A white blanket clearly brings to mind winter is coming. Easy and soft but also melancholy and capricious winter finds his way into Switzerland. Hopefully also the Christmas spirit spreads when lights and candles warm your mind. Those frosty winter days we will use to evaluate the season and to prepare already new projects for the upcoming season. And yes, we have to admit we really look forward to the upcoming holidays after an exhausting year. But in 2009 we will start again with full commitment.

New office in Zurich
On 31 October our office in Tobel was packed to boxes in order to unpack everything in Zurich. Here we are in the thick of the action; it is easier to establish contacts and there is a big enthusiasm for intercultural exchanges. Another advantage for partners, volunteers and others it is no more a one-day trip to get to our office.

Swiss Workcamps in spring
Preparations for the upcoming workcamp season 2009 are in progress. A range of talks with new and old partners resulted in new exciting projects. Ahead of schedule our first camp will already start in spring: together with deaf persons volunteers will clean the surroundings of the guesthouse 'Fontana' in Passugg (10mins from Chur) in the period of 2 - 16 May. After this wintertime there will be a lot to do.

We will proceed as normal in the summertime. Planned are following projects: holidays in Scuol with orphaned kids; intercultural creativity workshop in Solothurn, renovation of dry stone walls in Beatenberg BE, language camps in Fribourg and Estavayer-le-lac, a forrest camp in Fribourg, summer-meeting-chat camp in Engelberg, holidays with kids on a house boat in Bordeaux, holiday companions for adults disabled by cerebral movement disorder in Rhodes, Mallorca and Germany.

Further projects being discussed with Caritas mountain work, Komturei Tobel, ALG-Hof Bühlmatt BE and AOZ Asyl-Organisation Zürich (asylum organisation Zurich).

More information on Swiss camps can be found on our website.

Campleader wanted
As usual for our Swiss camps we are looking for campleaders and co-leaders. Two committed and responsible volunteers who like to take over leader functions besides working together with the group.
A challenge which requires English skills, persistence and the ability to get things done. All those interested please contact Simone Thommen Awe simone.thommen@workcamp.ch.

Long term volunteering abroad
All over the year you have the chance to participate in longterm projects instead of a biweekly workcamp. LTVs can last from one month or up to six months and the advantage, you will get to know country and culture more close. For example in Argentina, province Buenos Aires, volunteers are wanted to help out in a crèche and a school. Especially for those kind of projects it is important to stay longer on site. It takes time to gain kid's trust.

Interesting internship
Our partner organisation YAP, Youth Action For Peace in Frankfurt is looking for an intern for the period of February until July. Tasks will be placement of volunteers in workcamps. This includes contacts to international partner organisations, handling of visa applications, design and update of website and much more. You should have good English and computer skills, be open minded and tolerant. Interested? Please contact us at info@workcamp.ch.

Thank you
End of the year is not only a review of moments but also the moment to say thank you. Thank you to our loyal members who put their trust in us. Thank you to all generous donations which are really relevant to our association, without we would have never come so far.

Happy New Year
The Workcamp Switzerland office will be closed due to holidays from 22 December to 5 January. Next newsletter will be send end of March. We wish all of you happy holidays and a happy new year as well as romantic winter days.

The team of Workcamp Switzerland

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