Workcamps JAVVA 2008
JAVVA asbl
25, rue des Moissons
1210 Brussels
Belgium
Tél : 00 32 2 478 29 19
Fax : 00 32 2 478 03 74
Email: javva@javva.org
Site web: http://www.javva.org

Code	Name	Type of work			Dates	Number of vols
JAVVA 01	Domaine de Mozet - Mozet	ENV-RENO			21/07/08-01/08/08	Max 12
JAVVA 02	Music and Traditions - Marsinne	FEST			08/09/08-20/09/08	10
JAVVA 03	CEMôme: Education Center - Ardennes	SOC			14/08/08-29/08/08	6
JAVVA 04	Red Cross Center - Fraipont	SOC
JAVVA 05	Le Bocfil - Eupen	RENO			07/06/08-28/06/08	10
JAVVA 06	Le Bocfil - Eupen	RENO			04/07/08-24/07/08	10
JAVVA 07	Youth House – Braine l’Alleud
JAVVA 08	Arthur Regniers Center - Bienne-lez-Happart		HANDI	04/08/08-14/08/08			10
JAVVA 09	Arthur Regniers Center - Bienne-lez-Happart	HANDI			18/08/08-29/08/08	10
JAVVA 10
JAVVA 11

JAVVA 01
Domaine de Mozet – Mozet – ENV-RENO
Dates: 21/07/08 – 01/08/08
Number of volunteers: max 12

WORK: Volunteers will work in different tasks in the park of Domaine de Mozet: trees, paintings, renovation of small houses in the park,…
Spare time: Weekend. Evenings will be free. Daily work: 5-6h.
ACCOMMODATION: In the castle of Domaine de Mozet.
LOCATION: Mozet is a wonderful small village in the South of Belgium. 14 km from Namur.
The website of Domaine de Mozet: www.mozet.be

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JAVVA 02
Music and Traditions – Marsinne – FEST
Dates: 08/09/08 -20/09/08 included
Number of volunteers: 10

WORK: Every year, a festival of traditional and folk music is organized in a small village near from Huy. The volunteers will set up structures for the festival and afterwards dismantle it. They will assist the organisation of the event and they will visit the region.
ACCOMMODATION: Participants will live close to a farm “chateau”. Sleeping bag and mattress are useful. No telephone, no Internet available.
LOCATION: Marsinne is in the region of Huy (between Liège and Namur).

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JAVVA 03
CEMôme: Education Center - Ardennes – SOC
Dates: 14/08/08-29/08/08
Number of volunteers: 6

WORK: Volunteers will participate to the preparation of the meals and to the animation of 60 children from 6 to 15 years old.
More information: www.cemoasbl.be
ACCOMMODATION: In a house.
LOCATION: The workcamp will be located in the Ardennes, in the South of Belgium. It’s a wonderful green area in Belgium, in the middle of nature!
REMARKS: It’s better if the volunteers speak a bit of French.

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JAVVA 04
Red Cross Center for applicants of asylum – Fraipont - SOC
Dates:
Number of volunteers:

WORK: The Red Cross Center for applicants of asylum "Le Merisier" welcomes 300 people (young people between 20 and 30 years old). The volunteers will join the life of the applicants of asylum and the life of the Center. Different activities will be organized.
ACCOMODATION: In a house, next to the Red Cross Center.
LOCATION: Fraipont is close to Liège, one of the biggest cities in Belgium.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JAVVA 05
Le Bocfil – Eupen – RENO
Dates: 07/06/08 -28/06/08
Number of volunteers: 10

WORK: Le Bocfil is an organization promoting art and artists in Belgium.
They have a building to renovate to organize art exhibitions (in the East of Belgium, in Eupen). The volunteers will help to the renovation of this building.
ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will sleep in the same building. Sleeping bag is requested. There will be a kitchen, shower and lavatories. The volunteers will prepare the meals with fresh products. The leader of the association speaks French, Dutch, English, German and Spanish.
LOCATION: Eupen is a small city in the East of Belgium, near Germany. In Eupen, people speak French and German.
There are quite a lot of activities to do during the summer: swimming pool, concerts, nature, …
The train station is at 3 minutes from the house (Gospert 83).

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JAVVA 06
Le Bocfil – Eupen – RENO
Dates: 04/07/08 -24/07/08
Number of volunteers: 10

WORK: Le Bocfil is an organization promoting art and artists in Belgium.
They have a building to renovate to organize art exhibitions (in the East of Belgium, in Eupen). The volunteers will help to the renovation of this building.
ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will sleep in the same building. Sleeping bag is requested. There will be a kitchen, shower and lavatories. The volunteers will prepare the meals with fresh products. The leader of the association speaks French, Dutch, English, German and Spanish.
LOCATION: Eupen is a small city in the East of Belgium, near Germany. In Eupen, people speak French and German.
There are quite a lot of activities to do during the summer: swimming pool, concerts, nature, …
The train station is at 3 minutes from the house (Gospert 83).

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JAVVA 07

Youth House - Braine l’Alleud –
Dates:
Number of volunteers:

WORK:
ACCOMMODATION: volunteers will sleep in an old castle.
LOCATION: Braine l’Alleud (30 minutes from Brussels).


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JAVVA 08

Arthur Regniers Center - Bienne-lez-Happart – HANDI
Dates: 04/08/08 -14/08/08
Number of volunteers:10

WORK: This Center is a Center for handicapped suffering from cerebral trauma. The volunteers will care for disabled people (like feeding them). They will also accompany the group in many visits into the countryside and they will assist the leaders to organize leisure activities.
ACCOMODATION: in the Center.
LOCATION: Bienne is close to Binche and to Charleroi. The Center is isolated but bikes are available for volunteers.
REMARKS: The language is French. This is a demanding work for motivated volunteers!

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JAVVA 09
Arthur Regniers Center - Bienne-lez-Happart – HANDI
Dates: 18/08/08 – 29/08/08
Number of volunteers:10

WORK: This Center is a Center for handicapped suffering from cerebral trauma. The volunteers will care for disabled people (like feeding them). They will also accompany the group in many visits into the countryside and they will assist the leaders to organize leisure activities.
ACCOMODATION: in the Center.
LOCATION: Bienne is close to Binche and to Charleroi. The Center is isolated but bikes are available for volunteers.
REMARKS: The language is French. This is a demanding work for motivated volunteers!





MIDDLE EAST WORKCAMPS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. WORKCAMP DIRECTORY 2008:
3. Brief information on the different organizations

Code	Dates	Coordinating Org	Place	Inscription to	Contact Person
ME030 / 2008	07 – 21 July. 2008	Gudran	Alexandria/Egypt	Gudran	Dina Shoukry
ME031/ 2008	11 – 24 July 2008	YDD	Amman/Jordan	YDD	Maali EDRIS
ME032/IPYL54/ 08	03 – 17 Aug. 2008	IPYL	Jenin / Palestine	IPYL	Majd BILTAJI
ME033/ 2008	10 – 24 Aug. 2008	Gudran	Alexandria/Egypt	Gudran	Dina SHUKRY
ME034/ 2008	15 – 26 Aug. 2008	YDD	Jerusalem/Palestine	YDD	Maali EDRIS
ME035/ 2008	11 – 24 October 2008	YDD	Jerusalem/Palestine	YDD	Maali EDRIS
ME036/IPYL55/ 08	14 – 27 December 2008	IPYL/ AIC	Bethlehem/Palestine	IPYL/ AIC	Majd BILTAJI

Dear Friends,

For several years, youth organizations have been organizing workcamps in the Middle East. While the majority of these camps took place in Palestine, some initiatives have taken place elsewhere. This year, for the second time, and as a reflection of a new era of peace and cooperation in the Middle East, youth organizations from Palestine, Egypt , Jordan and will work together to offer international volunteers a greater choice of camps to attend.

IPYL, Gudran, AIC and YDD are joining their efforts to present a unified work camps program this season. The idea is to unify the efforts of the youth organizations in the region, and to exchange experiences and expertise. This way instead of competing against each other, youth organizations within the region can work collectively to empower themselves and therefore bring a double benefit to their members and beneficiaries

The main aim behind this cooperation is to provide international volunteers with a wide choice of work camps and the opportunity to participate in number of camps in different countries. We hope that this spirit of mutual collaboration will lead to increased opportunities for our local and international volunteers to experience the benefits of inter-cultural learning, and to inspire an atmosphere of peace.

All the organizations involved in this season's cooperation have been working closely together for the past years now, a number of them are very well known to local and international networks and partners.

As a result of the this cooperation, we are very happy to present you with a work camp program that consists of 7 projects that will take place in Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan and will spread throughout the year 2008.

We will be cooperating on the logistics, training and leadership of the work camps season, and on the recruitment of international volunteers. However, different organizations are responsible for the arrangement and implementation of each camp and placement of volunteers.

Please send your inscriptions as follows:

Inscriptions to YDD work camps: Is directly through YDD at: ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org
(Person in charge: Maali Edris)

Inscriptions to IPYL work Camps, is directly through IPYL at: workcamps@ipyl.org
(Persons in charge: Majd Biltaji)

Inscriptions to Gudran work Camps, is directly through Gudran at : workcamps@gudran.com
(Person in charge: Dina Shukry)

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate in contacting any of us.

Many thanks for your attention,

Gudran, IPYL, and YDD

Code: ME030 / 2008
Title: One Language = Music
Date: 7th to 21st of July 2008
Place: Alexandria/Egypt
Hosting Organization: Gudran
Work Type: Artistic
Participation fee: 100 Euros
Number of Volunteers: 15 Local and international
Accommodation: the participants will be accommodated in a youth hostel in Alexandria

Local Community and project Description:

Gudran association for Art and Development is a group of artists including painters , musicians , artists of theatre and cinema , who were motivated by what we can call “the social responsibility of the artist” to abandon the galleries and go out in the street to make a contact with the daily-lived reality. Those young artists, with a group of fishermen from El-Max region and surrounding as well as a group of interested in development field, all of them came to an agreement on using art as an introduction to development owing to its active and extending effect on individuals and society as well.

Gudran sees art as that neutral area which allows the existence of dialogue on different levels. So it tried hard to create a climate of dialogue that allows acceptance of the other, as a first stage to enable us to spread the culture of social peace, through artistic group work.

Work:

The idea of this Work Camp is gathering young musicians coming from different cultural and musical backgrounds from different countries to work along with young Egyptian musicians.
As they will use music and artistic practices as an introduction for intercultural dialogue and to over come cultural, ethnic, religious, and political differences.
This will be through their interaction together and with the street, as they will use the public spaces a place for their artistic performances.
This will be during a 2 weeks duration work camp in Alexandria Egypt.

Cultural program:

The afternoon program will be full of cultural and Artistic activities.

Contacts:

This work camps is organized and implemented by Gudran
Inscriptions should be directed to
Dina Shoukry:
dshoukrey@yahoo.com
with cc to : workcamps@gudran.com



This work camp is organized and implemented by GUDRAN inscriptions should be directed to Ms. Dina Shoukry
workcamps@gudran.com
With CC : ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org

Code: ME031/ 2008
Date: 11/7 – 25/7/2008
Place: Amman - Jordan
Hosting Organization: Youth Development Department (YDD) in cooperation with Schniller School
Work Type: Construction and Gardening
Number of Volunteers: 20 Internationals + 7 locals
Participation Fee: 170 Euros
Accommodation: The participants will be hosted inside the guest house related to the school.

Hosting Organization:
The Youth Development Department – YDD was founded to work with a development prospective, and to work as a professional and technical umbrella for the youth sector in Jerusalem, with a through the existing youth bodies in Jerusalem beside it's activities locally, regionally and internationally.
.

Local Community: The School was built on a huge land, most of this land now is not used, the School has a Guest House, a Camping Sight, Gymnastic Hall, out door fields, a Church. The school is allocated right next to a Palestinian refugee camp. With all those mentioned facilities, still the school considered poor, because most of these facilities was built through donations, donations that do not provide maintenance and running costs.
Schniller School provided services and help for orphans and less fortunate children until 1948

Project Description One of the main areas that YDD as a regional goal is willing to give more is less privileged and orphan students, and Schniller School can be the best location for such a work. Schniller school was first established in Jerusalem on 1860 (147 years ago) and provided services and help for orphans and less fortunate children till 1948. In 1959 Theodor Schnniller" school started building its permanent location in Amman, where in 1966, King Hussein opened these premises. Theodor Schniller School is helping children in need who suffer from family problems. The school is taking care of children and providing them with hosting, clothes, meals and many other facilities as improving their hobbies and sport.
Volunteers will have different voluntary tasks to be done during the 2 weeks working camp such as:
· Cleaning the School sight.
· Painting the School walls.
· Delivering trainings to the students (Peace building, Teambuilding, Communication, Sport and any other basic life skills).
· Organizing activities for the students will local community.
· Building in door or out door claiming wall or rock. (This is a dream for some of the School's staff to provide for the children).
· Designing a challenge tracks.
· In 2007 The Beauty of Desert workcamp 1 has been started to build a garden in order to facilitate the space for the children of the school, this year we are willing to go on and continue what has been done in the previous workcamp as a follow up.
Cultural Program:
The afternoons/ evenings are mostly occupied by lectures, parties, documentary films and field visits. Cultural activities will be directed towards learning about the Jordanian History and culture, Beside a cultural trips will be organized during the workcamp to the different historical and important places in Jordan such as Petra, Aqaba and wadi Rum.

This Workcamp is organized and implemented by YDD and Shneller School
Inscriptions should be directed to Ms. Maali Edris ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org

Code: ME032/IPYL54/ 08
Date: 03/08/2009 – 17/08/2008
Place: Jenin / Araba
Hosting Organization: IPYL + The Municipality Of Araba
Work type: Renovating the old Monuments and Palaces.
Number of Volunteers: 20 Internationals
Participation Fee: 150 Euros
Accommodation: The Municipality of Araba will provide us a place to stay in , the girls & boys will stay in separated rooms .

Hosting Organization:

The project seeks to bring young people of various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace. The long-term goal of project is to prepare youth to make positive contributions to their future and society through the values of understanding, helping, contributing tolerance, and respectful coexistence. These goals are achieved through education –awareness reaction, youth empowerment and work camps. The guest house is located on area of land that are continually under threat of confiscation by the Israeli military , so projects there aim do demonstrate solidarity with the local people and to Local Community
Araba’s located 15 km . on the west south of Jenin . 10.000 people are living in this village , Araba’s an Agricultural village . most of the people living in that village depending on the agriculture in there income . Araba has a lot of Monuments and old Roman Palaces , Caves and Byzantium Churches .

International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL)

IPYL aims to empower Palestinian youth sector through non-formal educational programs, intercultural training, media literacy workshops and youth leadership activities. Since its inception, IPYL has implemented hundreds of activities, including international voluntary exchanges, cross-cultural study trips, leadership seminars, think tank groups and community meetings. By undertaking these activities, IPYL has developed strong alliances with a wide network of individuals and organizations. IPYL is running this work camp, for the second time, in partnership with the Alternative Information Center.

Alternative Information Center (AIC)

The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization. It is engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy, grassroots activism and critical analysis of the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The AIC strives to promote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gender equality, freedom and democracy and a rejection of the philosophy (ideology and praxis) (weltanschauung) of separation.

Project Description

The Volunteers will help the Municipality of “Araba” in the renovation for the monuments and the old palaces, they will work with the workers all together, and the municipality will provide the volunteers with all the materials and equipments they need. The volunteers will work with a professional renovator who will show them how to do the renovation for the Monuments and the old palaces.

Cultural Activities:

The afternoon will be used to give volunteers an inter-cultural learning experience, with a focus on showing the international volunteers Palestinian culture within the context of the occupation and hopes for the future. This will involve visits to refugee camps, tours of place of interest, lectures, and most importantly interaction with the local people.
The volunteers will be able to visit the Palestinian villages closed to the wall , and they’ll share there support with the families living in those villages , and they will also be able to visit some centers for women and children and some NGO’s there , and the ministry of youth and sport and take a look about there activities and achievements . they will also be able to go for a tour in the village and visit the Amazing gardens and old places there . they can also do some voluntary work “ Cleaning , Farming and Painting “ . we’ll also use the afternoon to show some films about “Jenin like “ Jenin Jenin “ and “Arna’s Children “ .


This work camp is organized and implemented by IPYL and UAWC inscriptions should be directed to Ms. Majd Biltaji
workcamps@ipyl.org

Code: ME033/ 2008
Title: Eye Dialogue
Date: 10th to 24th of August 2008
Place: Alexandria/Egypt
Hosting Organization: Gudran
Work Type: Artistic
Participation Fee: 100 Euros
Number of Volunteers: 15 Local and international
Accommodation: the participants will be accommodated in a youth hostel in Alexandria

Local Community and project Description:

Gudran association for Art and Development is a group of artists including painters , musicians , artists of theatre and cinema , who were motivated by what we can call “the social responsibility of the artist” to abandon the galleries and go out in the street to make a contact with the daily-lived reality. Those young artists, with a group of fishermen from El-Max region and surrounding as well as a group of interested in development field, all of them came to an agreement on using art as an introduction to development owing to its active and extending effect on individuals and society as well.

Gudran sees art as that neutral area which allows the existence of dialogue on different levels. So it tried hard to create a climate of dialogue that allows acceptance of the other, as a first stage to enable us to spread the culture of social peace, through artistic group work.

Work:

The idea of this work camp is based on providing the opportunity for the youths of the fishermen village in El Max-Alexandria, who are interested in photography, to work with other youths of different countries in a collective work camp for 14 days.
The participants will use photography as a method to interact and make dialogue with people of all over Alexandria.
Gudran will give these youths the chance to exhibit their work in a different, unique space- which is "El Dokan" Gallery.
El Dokan Gallery is an artistic space open to the street in one of the most famous markets of Alexandria.
NB: - "El Dokan" is a recent project of Gudran.

Cultural program:
The afternoon program will be full of cultural and Artistic activities.

Contacts:
This work camps is organized and implemented by Gudran
Inscriptions should be directed to Dina Shoukry
dshoukrey@yahoo.com


This work camp is organized and implemented by GUDRAN inscriptions should be directed to Ms. Dina Shoukry
workcamps@gudran.com
With CC : ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org

.
Code: ME034/ 2008
Date: 15/8 – 26/8/2008
Place: Jerusalem
Hosting Organization: Youth Development Department (YDD) in cooperation with Spafford Children Center
Work Type: Construction and painting
Number of Volunteers: 20 Internationals + 7 locals
Participation Fee: 150 Euros
Accommodation: The participants will be hosted inside the Spafford Children Center.

Hosting Organization:

The Youth Development Department – YDD was founded to work with a development prospective, and to work as a professional and technical umbrella for the youth sector in Jerusalem, with a through the existing youth bodies in Jerusalem beside it's activities locally, regionally and internationally.
.

Local Community:
Spafford Children Center is situated on a hilltop in the north east corner of the Old City of Jerusalem over looking the Mount of Olives and with a beautiful view of the Al-Aqsa mosque grounds.
Spafford is a community centre serving one of the poorest and most marginalized communities in Jerusalem. The centre provides a variety of services to a wide spectrum of the society, ranging from nursery and a kindergarten for poor children to leisure, cultural, artistic and sports activities for adolescents, youth and adults. The Center met this challenge by developing a psycho-social- special Education and Cultural department to help the children and mothers cope with the situation. It's programs were gradually expanded and diversified and are still developing and changing to meet new situations as they arise.


Project Description
Operating through turbulent times in this volatile region, the Spafford Children's center has always adapted to changing political situation and needs of the local population.
A cultural department has expanded slowly and is fast assuming the characteristics of a community club for children, teenagers and even mothers. It offers different activities, ranging from art with different media, library, folklore dancing, theatre, music, sports and games, and may help the children and the young people to develop talents and skills.
As a proposed workcamp we aim and plan to start a new type of our activities which is to spread more feelings toward the old city of Jerusalem by:
1. working on cleaning up the historical walls of Jerusalem while Volunteers will have different voluntary tasks to be done during the 2 weeks working camp
2. Cleaning the walls of the old city of Jerusalem in different areas, painting and drawing inside the Spafford center walls.
3. organizing activities for the students will local community, organizing Sport computations and activities, designing a challenge tracks.
Cultural Program:
The afternoons/ evenings are mostly occupied by lectures, parties, documentary films and field visits. Cultural activities will be directed towards learning about the Palestinian History and culture, Beside a cultural trips will be organized during the workcamp to the different historical and important places inside the Old city of Jerusalem, Jerusalem and other areas in the occupied territories such as Ramallah and Bethlehem. Beside, a round tables will be organized by the workcamp organizers and leaders with the local community and the local youth in Jerusalem in order to establish a dialogue to have a better understanding towards the Palestinian daily life and culture.

This Workcamp is organized and implemented by YDD and Spafford Children Center
Inscriptions should be directed to Ms: Maali Edris ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org

Code: ME035/ 2008 ME035/ 2008
Date: 10/10 – 24/10/2008
Place: Old City Of jerusalem
Hosting Organization: Youth Development Department (YDD) in cooperation with African Community Society
Work Type: Construction and painting
Number of Volunteers: 20 Internationals + 7 locals
Participation Fee: 150 Euros
Accommodation: The participants will be hosted inside the hall of the African Community Society.

Hosting Organization:
The Youth Development Department – YDD was founded to work with a development prospective, and to work as a professional and technical umbrella for the youth sector in Jerusalem, with a through the existing youth bodies in Jerusalem beside it's activities locally, regionally and internationally.
.

Local Community:
Origins: With the spread of Islam and the conversion of African in Africa, more and more black people participated in the Haj. However there were also migrations from Arabia to Africa and later back to Arabia to perform the Haj. The Palestinian Historian Al Aref reported that some people trace the Historical of contemporary Africans in Jeruslaem back to Arabia.
The origins of the African community go back to pure Arabic roots. The majority of the members are derived from the Arab muslim tribe called Al Salamat. The tribe was living in Jeddah, Hijaz (now in Saudi Arabia), and then migrated to chad and sudan with Hijaz, especially Mecca and Medina for the Haj, and after the pilgrimage they went to Jerusalem to continue their worship in al Aqsa mosque, the place of the nocturnal journey of the prophet Mohammed to the seven Heavens.
Settling in the Old City of Jerusalem: Most contemporary members of the African community came to Jerusalem as pilgrims. They also came to Jerusalem to defend Muslims holy shrines in Jerusalem.
More over, the Africans living in Jerusalem are proud of their historic role as guardians of the Islamic holy places since the time of the Mamluk in the thirteenth century. They occupy the mamluk buildings of either side of Alaá Ad-Deen street leading to Al Aqsa mosque. On one side are the Ala'Ed deen Busari buildings, completed in 1267 and named after the mamluke founder of the quarter. On the other side are the Al Mansouri buildings which were completed in 1282. Originally the two ribats were hostels for pilgrims worshipping at Al Aqsa Mosque.
During the Ottoman period the Ribats were occupied by Africans who worked as guards of the mosque and waqf properties. Because of their honestly these Africans held the key of the GATES of the mosque and were responsible for preventing non-Muslims from entering the mosque are. Towards the end of the Ottoman era the Ribats were converted into prisons: Ribat Ad-Deen became Habs Ad-Dam while Ribat Mansouri Became Habs Ar-Ribat.

Men who came from Africa to Jerusalem during this century married local women, many of whom were of African descent themselves. Ties with different Palestinian cities and town where many African communities exist are particularly strong, like Jericho, Acre, Ledda, etc. Other married Palestinian women who have no ties with Africa. Although African Palestinians of Jerusalem are a separate community from the black Bedouin, some intermarriage occurs.

Project Description
The African Community Society is an old partner of YDD and has cooperated with us in several activities. They have hosted several workcamps and Long Term Volunteers, local programs and projects through YDD in the past 4 years. In 2008, the volunteers are expected to work in the cleaning up the corners of the old city of Jeruasalem, painting inside and outside the association, as well as performing minor maintenance and renovation work in the association. It is crucial that the centre be kept alive and busy in order to decrease the chance that it will be confiscated by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) to make way for an illegal settlement, beside aiming to start forward with the first steps of being Jerusalem the Arab Cultural capital in 2009.

Cultural Program:
The afternoons/ evenings are mostly occupied by lectures, parties, documentary films and field visits. Cultural activities will be directed towards learning about the Palestinian History and culture and history Beside a cultural trips will be organized during the workcamp to the different historical and important places inside the Old city of Jerusalem, Jerusalem and other areas in the occupied territories such as Ramallah and Bethlehem. Beside, a round tables will be organized by the workcamp organizers and leaders with the local community and the local youth in Jerusalem in order to establish a dialogue to have a better understanding towards the Palestinian daily life and culture.

This Workcamp is organized and implemented by YDD and Spafford Children Center
Inscriptions should be directed to Ms: Maali Edris ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org


Cod: ME036/IPYL55/ 08
Date: 14/12/2008 – 27/12/2008
Place: Bethlehem city
Hosting Organization: IPYL -The International Palestinian Youth League/ Hebron + AIC – The Alternative Information Center/ Bethlehem
Work type: Agriculture and renovation
Number of Volunteers: 20 Internationals
Participation Fee: 150 Euros
Accommodation: The hosting organization will rent an apartment for the volunteers where they can stay all together in one place . the girls and the guys will stay in separated rooms.
Volunteers will cook their own food, an excellent way of introducing something from your culture.

Hosting Organization:

The project seeks to bring young people of various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace. The long term goal of project is to prepare youth to make positive contributions to their future and society through the values of understanding, helping, contributing tolerance, and respectful coexistence. These goals are achieved through education –awareness reaction, youth empowerment and work camps. The apartment is located in a village called “ Eish Al-Ghurab “ .

International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL)
IPYL aims to empower Palestinian youth sector through non-formal educational programs, intercultural training, media literacy workshops and youth leadership activities. Since its inception, IPYL has implemented hundreds of activities, including international voluntary exchanges, cross-cultural study trips, leadership seminars, think tank groups and community meetings. By undertaking these activities, IPYL has developed strong alliances with a wide network of individuals and organizations. IPYL is running this work camp, for the second time, in partnership with the Alternative Information Center.

Alternative Information Center (AIC)
The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization. It is engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy, grassroots activism and critical analysis of the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The AIC strives to promote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gender equality, freedom and democracy and a rejection of the philosophy (ideology and praxis) (weltanschauung) of separation.

Project Description
The volunteers will work in a village called “ Eish Al-Ghurab “ , this village was an Israeli military base where the soldiers were staying in this place , after the Israeli soldiers left the village before a year and a half , the municipality took the place and now they’re trying to make a lot of projects in this place .
The volunteers will help the municipality of Bethlehem in achieving the projects they’re working for .
They started to build a kindergarten , Parking , Youth Houses , Gardens , Hospital and so on . so the volunteers will work in this area with the municipality, all the work days will be in this area but different tasks , like “Painting , Farming , Cleaning … est.”

Cultural Activities:

The afternoon will be used to give volunteers an inter-cultural learning experience, with a focus on showing the international volunteers Palestinian culture within the context of the occupation and hopes for the future. This will involve visits to refugee camps in Bethlehem, visiting the associations in the city, tours of place of interest, lectures, and most importantly interaction with the local people. The volunteers will be able to visit the AICafe where the can watch Documentary films “ Twice a week “ , about the situation in Palestine and the Middle east . they’ll also have the opportunity to speak with the Palestinian politicians and Authors to open the space for them to find the answers for all the questions they want to ask.
The volunteers will also have the opportunity to visit other cities in the west bank , Ram Allah , Hebron .

Why In Bethlehem

Bethlehem is considered a central hub of Palestinian cultural and tourism industries. The city has significant value for Christians as it is considered the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospels. Bethlehem is also home to one of largest Palestinian Christian communities in the Middle East. In addition, Bethlehem has three Palestinian Refugee Camps (Dhisha, Al-Azza and Aaida). The construction of the Israeli apartheid wall has had a severely negative impact on Bethlehem; politically, socially, and economically. The wall runs along the northern side of the town's built-up area, within meters of houses in 'A'ida refugee camp on the one side, and the Jerusalem on the other.
The work camp will be running in the period of Christmas , where Bethlehem is the best place to celebrate the Christmas in , so the volunteers will have the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas with the Palestinians sharing there celebration and solidarity .

This work camp is organized and implemented by IPYL and UAWC inscriptions should be directed to Ms. Majd Biltaji
workcamps@ipyl.org


Welcome to the Middle East! - Welcome to a life experience in the Middle East.

Middle East Work Camps Coalition
IPYL, YDD, AIC and Gudran

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESTITATE TO CONTACT:

Majd Biltaji: IPYL’S workcamps Coordinator:
workcamps@ipyl.org
Maali Edris: YDD’S, workcamps coordinator: ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org
Dina Shoukry: GUDRAN’S, workcamps Coordinator: workcamps@gudran.com


N.B. Info Sheets and Arrival Notes will be produced and sent 3-6 weeks before the start of the camp.

Brief information about the different organizations:


INTERNATIONAL PALESTINIAN YOUTH LEAGUE:

The International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL) was established in May 1997 as a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization offering development services to Palestinian youth, and aims at empowering the youth sector against all social, political and economic challenges. IPYL is registered at the Ministry of the Interior under HB 304/ CU. IPYL works under a broad remit aimed at the comprehensive development of the youth sector in the southern part of Palestine (the Hebron district).

The principal goals of IPYL are:

ü To imbue young people with a spirit of independence, creativity and entrepreneurship in social, civic, cultural and environmental spheres and to encourage them to take an active role in their communities.
ü To aid and assist the underprivileged sectors of Palestinian society, through the provision of training services, to better access educational opportunities and to find suitable employment.
ü To promote awareness of the dangers of discrimination including xenophobia, sexism and all forms of racism and to reinforce the importance of equal opportunities in all sectors of society.
ü To instill in young people the importance of democracy in the organization of society, and to enhance their awareness of the principles of human rights as elucidated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international covenants and agreements.
ü To encourage young people to recognize the value of cultural diversity, to actively explore other cultures and belief-systems with an open mind and to work with the young people of neighboring countries to achieve a real peace in the region based on mutual respect, justice and equality.

IPYL Administration
The work of the League is guided by a seven-member board of Directors, who are responsible for interpreting the aims and objectives of the League, and for ensuring that the League acts within the guidelines of the IPYL constitution. The policies of the League are set by the General Assembly, composed of all League members, which meets once a year. The League’s Board of Directors, consisting of a Secretary General, Treasurer and five other members, carries out the decisions of the General Assembly and implements the policies that it establishes.

IPYL Memberships
IPYL is a member organization of the following international youth networks:
· Youth Action for Peace - YAP
· Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service – CCIVS
· INFOYOUTH-UNESCO
· Mediterranean Youth Forum
· Palestinian Convention for Youth Resources
· Network for Palestinian Youth Organizations



YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:

Establishment
The Youth Development Department (YDD) was established in June 2000, as an initiative supported by the late Mr. Faisal Husseini (PLO Executive Committee Member in Charge of Jerusalem Affairs) in order to support and protect the Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem, and also to note for the important role played by the youth and their institutions in Jerusalem.

The YDD, was founded to work with a development perspective, and to work as a professional and technical umbrella for the Youth sector in Jerusalem, with and through the existing youth bodies in Jerusalem

YDD’s Vision
The existence of Youth organizations that resort to self-funding and are able to develop Youth according to programs based on youth’s actual needs in a comprehensive and continuous manner.

YDD’s Mission
To work on providing managerial support, financial, and technical to the working organizations in Jerusalem for developing the youth sector based on the organizational needs with the highest level of quality.

Goals and Objectives
YDD aims at Enhancing and improving the work and the role of the already existing youth institutions in Jerusalem, and giving rise to new initiatives.
This goal will be achieved through the following objectives:
· Improving coordination & cooperation among local youth institutions,
· launching common projects between local and international youth organizations through youth exchange programs, voluntary workcamps and trainings,
· training young leaders to establish and to manage new and sustainable youth centers and programs,
· and providing expertise to existing youth centers and associations in planning programs, fundraising and establishing new partnerships.

Main Activities
The YDD organizes and participates in various types of activities, both locally and internationally, such as:
· Building capacity and trainings programs for youth organizations’ leaders and individuals
· Performing detailed studies on Youth needs and resources to help in developing the sector.
· Supporting the local youth organizations financially and technically.
· Regional and International Youth Exchanges and voluntary campaigns.
· Periodical coordination meetings gathering the local youth institutions’ leaders

For more information please visit www.orienthouse.org/ydd or send email to ydd_exchanges@orienthouse.org


GUDRAN :

Who we are
A group of artists: plastic artists, a filmmaker, a graphics designer, a musician and a fisherman from the Max. We are interested in using art as a method for development. Our aim is to improve the aesthetic taste and quality of marginalized communities while retaining their own individuality and uniqueness.

The group had previously worked together in several projects in Egypt and eventually decided to form Gudran

We dream of a community that enjoys a better cultural and artistic life, whose individuals live in a better aesthetic environment, that can invest its own individuality and its potentials, and that believes in art, appreciates aesthetics and is capable of expanding this concept and sustaining it.

Our mission
To initiate a link between art and development in order to improve marginalized communities by making use of their beauty and individuality; and to build on and improve them in order to create inspirational and replicable models.

What we do
We use Art as a means of Development. Art being a way for people to get to know each other, introducing selves and communication and innovation and creation within a community. From here springs the idea of re-developing a community and renovating it through art.

We found that the key to reaching out to the community would be through the children. Since they have most of the creativity and are still uninfluenced by the burdens of life. By sitting with the children and talking with them we get to know their environment more; its problems, its art, its culture and way of life. We start to get involved with the people of the community more, sit with them at their coffee houses, discuss their problems with them, and they in turn begin to trust us and like the idea of our art and slowly start to join us.

In the art workshops, the children are left to their own creativity. There is no teacher. We are mere facilitators and they are the creators. The important thing is to let them know that there are no rules, no titles, and no punishment. Each person is responsible for oneself, but we all work together.

We have previously worked in other areas in Cairo and Upper Egypt. We worked in old Cairo, Sayeda Zeinab and Menya and Aswan. We have also worked with children with special needs.

Each time, the workshops are shaped according to the community; its tools, colours, ideas and all according to the needs or appeal of the people.

For more information please visit www.gudran.com or send email to selhlawany@hotmail.com

Many thanks for your attention
Gudran, IPYL, and YDD





NUESTRA TIERRA - MEXICO

Content Projects

Code	Project	Place	Dates	Vols.
NT01	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	06/07 to 26/07	12
NT02	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	27/07 to 16/08	12
NT03	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	17/08 to 06/09	12
NT04	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	07/09 to 2709	12
NT05	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	28/09 to 18/10	12
NT06	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	19/10 to 08/11	12
NT07	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	09/11 to 29/11	12
NT08	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	30/11 to 20/12	12

Projects Description

MARINE TURTLES CAMP

Code	Project	Place	Dates	Vols.
NT01	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	06/07 to 26/07	12
NT02	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	27/07 to 16/08	12
NT03	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	17/08 to 06/09	12
NT04	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	07/09 to 27/09	12
NT05	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	28/09 to 18/10	12
NT06	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	19/10 to 08/11	12
NT07	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	09/11 to 29/11	12
NT08	Marine Turtle Camp	Puerto Vallarta	30/11 to 20/12	12

Theme: ENVI
Project In México, marine turtles have played an important role in the economic development of some towns of the coast. However, their exploitation has placed them at the present time among species in danger of extinction. The protecting work consists of collecting natural nests, taking care of nests in the incubation corrals, taking care of the babies and freeing them to the ocean. This is not an easy work, as it requires night and day activities (even though there will be shifts to avoid a 24h/day presence). The volunteers will take part in the nightlong patrols around the beach, as well as in the protecting activities. The protecting work consists of collecting natural nests, taking care of nests in the incubation corrals, taking care of the babies and liberating them to the ocean, cleaning the nest and the protected area.
Accommodation A very rustic camp on the beach, having open areas for dining, sleeping (though you might sleep in a tent as well), and bathroom; they are outdoors. Everything is open and you need to be prepared for the rustic conditions. There are several tropical storms, a lot of mosquitos and very warm climate.
Fee Contribution Nuestra Tierra is a non-governmental and a non-profit association. That is why we ask the volunteers a contribution of $3,000 pesos (about 285 USD, or 230 euros) which will be used to fund the projects of the association.


Nuestra Tierra A.C.
Ave. Universo 2010A, Depto.13
Col. La Aurora
C.P. 48306
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
Tel: 52 (322) 2256940
Fax: 52 (322) 2247615
Emails: voluntaryservice@nuestratierra.org.mx
voluntariosnuestratierra@yahoo.com.mx
secretario_nt@yahoo.com.mx
Web: www.nuestratierra.org.mx
NUESTRA TIERRA

Nuestra Tierra is registered as a non-profit, non-governmental association, founded in 1998, dedicated to peace, international solidarity, cultural diversity and the protection and conservation of the environment. The members of Nuestra Tierra promote actions of social and environmental character towards the national and international community, with the purpose of creating awareness about environmental issues in a global sense. At the same time it works towards sustainable development and a better quality of life on the local level.

Nuestra Tierra has participated in international youth exchange activities since 1996, supporting projects of local development and environmental protection, through groups of international volunteers. The association is in constant search for the support of international and national associations and agencies, to expand the work areas, to intensify the support given to environmental and social projects and to reach more and more young people as well as adults with its message. Even though our society is very much welcomes foreigners and exchange activities, voluntary service is still not a very commonly known concept and we need to continue our struggle for the recognition of our work and role in society.



v To know the project; is important to understand all the aspects and conditions of the project. Ask for all the information to your sending organization.

v To be involved in the project in all aspects: activities, organization, meals, etc.

v To bring all the things that we ask (depending on the project).

v To be able to get involved in the local conditions (accommodation, meals, people, volunteers).

v To be autonomous, independent and to take initiatives in all the activities.

v To involve in Nuestra Tierra projects.

v To adapt to the culture and different life conditions.






MBO KYRGYSTAN


About Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country with a population of more than 5 million people. Covering an area of 198,500 sq km, it borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. The capital of the country is Bishkek. About 94% of Kyrgyzstan is mountainous with an average elevation of 2,750 m. The country is known for its natural beauty and its picturesque scenery. There are numerous alpine lakes; the most famous in the country is Issyk-Köl at 170km long and 70km wide. It is the second largest alpine lake in the world. Other alpine lakes include Song-Köl, Ala-Köl, and Sary Chelek.

Kyrgyzstan is a country of contrasts. There are endless mountain ranges covered with eternal snows, vibrant colored alpine meadows, rugged rivers, and calm blue lakes. The country is rich in cultural and historical heritage at the heart of the Central Asian steppes. The smell of wormwood, views of jagged rock formations, deep glaciers, and emerald green valleys make Kyrgyzstan a dreamy reality.
Kyrgyzstan is on the ancient Silk Road trading route; it offers many opportunities to explore Islamic culture and Muslim traditions. The country borders Western China and Xinjiang Province, making it a gateway to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
Program Location Our volunteer programs are located in the northeastern region of Kyrgyzstan, in the town of Karakol. The town is the administrative centre of the Issyk-Köl Lake Oblast. The town is a base for exploring the central Tian Shan Mountain range. Karakol is situated near the pearl of the country - Issyk-Köl Lake. The lake is at the bottom of deep tectonic hollow, with an elevation of 1610 m above sea level. From all directions it is surrounded by Teskey and Kungey Alaa-Too mountain peaks, snow capped year-round, these mountains reach elevations of more than 3000 meters. Eighty rivers feed the lake with crystal-clear water. The climate around the lake is more moderate than rest of the country, there is no exhausting heat or deep frost; the average air temperature in the summer months is 23-26 degrees Celsius. The water warms to comfortable 20-22 degrees Celsius in the summer. On the coast of Issyk-Kul Lake are petroglyphic figures dated to the second millennium BC.
Karakol offers numerous leisure activities. A visit to the historical museum, watching national horse games at the town hippodrome, and taking in Jety-Oguz Gorge, known for its beautiful shaped red rocks are a few of the attractions. Every region of Issykkul Oblast is enticing to the visitor. Boomsk Gorge begins at the gates to Issykklul, here it is possible to raft the rugged Chu River finishing at one of the most remote parts of the area. There you can admire Enelchek Glacier, and the peaks of Khan Tengri and Pobeda Mountains, known for their high elevations.




About Youth Volunteer Organization “Leadership”
Leasdership is a non-profit organization bringing together young volunteers with the mission of involving youth in civil society through volunteerism, project design, and cooperation both locally and internationally. Leadership was founded on November 1, 2005 as a youth volunteer organization under the auspices of the public association Leader, a centre of civic society initiatives.


Our Mission:
To involve youth in civil society through volunteerism in cooperation with local and international volunteer projects.


Goal of Work Camps: To promote the volunteer movement in Kyrgyzstan through local and international work camp exchanges. The program encourages youth to play an active role in varied social spheres, to develop an appreciation for international cooperative teamwork, to enrich outlooks, and to provide the opportunity of intercultural exchange.

Program activities are threefold:

1. International Volunteer Work Camps - Local volunteers visit camps in Europe & Asia.
2. Local Work Camps – Leadership hosts local work camps with international participants.
3. Mid and Long-Term Volunteer Exchanges – Local non-governmental organizations in need of professional exchange involve international volunteers in their activities.

With the support of our partners, Leadership has been able to:
· Participate in the 2006 Technical Meeting in Belgium and Turkey in 2006 and 2007.
· Host 5 local work camps in both 2006 and 2007.
· Send 9 volunteers to international work camps abroad;
· Accept 5 international volunteers for the mid and long term volunteer program.
· Expand and develop our programs.

This year we plan to host more than 5 work camps and accept 3 mid-term volunteers.
This year’s work camps will involve the fields of construction, ecology, festival organization, eco-friendly tourism, saving traditional monuments, and working with orphans and disabled children. This year’s projects will provide a valuable contribution to the social and economical development of life in the Issykkul region of Kyrgyzstan.

№	Location	Code/Name	Types	Duration	Dates	No/ of Vols.
SHORT TERM WORK CAMPS
	Orphanage House, Ak-Suu Village	LS-01 ORPHANAGE	ENVI/KIDS/ TEACH	2 weeks	13.07.08 – 27.07.08	10
	Tamga Village	LS-02 TAMGA	ENVI	2 weeks	03.08.08 – 17.08.08	12
	SOS Kinderdorf Cholpon-Ata	LS-03 SOS	FEST/KIDS	2 weeks	07.07.05 – 20.07.08 (can be changed)	10
	Yak – Tour, Arashan	LS-04 ARASHAN	ENVI	2 weeks	2.06.08 – 15.06.08	12
		LS-05 ARASHAN	ENVI/FOREST	2 weeks	23.06.08 – 06.07.08	12
	Nursery Forest, Ak-Suu Village	LS-06 AKSUU	RECO/FOREST	2 weeks	23.06.08 – 06.07.08	12
		LS-07 AKSUU	RECO/FOREST	2 weeks	13.07.08 – 27.07.08	12
MID AND LONG TERM WORKCAMP PROGRAM
	YVO “Leadership”	MLTV LS–01 LEADERSHIP (Mid-term)	STUDY/VOL	From 1 month +	Open dates	2
	Children house Ak-Suu village	MLTV LS–02 ORPHANAGE (Mid-term)	KIDS	From 1 month +	Open dates	1
	PA “Bayajan”	MLTV LS–03 BAYAZHAN (Mid-term)	KIDS/TEACH	From 1 month +	Open dates	2
	OO “Ravenstvo”	MLTV LS–04 RAVENSTVO	DISA	From 1 month +	Open dates	1

“TOGETHER WE ARE ALL FRIENDS”

LS-01 ORPHANAGE 13.07.08 – 27.07.08 ENVI/KIDS/TEACH 10 VOLS 17+

Aksuu Orphanage cares for 109 children from ages 3 to 19. During the summer, children live in summer homes on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake collecting herbs and potatoes from the fields. Children visit secondary schools with other local children to be involved in other social arenas. A team of volunteers will help children develop English communication skills, foreign cultural acknowledgement, leadership skills, sharing, sports ability, intellectual activities, and singing and dancing. Approximately 60 children, ages 3-19 will be divided into 3 to 4 small groups. Local teachers and nurses will assist each group. Teachers at the orphanage are also interested in conversation practice and working with international volunteers.
Work Project: Participate in orphanage activities such as collecting herbs and potatoes, and making jams from sea-buckthorn and apricot. Conduct games, competitions, and trainings with orphanage children and organize children’s leisure time. Help with the teenager’s English language practice, and create billboards with children.
Meeting Point: Karakol Town, Office of YVO “Leadership”, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova Str.).
Location: Aksuu Village is located close to Karakol – the Issyk-Kul Oblast centre. The work camp will take place at the summer homes of Aksuu Orphanage in Pristan—14 km away from Karakol. Aksuu region is one of the oldest districts, full of hot springs for health and leisure. Surrounded completely by mountains, this location is truly picturesque.
Language: English, Russian is preferred, as children know only basic phrases in English.
Accommodation: Summer cottages of the orphanage, triple rooms with beds. Sometimes volunteers will be accommodated in tents. Bathhouses will be available as required. Seeping bags and mats are required.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, composed of about 3 or 4 international volunteers and 4 local volunteers. Participants will manage the working hours and free time activities with the local camp leaders. Decisions will be made through group discussion. Local Kyrgyz residents are encouraged to be involved.
Note: Alcohol is not permitted during the camp or at the accommodation venue. Smoking is not allowed while volunteers are with children.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring: A back-pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch light, your national recipes, your music, songs, games, energy and a good mood!
Participation fee: 220 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.



“GREEN VILLAGE”

LS–02 TAMGA 03.08 – 17.08 ENVI 12 VOLS 17+

Tamga village is located in the Jetty Ogyz region of Issykkul oblast. The population of Tamga village is 5306 people. Jetty Ogyz region is famous for its picturesque mountains and valleys. There is a famous rock “Broken Heart” admired by many tourists. Local villagers are concerned with ecological issues and the involvement of local community representatives through creating guide books, forming a group of professional guides, and conducting ecological volunteer work camps.
Work Project: To reconstruct yurts (traditional Kyrgyz houses), clean up beaches, plant and preserve sea-buckthorn, reconstruction of ecological path, garden, implement recycling programs, help produce traditional items, and design ecological routes.
Meeting point: Karakol Town, Office of YVO “Leadership”, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova Str.)
Location: Tamga Village is located 100 km from Karakol. Ordinary means of transportation will be used such as minibuses and cars.
Language: English, Russian is preferable.
Accommodation: The classroom of the local secondary school in Tamga Village. Sometimes volunteers will be accommodated in tents. Kitchen supplies will be available in the dining room of the school. Bathhouses will be available as required. Sleeping bags and mats are required.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, it will be composed of about 7 international and 5 local volunteers. Volunteers will manage the working hours, and free time activities with the local camp leaders. Decisions will be made from group discussion. Local inhabitants who want to be involved will be welcome.
Note: No alcohol is permitted during the camp, neither at the campsite nor at the accommodation venue.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring: A back-pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch, your national recipes, music, songs, games, energy, and a good mood!
un Biet tin gi chua, vao day coi di http://gaigoibaucat.xlphp.net
Participation fee: 220 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.


“SUMMER FESTIVAL – ALL DIFFERENT BUT EQUAL”

LS-03 SOS Kinderdorf 07.07 – 20.07 FEST/KIDS 10 VOLS 17+

This camp will be held in cooperation with the Children’s Village in Cholpon-Ata “SOS Kinderdorf”. The Orphanage Village was founded in 2000 in Cholpon-Ata Town. The village hosts 80 orphaned children and children from extremely poor families.
Work Project: The main purpose of the camp is to help the orphaned children and marginalized groups to integrate with other youth circles. Volunteers will provide cultural exchange to enrich their experience while organizing festivals, studies, as well as work and leisure time activities.
Activities will include:
· Preparation and organization of the festival “All Different But Equal” with children and all volunteers:
1. Preparation for the Festival: making handicrafts from recycled and natural materials, planning a concert with dances and songs, organizing the venue and inviting quests;
2.Conducting the Festival: showing the concert, selling handmade crafts;
3.Conclusion: all funds gathered during the Festival will be donated to the homeless children of this village.
· Volunteers will be involved in trainings for children’s development (learning poems, tongue-twisters, drawing, and sport games)
· Conduct excursions, trips, competitions for children
· Assist with product shopping, visit with families
· Beach cleaning and other activities devoted to the development and improvement of local community life by involving children.
Meeting point: Karakol Town, Office of YVO “Leadership”, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova St).
Location: Cholpon-Ata town is 120 km away from the regional centre of Karakol and 254 km away from the capital city, Bishkek. Cholpon-Ata is the centre of tourism in the summer time; it is on the beach of Issyk-Kul Lake. Volunteers will have opportunities to swim and visit historical sights such as Saymaluu Tash, and Rukh Ordo.
Language: English, Russian preferred
Accommodation: Kindergarten rooms on the territory of Children’s Village in Cholpon-Ata “SOS Kinderdorf”. Showers will be available everyday.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, composed of about 5 international and 5 local volunteers. Volunteers will manage the working hours and free time activities with the leaders. Decisions will be made from discussions with the whole group. Kyrgyz local residents who want to be involved will be welcome.
Note: No alcohol is permitted during the camp, neither at the campsite nor at the accommodation venue. Smoking is not allowed while volunteers are with children.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Participation fee: 220 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.



“LET’S CLEAN OUR EARTH!”

LS – 04 ARASHAN 02.06 – 15.06 ENVI 12 VOLS 17+

Yak Tours Karakol was founded in 1991; the organization offers tourism with an emphasis on environmental and social issues. The main goals of Yak Tours are: solving ecological problems, protecting natural surroundings, conducting camps with handicapped children, and preserving animals including yaks, lamas, and goats.
Work Project: Cleaning mountain areas from household rubbish, creating signs to prevent future littering, conducting ecological activities, restoring cultural memorials, observing and investigating wild boars, researching the ecological situation in mountain areas, and hiking and swimming in hot springs during leisure time.
Meeting Point: Karakol Town, Office of YVO “Leadership”, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova St).
Location: Arashan is situated 40 km from Karakol – the Issy-Kul Oblast centre. Arashan is 6 hours walking or 1,5 hours of driving from Karakol. In this area, there are thermal hot springs, referred to in Kyrgyz as Altyn-Arashan, translated in English as Gold Sources. The district around the springs is picturesque, located on a sub alpine meadow. Wooded areas cover the slopes of the gorge.
Language: English, Russian is preferable.
Accommodation: Summer cottages and yurts (traditional Kyrgyz house) with beds. Sometimes volunteers will use tents. Bathhouses will be available as required. Sleeping bags and mats are required.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, composed of about 7 international and 5 local volunteers. Volunteers will manage working hours and free time activities with the local camp leader. Decisions will be made based on discussions made with the whole group. Local Kyrgyz residents who wish to be involved will be welcome.
Note: No alcohol is permitted during the camp neither at the campsite nor at the accommodation venue. Volunteers must be aware that Arashan is a rather isolated place high in the Tian Shan Mountains.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring: A back-pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch, your national recipes, music, songs, games, energy and a good mood!
Participation fee: 230 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.
“TALKING TO THE TREE”

LS – 05 ARASHAN 23.06 – 06.07 ENVI/FOREST 12 VOLS 17+

Yak Tours Karakol was founded in 1991; the organization offers tourist services with an emphasis on environmental and social issues. The main goals of Yak Tours are: solving ecological problems, protecting natural surroundings, conducting camps with handicapped children, and protecting animals including yaks, lamas, and goats.
Work Project: Analysis of fir trees with entries into data records (schemes, pictures, and summary reports), creation of protection shields for young fir plants, researching the ecological situation in the mountain area, hiking and swimming in hot springs for leisure time.
Location: Arashan is situated 40 km from Karakol the Issyk-Kul Oblast centre. Arashan is 6 hours walking or a 1,5 hour drive from Karakol. In this area, there are thermal hot springs, referred to in Kyrgyz as Altyn-Arashan, translated in English as Gold Sources. The district around the springs is picturesque, located on a sub-alpine meadow. Wooded areas cover the slopes of the gorge.
Language: English, Russian is preferable
Accommodation: Summer cottages and yurts (traditional Kyrgyz houses) with beds. Sometimes volunteers will use tents. Bathhouses will be available as required. Sleeping bags and mats are required.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, composed of about 7 international and 5 local volunteers. Volunteers will manage the working hours and free time activities with the local camp leader. Decisions will be made based on discussions with the whole group. Kyrgyz residents who wish to be involved will be welcome.
Note: No alcohol is permitted during the camp, neither at the campsite nor at the accommodation venue. Volunteers should to be aware that Arashan is a rather isolated place high in the Tian Shan Mountain Range.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring: A back-pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch, your national recipes, music, songs, games, energy, and a good mood!
Participation fee: 220 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.

“LUNGS OF THE EARTH”

LS–06 AKSUU FOREST 23.06 – 06.07 RECO/FOREST 12 VOLS 17+
LS–07 AKSUU FOREST 13.07 – 27.07 RECO/FOREST 12 VOLS 17+

Aksuu Forest Department (Nursery Forest) is situated in Aksuu village, 15 km from Karakol. Forest Department was created in 1947 but in 2003 acquired a legal status. It is the only one on the North of Kyrgyzstan and that is why it is so unique. Aksuu Forest Department covers 21858 hectares of land scope, 7048 hectares of which are covered with forest. One of the main directions of Forest Department is recovery of forest. According to this every year they plant trees, care young seedlings, protect soil, etc.
Work Project: Caring for young trees (watering and weeding), researching forestry issues, reconstruction of Forestry Museum, making preparation for it (collecting fir apples, herbarium, designing and making wooden items), creating recreation items for visitors (wooden chairs, tables, stools), and making wooden items for educational purposes “Tsunahiki” (a Japanese game).
Meeting point: Karakol Town, Office of YVO “Leadership”, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova St).
Location: Aksuu is situated 15 km from Karakol, the Issy-Kul Oblast centre. Aksuu region is one of the region’s oldest districts, full of hot springs for health and leisure. Surrounded completely by mountains, this location is truly picturesque.
Language: English; Kyrgyz or Russian is preferable
Accommodation: Summer cottages, sometimes volunteers will stay in tents and yurts (traditional Kyrgyz houses). Kitchen supplies will be available. Bathhouses will be provided as required. Volunteers should bring sleeping bags and mats.
Food: Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary supplies provided.
Terminal: Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU)
Group: Mixed, composed of about 7 international and 5 local volunteers. Volunteers will manage working hours and free time activities with the local camp leaders. Decisions will be made based on discussions with the whole group. Local residents who wish to be involved will be welcome.
Insurance: Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring: A back-pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch, your national recipes, music, songs, games, energy, and a good mood!
Participation fee: 220 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, recreation and organizational costs.


Mid and Long-Term Volunteering in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

General Information
Program Requirements

Language - Though the working language of international volunteers is English, at least basic knowledge of Russian is recommended in order to communicate efficiently with local volunteers and staff members of the organization. Beginner’s Russian/Kyrgyz language lessons are provided in the participation fee. Knowledge of other world languages is welcome; this will enable you to hold language courses with local volunteers and other youth in Karakol.

Other skills - In order to participate in the program you are expected to have past experience with volunteer work, working as a part of a team, and working with teenagers. It is recommended to bring literature and CDs with language teaching programs.

We also expect you to be motivated and to actively participate in your own program’s implementation and evaluation process.

Duration of the Program and Your Schedule

In order to be admitted you must be able to participate for at least one month while the maximum period of your involvement is one year. Your work will range from 6 to 8 hours per day, depending on mutual agreement and the needs of the host organization. Normally volunteers work Monday through Friday, special events and activities sometimes require their presence during weekends.

Program Costs

The costs of the program are as follows:

• Cost for 1 month: 250 EUR.

• Cost for 3 months: 700 EUR
• Cost for 6 months:1400 EUR.
• Cost for one year:2500 EUR.

The program fee covers administrative charges, accommodation and food (provided by a host-family), pre-departure preparation assistance, beginner's Russian/Kyrgyz language classes and 24-hour support and guidance from professional, locally-based staff.
If you need a guided transfer from the Bishkek Airport to Karakol, an additional 40 EUR will be charged.

The program fee does not cover your roundtrip flight to Kyrgyzstan. Your visa, medical and travel insurance, airport departure taxes, and travel expenses during your stay in Karakol (if not directly connected to the volunteer work) are your responsibility. Costs of personal Internet time and phone calls are also the responsibility of the volunteer.

Application process

Please contact us so that we can send you an application form. After receiving your completed application we will inform you within 10 days whether you have been accepted.


1. MLTV LS–01 Youth Volunteer Organization “Leadership” Karakol 18+ (2 places)

About Youth Volunteer Organization “Leadership”
Leasdership is a non-profit organization bringing together young volunteers with the mission of involving youth in civil society through volunteerism, project design, and cooperation both locally and internationally. Leadership was founded on November 1, 2005 as a youth volunteer organization under the auspices of the public association Leader, a centre of civic society initiatives.

Accommodation
You will live with a local family; they will provide you with your own room and all the necessary conveniences. You will join your host-family for breakfast and dinner while lunch will be provided at the office with other members of YVO “Leadership”.

You will be able to work in the following sphere of activities:
§ Assisting in the coordination of our young volunteers: organization of regular meetings as well as motivation and team-building activities.
§ Participating in the organization and realization of various trainings.
§ Planning and implementing short term international volunteer projects and summer camps.
§ Helping youth volunteers run our newly established library.
§ Get involved in fundraising activities.
§ Actively participate in our current projects.
§ Hold language courses and discussion clubs.



2. MLTV LS–02 Orphanage House Aksuu 18+ (2 spots)

About Aksuu Orphanage House:
Aksuu is situated 20 km away from Karakol, the Issyk-Kul Oblast centre. The Aksuu orphanage was founded in 1996 and now hosts 109 children from 3 to 19 years old. Children are involved in social life, they often visit secondary schools with other local children. In Orphanage House they have many opportunities to participate in different kinds of activities such as dress-making class, drawing and dancing class, and sport clubs. Teachers in the orphanage are also interested in conversation practice and working with international volunteers. The best time for mid-term volunteering is spring and fall.

Volunteer’s Role:
The mid-term volunteer can take part in the following activities:
· Participation in everyday life of the Orphanage House with residents.
· Conduct language clubs, handicraft clubs, drawing clubs, dancing, and festival organization.
· Participate in short-term volunteer projects in Aksuu Orphanage.

Accommodation:
You will have an opportunity to live with a local family; they will provide you with your own room and all the necessary conveniences.


3. MLTV LS–03 Public Association “Bayazhan” Karakol 18+ (2 places)

About Public Association “Bayazhan”:
Public Association “Bayazhan” was founded on February 12th 2003. It is a non-profit organization bringing together 3 youth volunteers and 6 teachers with the mission of assisting in educational reforms and foreign language teaching program enhancement. The organization is ready to accept a willing volunteer with experience in working with children (teachers of Chinese or other European languages are desired).


Volunteer’s Role:
The mid-term volunteer can take part in the programs of PA “Bayazhan” and work in the following spheres of activities:
§ Participation in organization of various language trainings and currently running activities of the organization
§ Create possibilities for local students to speak with native speakers
§ Hold language courses in English, Chinese, German, or French in language club
§ Festival and language event organization
§ Participation in management and partnership exchange of the organization


Accommodation:
Choose from 2 variants:
o To live with a local family, which will provide you with your own room and all the necessary conveniences. You will join your host-family for breakfast and dinner; lunch will be provided at the office together with other members of PA “Bayazhan”;
o To live in a local apartment.

4. MLTV LS–04 Public Union “Ravenstvo” Karakol 18+ (1 spot)

About Public Union “Ravenstvo”:
PU “Ravenstvo” (translated as “Equality”) is a non-governmental organization dealing with disabled people of all age groups. PU “Ravenstvo” was founded in 2003. The organization unites 400 people with disabilities in 4 areas of the region. PU has its own specialized school for handicapped children.
Volunteer’s Role:
You will be able to work in the following sphere of activities:
§ Participate in organization of various activities/programs with handicapped people including children and the elderly
§ Assist with computer courses for disabled children
§ Hold language courses
§ Take part in psychological meetings with disabled children’s parents

Accommodation
Choose from 2 variants:
o To live with a local family, which will provide you with your own room and all the necessary conveniences. You will join your host-family for breakfast and supper, lunch will be provided at the office with other members of PU “Ravenstvo”
o To live in separate local apartment.



Subir al Sur Argentina


Subir al Sur is an argentine NGO promoting peace and intercultural education trough voluntary service.
Subir al Sur partners with youth groups and local argentine NGO promoting youth inclusion and social transformation and invite volunteers from around the globe to join them in order to work and learn together while undertaking an important social action with the community.
Subir al Sur intercultural projects are very much community oriented and they have a strong participation as we understand change starts with active citizenship. Subir al Sur facilitators encourage a positive communication among the participants, facilitate the great meeting and explore ways to learn about global issues and our personal challenges when thinking about a better world for all of us.

• Please visit our web page to learn more about us: www.subiralsur.org.ar
• See our video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=trELybnNKVI

Placement: encuentros@subiralsur.org.ar in CC ceciliamilesi@subiralsur.org.ar and participation@subiralsur.org.ar More info/ questions: ceciliamilesi@subiralsur.org.ar (Director) and Victoria Lovelock (Projects Officer)

Mission

· To contribute to the creation of a peace loving humanity by promoting the encounter, the horizontal cooperation and the deep understanding of “the other´s differences”.

Aims

· To transform our ethnocentric and absolute visions on life by using the “journey in social service” as a pedagogical tool to promote the values of solidarity, peace and respect for cultural diversity.
· To use the voluntary service as our main strategy towards intercultural education as a base for a new culture of peace.
· To organize seminars and cultural events promoting Subir al Sur´s values together with local and international NGO´s and young argentine people (especially those with fewer opportunities).


Main actions
Volunteering:

· International volunteering: Subir al Sur organizes workcamps and intercultural meetings in Argentina (as a hosting organization) in alliance with local projects, and send argentine volunteers to the rest of the world (as a sending organization). International partners: www.yap.org / www.unesco.org/ccivs / www.alliance-network.org
· National and regional volunteering (Argentina and Mercosur): Subir al Sur promotes the participation of argentine youngsters (specially those with fewer opportunities) as well as young people from the neighboring countries during the workcamps and organizes workcamps/ seminars to promote regional integration with solidarity and respect.


Subir a Malaver!!! 07/ 07/ 2008- 20/07/2008

Pre- workcamp (Buenos Aires City): 05 / 06 July 2008 (Optional, anyhow we truly encourage you to participate!). More info about the pre- workcamp will be sent with infosheet to those who are applying.
RENO-SOCIAL

Project: this project will be hosted by our new local partner “Cooperativa Malaver Villate”, the youth group working together with this NGO promoting social and economical inclusion and Subir al Sur. The Cooperativa have been working the last 10 years mainly by undertaking important social projects focused on housing and cultural- educational training (scholarships and art workshops). The Youth Group is eager to undertake new actions that could bring a new spirit and revitalize ideas in order to continue on a positive progress within the neighborhood.
The Youth Group and the Cooperative would like to restore a special sector of their Communitarian Centre located in the heart of the Malaver neighborhood –one of the most excluded areas in the Province of Buenos Aires-. Subir al Sur and our local partners expect that this project will encourage more local youngsters to start joining the actions in the Cultural Center. So besides to work on the restoration and the painting of the centre, many cultural, recreational and educational actions will be organize for those who join the project and the local group.


Free time activities: A historical walk around the city of Buenos Aires (one hour away for the Malaver area), historical walk and cultural understanding of the Malaver – Province of Buenos Aires area, drums festival, and a big- nice B&B with musical festival to close the project!
The volunteers should be predisposed to share, and to knit together through solidarity and brotherhood the web of possible dreams and to generate the appropriate place to get to know each other and to learn together.
We hope that each volunteer can bring characteristic elements from their countries to share with the community.

Situation: Malaver is located in the Province of Buenos Aires, Florida District, 45 minutes away by bus of the City of Buenos Aires.




Subir con Conciencia 04/08/2008 – 17/08/2008
Pre- workcamp (Buenos Aires): 03 / 04 August 2008 (Optional, anyhow we truly encourage you to participate!). More info about the pre- workcamp will be sent with infosheet to those who are applying.
RENO-SOCIAL
Language: open to all

Project: In this third year running the village of Villa Ana will host a project developed by the group of Young People “Quebrachito” together with Subir al Sur. The volunteers will undertake a community task in the municipal School Manuel Belgrano Nº 686; or more known by the village as the ´´escuelita´´ of the Southern neighbourhood. The construction of a green area will be undertaken along with recreational games and the reconstruction of a cement playground which is an area of great use to the institution, used for shows, parties, official acts and physical recreation of the students. At the end of the project and for the departure of the volunteers a party will be organized between all the participants with music groups and dancing at the end.
The town was founded in 1910 and as many neighbouring towns its foundation was due to the arrival of a British factory called the “The Forestal Land Company” dedicated to the exploitation of the Quebracho Colorado (a native tree) and its production to obtain Tannin, a substance used to work leather.

Free time activities: A historical outing about the village, BBQ in the countryside where the volunteers can ride a horse and go about the countryside, visits to a Pre-school and other Primary and Secondary schools in the town and a visit to the Coop. El Quebracho Colorado dedicated to sustainable production.
The volunteers should be predisposed to share, and to knit together through solidarity and brotherhood the net of dreams and to generate the appropriate place to get to know each other and to learn together.
We hope that each volunteer can bring characteristic elements from their countries to share with the community.

Situation: Villa Ana, in the North of the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina.





Subir a Pergamino: Ties to the South, “Lazos al Sur”
Date: From the 08/09/2008 until 21/09/2008
Pre- workcamp (Buenos Aires): 06 / 07 September 2008 (Optional, anyhow we truly encourage you to participate!). More info about the pre- workcamp will be sent with infosheet to those who are applying.
RENO- ECO
Language: open to all

Description of the project:
Pergamino is a city of 110.000 inhabitants, it is located in the North of the province of Buenos Aires in a zone rich in agricultural production; 220km from the Capital city of Buenos Aires.
Since 1998, Ecoclub Pergamino has worked on actions to improve the quality of life in the town. The local youth group is made up of Children and Young people who act in a democratic manner and undertake different community actions with different institutions in the town.
This Work-camp, will be based on the restoration of an historical Water Tower in the town. We are looking to raise awareness in the community about the importance of use and consumption of Water; in addition to this we will improve the area next to the river in Pergamino, bringing out its natural values including that of the architecture and history of the Water Tower.
During the best part of the day, we will work on remodeling, reconstruction and painting of the Tower and also putting into condition of the grassy area which surrounds it. On some of these days the international volunteers will work together with local volunteers.

Free time activities:
The local volunteers will organize historical and cultural outings about the Town, and visits to Cattle Farms where the volunteers will have contact and interaction with the countryside of the Pampa. There will be no end to the discussions and rounds of maté (A typical Argentine herbal tea drink drank through a metal straw and shared with the group) from which the volunteers can profit!

Situation: Pergamino, North of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.