What is BWCA ?

Bangladesh Work Camps Association (BWCA) was founded by late Lt. Abdul Gafur in 1958. It has been serving as a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit youth development and social welfare oriented voluntary youth organization. It is registered with the Social Welfare Department (Registration No. 215), Govt. of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. BWCA has been incorporating with the Department of Youth Development (DYD), Govt. of the people's Republic of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Work Camps Association (BWCA) is a voluntary youth organization working in various fields that includes helping communities, NGOs and others to help them learning how to cope with natural hazards by conducting local, national and international workcamps. There is a scheme stating " learning while working and living together", which is aimed towards the young generation around the world. The fields of the projects include social welfare, rural development, community and organizational development, health care, blood donation, eye camp, environmental conservation, helping in administration, mobilizing resources and participating many other activities of similar nature all over Bangladesh. BWCA conducts short term workcamps with duration of 10-15 days each year during October - March. BWCA has also been conducting Round The Year Program (RTYP) in association and collaboration with the local partner organizations in rural and urban area with a minimum consignment of 3 (three) months. Both types of workcamps are open to every volunteers on the principle of trusteeship, which means every one to participate in its activities according to their knowledge and skills. This way, every program is almost self-reliant and self-supporting. This has enabled us to work on independent philosophy, plan of action within the laws of the country.

History of work camps :

"International Voluntary Service in its modern form started after 1920 when volunteers from former enemy countries rebuilt a village near Verdum, France. World war II gave it greater impetus: new organizations sprang up to help reconstruct Europe. These needed coordination. With the support of the recently established United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), the Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service(CCIVS) was created in 1948, expending its membership to include youth movements in eastern Europe and voluntary organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America........" - ( CCIVS handbook RUNNING A WORKCAMP)

Aims and objectives :

Bangladesh Work Camps Association (BWCA) was founded in 1958 with the following aims and objectives:

-To foster understanding, co-operation and friendship among the youths of Bangladesh belonging to different spheres of activities and social environment through work camp methods and techniques.

-To co-operate with the different national and international organisations interested in work camps.

-To offer concrete help to the community by working not only for the people but also with the people.

-To promote international peace and solidarity by encouraging friendship, international understanding, cooperation among the participants through working and living together.

-To inspire participants in respecting human dignity and individuality.

-To operate international program like workcamp and RTYP (Round The Year Program) intended to provide opportunities for the youth and volunteers from abroad to see Bangladesh and to know and learn about people, culture, tradition and their lifestyle. Workcamp also provide the opportunities for the Bangladeshi youth/people to observe and learn common pracitces of general people, social and economical problems that belong to their every day life. To promote patriotism and to establish sense of responsibility towards the nation, through activities involving youth, students and people from all sectors. To help people from different culture and language understand about Bangladesh. To open the scope of friendship, sharing ideas, knowledge and experience through seminars, conferences and different social services in Bangladesh and abroad. To provide opportunities for volunteers to get acquaintance with safe low cost ways of living and getting around within Bangladesh.

Brief history : 

BWCA's services to the Bangladesh community for the last 45(forty five) years include UNESCO-theme based leadership training courses, camp projects on the eradication of illiteracy, health care, environmental, solidarity, study-tour, and emergency relief and rehabilitation works during natural disasters. The vastness of its services is evidenced by 340 workcamps (local, national & international) by which it mobilized about 187,159 regular and casual volunteers including a large number of overseas volunteers/participants.

Activities : 

To achieve the above aims, the BWCA carried out the following activities:

A short report :

For the last eleven years (1993-2004 Feb.), the BWCA organized 32 (Thirty two) International and 27(twenty seven) National camps, where the main activities were road repairing, earth filling, preparation of School play ground, construction of hygienic toilets, volunteering in Eye camp, tree plantation, environmental campaign, etc,. Those thirty two international workcamps were participated by 114 overseas volunteers from Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Switzerland, Mexico and USA. The BWCA introduced RTYP (Round The Year Program) project in 1993 and since that time BWCA received a tremendous response from our overseas partner organizations by accepting 41 (Forty one) volunteers from different countries. The volunteers were used to engaged them salve with our local partner organizations for a period of minimum 3-6 months or more with special assignments, such as, assisting in the Office works, work with handicapped people, work in agriculture project, data entry, processing and analysis of program, computer training, assisting field staff in on-going program activities (like community mobilization, credit disbursement and collection of credit money) etc.

Some words about Bangladesh [Why will you come to Bangladesh] :

Bangladesh is a developing Country having 140 (One hundred forty) million people with a total area of 143,998 square kilometers. The literacy rate is about 30 percent. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in Bangladesh. The majority (80%) live mostly in rural and semi-urban areas. People are very kind, hospitable, social, friendly and are too much careful and concerned about the hospitality to the foreigners. The country is surrounded by many rivers with natural beauty and has a longest natural sea beach of the world in Cox's Bazar (southern part of Bangladesh). Foreigners can enjoy and learn the typical local cultural heritage and tradition. You can taste a variety of Bangladeshi spicy food, sweets, seasonal winter cakes and snacks. The climates of Bangladesh during camp season (October-February) are sunny winter-spring and are very healthy and comfortable. As a whole, foreigner’s stay in Bangladesh is most exciting and enjoyable experience which is completely different apart from the typical negative image the media tends to show.

Volunteer's registration :

The BWCA charge a requisite amount of participation fee from each volunteer as per Camp/Program-RTYP separately upon their arrival at BWCA Office before the program. This participation fee includes processing/administrative cost, food, accommodation, internal travel cost and contribution to BWCA Solidarity Fund (if any surplus) before and during the camp only. Registration fee fixed on the basis of every camp budget which is announced in the camp information sheet.

For the RTYP, volunteers required to pay requisite participation fee before the program starts on arrival at BWCA Office, which covers processing/administrative, accommodation, internal travel cost relating to the project work and contribution to BWCA Solidarity Fund as well. The initial participation fee charged for the first 3 (Three) months assignment. In addition to their first assignment, if any volunteer needs to extend his/her assignment further period, the additional subsidiary participation fee will be charged according to the set criteria i.e. per month basis. Moreover, volunteers should have to pay for their food subsidy to the BWCA along with their participation fee (per day per person basis) in addition to their participation fee i.e. (P. Fee + Food subsidy).

Work to be done by volunteers :

Volunteers are expected to work (voluntary manual labor) for 4-5 hours per day, 5-6 days per week. In each camp, volunteers will take part in constructing low cost, environmentally friendly sanitation systems with locally available raw materials along with local people. Participation of volunteers involve plantation of a variety of trees and saplings for timber and fruits, construction and repair of roads, schools and any other philanthropic organizations. Volunteers organize free eye camps for the poor people whose are suffering from cataract disease. They take part in assisting surgeons/doctors for the eye camp and help eye patients by nursing, maintaining hygienic atmosphere and providing food.

In the case of RTYP Volunteer, s/he will cooperate with local NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) staff and volunteering in their regular activities such as agriculture, sanitation, health care, work with disable people, literacy, women's welfare, organizational development, helping in administration and mobilizing resources. Volunteers and organizers often work together to design programs.

 

Accommodation :

Volunteers usually stay in a local community center or local organization's dormitory and in some cases female volunteers accommodated in a family. Volunteers need to bring sleeping bag/sleeping mat. The dormitory structure is made of complete building or bricked wall roofed by iron sheets. Water comes from hand pumps (tube-well) having showered & sanitary toilet and electricity in all camp/project places. Some NGOs and camp places have Internet access and STD phone facilities which you may use with minimum payment. Providing hot water are luxuries in the rural areas so you are to manage by your self from the kitchen. Volunteers should carry their own soap, toilet paper, tissues as well as other toiletry items.

In the case of RTYP Volunteers, one would be accommodated by a host family (for female) or in organizational dormitory and still needs to bring sleeping bag.

 

Food:

Food is mostly provided by the locals. It is emphasized that the volunteers should not expect the food which they have at home. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner are provided by the locals/volunteers or host family during camping. But, it appears that foreigners, in most cases, like Bangladeshi moderate spicy food in course of time. Meals can be a combination of vegetarian and non-vegetarian and usually good, one may ask to prepare it to make it less spicy. During camp, volunteers are welcomed to prepare their favorite country dish/food in international food day of the camp. So that volunteers can enjoy different foods from different countries. In that case participants could bring their own recipes and ingredients for at least 15-20 peoples. Pure vegetarian dish can also be provided upon request.

In the case of RTYP Volunteer, food is usually accommodated by the host family or arranged by the organization. In all cases, simple food is provided by the host family or by the local organization's arrangement. Sometimes volunteers may be required to prepare their own food using the organization's kitchen or with the help of available cook. In that case, volunteers do not have to pay food subsidy cost. If you want to share your favorite country food/dish with the host family, you may bring recipes and ingredients for at least 5-10 peoples with you.

 

Others :

There is no insurance provided during the camp. An orientation session on language, culture, customs, work, program and condition of Bangladesh/local area is held before each camp. Smoking, use of drugs and alcoholic drinks are strictly prohibited. Also, please keep in mind that sleeveless shirts, short pants and mini skirts are not allowed in all area of Bangladesh (particularly for women) violators would be asked to discontinue participation. Trousers (Jeans or thick cotton), normal shirts or T-shirts could be brought for normal use other than working clothes. Volunteers also requested to bring at least one semi casual formal dress for using it in the party or any formal occasion during the program. BWCA organizes study tours, excursions and sight seeing during workcamp as well as for RTYP participants during their program.

Recruitment and termination :

BWCA recruits overseas volunteers for international workcamps, RTYP and its different programs through its overseas partner organizations in different countries. Usually individual volunteers are not accepted, but those who are interested and do not have any partner-organization in their  country of origin, may apply through the nearest country's partner organization. Application need to reach BWCA at least one month before each scheduled camp/program starts. Volunteers are accepted on the following conditions: a) Volunteers have to pay for their own travel to and from Bangladesh. b) Volunteers have to pay requisite registration fee to BWCA which covers their board/lodge, guidance, administrative costs and contribution towards BWCA solidarity Fund. c) BWCA does not have any program for the handicapped and volunteers and below 18 years are not accepted. d) BWCA does not accept volunteers together, who have any relation like boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between them (applicants) or husband-wife. e) BWCA or its partner-organization reserves every right to terminate any volunteer at any time if s/he is found with any aggressive or harmful activities to the camp atmosphere or to the society as well as religious sentiment. f) BWCA likes to accept four (male-female) volunteers maximum from one partner organization/country for each camp, on first come first serve basis.

Age :

18-35 years of age. BWCA does not accept volunteers under 18 years for both camp and RTYP.

Experience :

No experience is required for joining Camp or RTYP of BWCA.
 

RTYPE - Round the year program :

Young people and high School/College/University students of different Countries can apply for participating in RTYP project. This project has been continuing for the last Ten years along with our local level partner organizations in Bangladesh. The selection of candidates is based on their skills, qualifications, interests of the volunteers/participants and needs/requirements of the local partner organizations. Volunteers generally immerse 3-6 (Three-six) months with the local Organizations/volunteers (period can be extended if required).

Excursion/sightseeing :

As Bangladeshi people are very hospitable and friendly to foreign people, they always warmly accept and cooperate with foreigners every where. Foreigners can easily learn Bengali language and the Bangladeshi traditional culture, life style and heritage. Volunteers get the opportunity to have study-tour, excursion and sightseeing to the historical & archaeological sites/places and family visit during and after the camp/RTYP.

International contact and partner organizations :

BWCA is a full  Member of the CCIVS-UNESCO, Paris, Treasurer of the NVDA (Network of Voluntary Development in Asia & the Pacific) and partnership relation with the organizations of different countries such as VFP-USA, NICE-Japan; KNCU-Korea; Greenway-Thailand; KYDO-Combodia, VYF-Vietnam, SIW-Holland, IJGD, VJF-Germany, YAP-Belgium, England, UNA Exchange-England; CONCORDIA, Solidarites Jeunesses(SJ), Jeunesses et Reconstruction(J&R)-France, GENCTUR-Turkey, JAC,GSAS, FSL-India, ACYF-China and FCN-Nepal.
 

Future programs :

BWCA has a plan and aim to establish and carry out the following programs in its own premise in Dhaka and in other appropriate places/parts throughout the country:

§         Youth Training Complex

§         International Youth Hostel.

§         Youth Information and Community Development Research Center.

§         Undertaking Integrated Model Village Development Program (IMVDP)

§         Child and Mother Care Clinic.

§         Children Day Care Center for of the working parents.

§         Rehabilitation Center for the street & rootless children.

§         BWCA welcome any sort of financial cooperation/donation or joint venture initiative from any person/Organization for the implementation of those project.