter.
If you would like to become a member or to make a donation to help support our
grassroots efforts, please send your name, address and the amount to our Seattle
address. Note that some states do have restrictions on "solicitation of
charitable contributions" so please 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. You may also send your donation securely online:
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Q:
How can I create a workcamp in the US or Canada with SCI IVS USA?
A: Contact our Seattle Office if your idea for a workcamp can satisfy these five
basic requirements:
1) Projects must be service oriented and for non-commercial causes in
which volunteers are not used to replace paid labor.
2) Projects are
required to have an educational component so that volunteers understand
the meaning of their service to themselves and to the host community or
organization.
3) Projects must be open to receiving at a minimum 5 to
6 volunteers from the diverse background and cultures of SCI Branches
and Partner organizations worldwide (anywhere from 0 to 2 volunteers
usually come from North America).
4) Projects must provide group living
area for volunteers, provide food and cooking area, and provide a local coordinator
to help facilitate the workcamp.
5) Projects should occure around
July or August which is historically the peak Summer season for workcamp
volunteers. Also, this means planning and coordination with SCI USA
should be finalized by February or March at the latest.
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