Three months ago we were talking about our upcoming workcamps. Today they are just part of our documentations. We are looking back to a turbulent, not always easy, but still enjoyable Workcamp season. Besides many volunteers were doing voluntary work abroad. And the preparations for the next season already started. Also for next year we want to offer interesting projects.

Workcamp season 2009

The season started in May in the pension Fontana Passugg. Passugg is a small mountain village in the canton of Grison. After a hard winter there was a lot to do there in order to prepare the surrounding for the summer tourism. After that in summer the holiday camps for kids in Engelberg organized from the foundation "Feriengestaltung Schweiz" took place, forestation work on the farm Bühlmatt in Teuffenthal, different language camps for teenagers in Estavayer-le-lac and Fribourg and building dry stone walls along the pilgrim path at the lake of Thun. In all these projects the volunteers were helping a lot, got muscle ache and smallpox on their hands, but also experienced unforgettable memories.

But this is not enough. In October interested volunteers have the chance to get into the house boat and chuck along the canal du midi in France together with children and responsible persons from the foundation "Feriengestaltung Schweiz". If this is too far volunteers can go together with the organisation Aurora into a one week holiday camp in Scuol and make kids who lost the mother or the father smile. End of October the season is over.

Workcamp Party

Before we look at the next season we want to look back for a short moment and celebrate the ending of this season. That's why we want to invite you to the workcamp party. The review will not consist of a number salad and dry quotes, but more of an easy going get together and exchange. And for those who are interested in Greenland, they should immediately apply for the party. Martin Ludin will tell you about his Workcamp in the high north. The invitation will follow in a separate E-mail. Please reserve Saturday the 24th of October.

For Friends of Sailing

Traditional lugsail, creaky wood and dimly light in the berth- for friends of Sailing it's exactly the right thing. Let's go to Holland. The idealistic organisation "Atlantis Zeilende Handelsvaart" in the town of Den Helder has one big aim: -fair trade with fair transports. With a sailing boat the organisation wants to promote transportation all over the world and do that under an ecological aspect. At the moment a 60 years old sailing boat made of wood that is 32 metres long gets renovated. Volunteers will help to restore the boat. The Rope team, bearing surfaces and more elements of the boat have to be repaired. It also involves sawing and braiding. The organisation is specially looking for volunteers with handcraft skills. The project will last until end of November. Volunteers are welcome to enter the project from now on. More info under: info@workcamp.ch.

Apprenticeship in London

SALTO-YOUTH stands for support and advanced training in connection with the European program YOUTH. And SALTO-YOUTH is a network of eight centres that are working in the European youth department. For their international project "Identity" the organisation in connection with the EU-program is looking for apprentices who will work during 6 months in London.
The apprenticeship will focus on the cooperation with different interest groups, with an author who will publish the outcome of the project. Main tasks will be the actualisation and improvement of the website and the support of other activities which are connected with the SALTO Resource Centre. The monthly salary will be 1000 Euro for food and accommodation. The application deadline is the 31st of October. You can find more details under: www.salto-youth.net/diversity.

"Open your eyes" in Bratislava (Slovakia)

Our partner organisation in Slovakia that is called INEX Slovakia is looking for volunteers who want to work in their office in Bratislave for a longer period. The criteria of this position are quite open. The focus lays on youth work. It would be helpful if volunteers already have some experiences in this kind of work. But at least they should be interested in this topic and have good communication skills. The main task will be the organisation of Workcamps in Slovakia that will take place during the summer months. Also the placement management of the volunteers from Slovakia who want to take part in a workcamp abroad and the preparation of the campleaders will be an important part of it.

Period of stay: January until December 2010. More information: info@workcamp.ch.

EVS-Volunteer in Barcelona wanted

In the heart of Catalonia the Spanish organisation Cocat is looking for a volunteer, who wants to support the office and the Workcamp organisation for a longer period. This will involve different tasks such as communication training, Team building and the whole spectrum of the project management. The volunteer will have contact to a lot of young people and will influence the outcome of the Workcamps. During the winter- and spring months the volunteer will support the project leader, who will present the Workcamp program in the schools. In summer the volunteer will participate in the training courses, visit the single projects and support the volunteers in their free time.

Period of stay: December 2009 until October 2010. More information: info@workcamp.ch.

Meaningful projects during autumn or winter holiday

Not only in summer there is a lot do in foreign countries. Also over the autumn- and winter months our partner organisations are waiting for volunteers from all over the world. Especially if it's getting uncomfortable cold here, to stay in a warmer destination is glittering. Have a look at our search engine under www.workcamp.ch, where there are exciting projects to book.

You have reached the end of our newsletter. We hope that we could inspire you to follow new paths and pack your travel bag for an adventure. We also would be happy if you could tell about us to your friends and colleagues.

The next newsletter will be send end of December. We wish all of you a colourful and heart-warming autumn.

The team of Workcamp Switzerland

Questions, suggestions or miscellaneous send an E-Mail