Tuesday, August 24, 2010
To be MCE Volunteers!
Workcamps can be beneficial for BOTH local / global communities AND volunteers. They should be consistent with each other, but sometimes inconsistent when volunteers request/ do something not good for local people/communities.
Some volunteers have misunderstood that workcamp are only for volunteers to experience unique holiday & culture and to exchange just in the group. Volunteers should feel happy by that the communities/ world become happy ! (This never means to be victims or sacrifices for the world.) We believe that such persons are real volunteers and we appreciate to have had such many volunteers. Let’s create happier & exciting world together with us. We introduce some good examples and tragedies caused by foreign vols. in our history;
Propose the positive ideas
When you find any problems, please do not just complain or keep silence, but propose the alternative plans. In the workcamp of Philippine, volunteers organized evening activities such as discussion, games and play by turns day by day in the second week, by a suggestion of a volunteer. Since that, the atmosphere & solidarity became much greater!
If you are adults…
When a leader asked vols. to go to bed, they answered "We're not kids. We decide by ourselves." But the next day, many of them got up late, delayed for the work (locals waited for them) and didn't work well because they were sleepy. If you are adults, you may go to bed late only if you can keep time & work well later on (not to make troubles to other people.)
Don’t kiss & show love deeply in front of people…
In Mongolia, two vols. became a couple. When the group visited a kindergarten school, they did it very deeply in front of kids for a long time. As local people in a country side are still quite conservative, they got very angry. By that small action, the workcamp as a whole were damaged a lot
since some thought that all vols. as immoral and one even said "Go out, Workcampers!!"
Leaving early...?
It is not possible for you to leave the workcamp before the last day UNLESS all of leaders, local partners and the group permit though it is anyway not good for the workcamp.
Huge possibility!
Though some may say, "Workcamp can do little to make the world better by voluntary work since it's just for short term and not specialists.", we believe not. To be beginners & short term is not always a weak point, but can be advantage;
What are international workcamps?
International voluntary projects, where 10 - 30 volunteers in the world live & work with local people for 2 - 3 weeks. Mostly in summer, but some in other seasons.
1) Brief History
In 1920, the first one started in France by German & French youth as reconstructing the farms destroyed during the World War I. Since then, it has been spreading to all over the world.
In the 60s, many workcamps with construction works were organized in newly independent countries as well as peace projects between East & West in Europe. Environmental ones have been increasing since 80s. According to our research, about 2,400 projects in 90 countries were held in 2001.
2) Voluntary Works
Normally for 6-8 hours in a day and 5 days in a week. The types of works are varied;
a) Environment : Cleaning rivers, planting trees, protecting animals, creating eco-villages, etc.
b) Agriculture : Picking fruits or seeding in organic farms, reviving uncultivated fields, etc.
c) Construction : schools, toilets, renovating castles, converting farms into youth centers, etc.
d) Social work : With/ for children, refugees, mentally/ physically disadvantaged, elders, etc.
e) Arts/Education:Organizing festivals, performing play against AIDS in schools, archaeology, etc.
f) Others : Making proposals of town planning, recycling & sending bicycles to India, etc.
3) Accommodations & Free time activities
Usually youth centers, public halls, schools and sometimes tents or temples that are simple but even better for the group life! Volunteers often cook by turns and enjoy global tastes. The common language is English in most of workcamps though you had better to try local languages.
In some workcamps, the hosts or we volunteers organize discussions, excursions, exchange parties with local people, school visit, sports programs, etc. It is very important to note that workcamps should be made by all volunteers with local people. Volunteers are not guests!
4) Workcamp Organizations (WOs)
Most of WOs are non-governmental/non-profit organizations (NGO/NPOs).
Most of WOs're affiliated with CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) founded by UNESCO, UN in 1948 to assist & promote workcamps in the world. It publishes booklets and organizes conferences of WOs and a few workcamps where no workcamps are existed yet. WOs are not lower branches of CCIVS, but the creaters of this network! Each WOs independently & freely organize workcamps mainly in their own countries and cooperate by exchanging volunteers, etc.
In each workcamps, WOs cooperate with local partner organizations of governments or NGO/NPOs.
5) Finance
Many WOs manage the running finances by inscription fee from volunteers & some are supported also by governments, foundations, etc. Volunteers need to pay the travel cost to/from workcamps and fee to WOs in their own countries. Food & accommodations are provided by local partners, though there are participation fee around 180-250 US$ in some workcamps in Africa, Asia, etc
6) Common Aims
Although each WOs and workcamps have their own aims, the common aim is to achieve peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world by
a) Creating/ supporting voluntary movements for ecology, human rights, self-sufficiency, etc.
b) Activating and involving new people to local communities and NGO/NPOs
c) Promoting global understanding, friendship and solidarity
ENVI = Environment CULT = Cultural projects PHYS = Work with physically disadvantaged
ARGI = Agriculture SOCI = Social work (*) MENT = Work with mentally disadvantaged
CONS = Construction ELDE = Work with elderly KIDS = Work with children/ orphans
PEACE= Peace RENO = Renovation NASS = North and South Solidarity
* "Social work" means work with other types of people besides ELDE, PHYS, MENT and KIDS
(e.g. Refugee, Homeless) OR work with various types of such people with special needs.
ENVI = Environment
CULT = Cultural projects
PHYS = Work with physically disadvantaged
ARGI = Agriculture
SOCI = Social work (*)
MENT = Work with mentally disadvantaged
CONS = Construction
ELDE = Work with elderly
KIDS = Work with children/ orphans
PEACE= Peace
RENO = Renovation
NASS = North and South Solidarity
International voluntary projects, where 10 - 30 volunteers in the world live & work with local people for 2 - 3 weeks. Mostly in summer, but some in other seasons.
1) Brief History
In 1920, the first one started in France by German & French youth as reconstructing the farms destroyed during the World War I. Since then, it has been spreading to all over the world.
In the 60s, many workcamps with construction works were organized in newly independent countries as well as peace projects between East & West in Europe. Environmental ones have been increasing since 80s. According to our research, about 2,400 projects in 90 countries were held in 2001.
2) Voluntary Works
Normally for 6-8 hours in a day and 5 days in a week. The types of works are varied;
a) Environment : Cleaning rivers, planting trees, protecting animals, creating eco-villages, etc.
b) Agriculture : Picking fruits or seeding in organic farms, reviving uncultivated fields, etc.
c) Construction : schools, toilets, renovating castles, converting farms into youth centers, etc.
d) Social work : With/ for children, refugees, mentally/ physically disadvantaged, elders, etc.
e) Arts/Education:Organizing festivals, performing play against AIDS in schools, archaeology, etc.
f) Others : Making proposals of town planning, recycling & sending bicycles to India, etc.
3) Accommodations & Free time activities
Usually youth centers, public halls, schools and sometimes tents or temples that are simple but even better for the group life! Volunteers often cook by turns and enjoy global tastes. The common language is English in most of workcamps though you had better to try local languages.
In some workcamps, the hosts or we volunteers organize discussions, excursions, exchange parties with local people, school visit, sports programs, etc. It is very important to note that workcamps should be made by all volunteers with local people. Volunteers are not guests!
4) Workcamp Organizations (WOs)
Most of WOs are non-governmental/non-profit organizations (NGO/NPOs).
Most of WOs're affiliated with CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) founded by UNESCO, UN in 1948 to assist & promote workcamps in the world. It publishes booklets and organizes conferences of WOs and a few workcamps where no workcamps are existed yet. WOs are not lower branches of CCIVS, but the creaters of this network! Each WOs independently & freely organize workcamps mainly in their own countries and cooperate by exchanging volunteers, etc.
In each workcamps, WOs cooperate with local partner organizations of governments or NGO/NPOs.
5) Finance
Many WOs manage the running finances by inscription fee from volunteers & some are supported also by governments, foundations, etc. Volunteers need to pay the travel cost to/from workcamps and fee to WOs in their own countries. Food & accommodations are provided by local partners, though there are participation fee around 180-250 US$ in some workcamps in Africa, Asia, etc
6) Common Aims
Although each WOs and workcamps have their own aims, the common aim is to achieve peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world by
a) Creating/ supporting voluntary movements for ecology, human rights, self-sufficiency, etc.
b) Activating and involving new people to local communities and NGO/NPOs
c) Promoting global understanding, friendship and solidarity
ENVI = Environment CULT = Cultural projects PHYS = Work with physically disadvantaged
ARGI = Agriculture SOCI = Social work (*) MENT = Work with mentally disadvantaged
CONS = Construction ELDE = Work with elderly KIDS = Work with children/ orphans
PEACE= Peace RENO = Renovation NASS = North and South Solidarity
* "Social work" means work with other types of people besides ELDE, PHYS, MENT and KIDS
(e.g. Refugee, Homeless) OR work with various types of such people with special needs.
ENVI = Environment
CULT = Cultural projects
PHYS = Work with physically disadvantaged
ARGI = Agriculture
SOCI = Social work (*)
MENT = Work with mentally disadvantaged
CONS = Construction
ELDE = Work with elderly
KIDS = Work with children/ orphans
PEACE= Peace
RENO = Renovation
NASS = North and South Solidarity
What is MCE?
What is MCE?
* NGO/ NPO to organize workcamps and other voluntary projects in Mongolia
* Full member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia)
* Partner of ALLIANCE of European Volunteers Service organizations, SCI-International and YAP-International
1) Brief History
When: MCE was established on January 11th, 2001 by an individual who had participated in the 3rd Training & Networking Workcamp in Vietnam.
Why: Before 2000, there were no workcamp organizations or international voluntary service in Mongolia. However, there was much need for international voluntary projects to improve a Mongolian society. Through practical work projects, MCE hopes to encourage public awareness of Mongolia’s social problems and promote local actions.
2) Aims
a) To create/ develop/ revive ecological, self sufficient and warm-hearted civilization.
We promote exciting voluntary actions by fresh ideas and mobility as a youth NPO, to shift the world with too much competition and expansion into more healthy one for both nature and people.
b) To encourage activities of NGO/NPOs and activation of local communities
We create opportunities to meet new people and to start new actions by involving many locals. We make bridges between isolated NPOs and local people, and invite youth to depopulated areas.
c) To promote global friendship, understanding and solidarity
We grow exchange naturally among world youth and local people through living, working, talking and laughing together. They can improve global views/ sensitivity and language/ planning skills.
3) Activities
a) To organize international workcamps in Mongolia with local partners and people
b) To send volunteers from Mongolia to workcamp
c) To develop various networks of NGO/NPOs
d) Bracelet project against kids prostitution & Greening Asia project for protection of environment
4) workCamps & volunteers
In 2002: 12 projects- 147 international vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2003: 12 projects- 91 international vols & 23 Mongolian vols
In 2004: 17 projects- 247 international vols & 55 Mongolian vols
In 2005: 16 projects- 236 international vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2006: 19 projects- 259 international vols & 40 Mongolian vols
In 2007: 26 projects- 294 international vols & 49 Mongolian vols
In 2008: 21 projects- 189 International vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2009: 21 projects- 251 International vols & 46 Mongolian vols
5) Finance
a) Running cost (staffs, offices, etc.) is managed by the fees from volunteers who join workCamps in Mongolia.
b) Project cost (food, accommodation, transportation etc.) of international workcamps in Mongolia is prepared by the fees from volunteers.
* NGO/ NPO to organize workcamps and other voluntary projects in Mongolia
* Full member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia)
* Partner of ALLIANCE of European Volunteers Service organizations, SCI-International and YAP-International
1) Brief History
When: MCE was established on January 11th, 2001 by an individual who had participated in the 3rd Training & Networking Workcamp in Vietnam.
Why: Before 2000, there were no workcamp organizations or international voluntary service in Mongolia. However, there was much need for international voluntary projects to improve a Mongolian society. Through practical work projects, MCE hopes to encourage public awareness of Mongolia’s social problems and promote local actions.
2) Aims
a) To create/ develop/ revive ecological, self sufficient and warm-hearted civilization.
We promote exciting voluntary actions by fresh ideas and mobility as a youth NPO, to shift the world with too much competition and expansion into more healthy one for both nature and people.
b) To encourage activities of NGO/NPOs and activation of local communities
We create opportunities to meet new people and to start new actions by involving many locals. We make bridges between isolated NPOs and local people, and invite youth to depopulated areas.
c) To promote global friendship, understanding and solidarity
We grow exchange naturally among world youth and local people through living, working, talking and laughing together. They can improve global views/ sensitivity and language/ planning skills.
3) Activities
a) To organize international workcamps in Mongolia with local partners and people
b) To send volunteers from Mongolia to workcamp
c) To develop various networks of NGO/NPOs
d) Bracelet project against kids prostitution & Greening Asia project for protection of environment
4) workCamps & volunteers
In 2002: 12 projects- 147 international vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2003: 12 projects- 91 international vols & 23 Mongolian vols
In 2004: 17 projects- 247 international vols & 55 Mongolian vols
In 2005: 16 projects- 236 international vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2006: 19 projects- 259 international vols & 40 Mongolian vols
In 2007: 26 projects- 294 international vols & 49 Mongolian vols
In 2008: 21 projects- 189 International vols & 41 Mongolian vols
In 2009: 21 projects- 251 International vols & 46 Mongolian vols
5) Finance
a) Running cost (staffs, offices, etc.) is managed by the fees from volunteers who join workCamps in Mongolia.
b) Project cost (food, accommodation, transportation etc.) of international workcamps in Mongolia is prepared by the fees from volunteers.
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