Workcamp

This page features volunteering programs that are offering workcamp solutions.

What is a workcamp?

The volunteer camp (work camp or workcamp) is usually a short-term volunteer project that provides concrete and practical activities to support local initiatives and communities. It usually lasts 2 weeks and involves a group of 8-15 adult volunteers from all over the world. The non-profit projects supported can have different themes: environmental, manual, social, cultural, type of festival or animation with children, disabled people, etc.

The volunteers will help the local communities, especially in manual jobs that vary according to the type of project chosen. The young people who will collaborate will come from different countries of the world, will therefore be in contact and will have to deal with different languages, traditions, religions and cultures as well as local ones.

Working time usually varies from 4 to 8 hours a day, outside working hours and on weekends the host association will guide volunteers to discover the territory, culture and local customs through excursions, leisure activities and sports, common lunches, visits, traditional festivals and meetings with the various local associations.

There are many projects and various themes, one can work in the social field, with children, disabled people, needy people, humanitarian projects, cultural and archaeological projects, the organization of events, exhibitions and festivals, environmental protection projects or agriculture, or to projects of construction and maintenance of houses, public spaces and churches. There are also WorkCamps for minors that include children aged 15 to 17 and extra-European WorkCamps that involve a longer period of volunteering.

No special skills are required to take part, just know a little English and have a great desire to do, a spirit of sharing and collaboration. Travel expenses and a registration fee, which includes health insurance, depends on the organizations; in some cases, they are at the volunteer’s expense, in other cases the host association will offer food and lodging instead, usually in dormitories, gyms or tents.