BWCA  International Workcamps Schedule for 2008

2008 (Short Term Schedule)

Workcamp Summary List

ARCH – Archaeology / AGRI – Agriculture / ARTS – Arts (any type) / CONS –Construction / DISA – Disabled / EDUC – Teaching, Awareness raising / ENVI –Environmental / ELDE – Work with Elderly / FEST – Festival / HERI – Cultural or  Heritage / KIDS – Work with Kids / LANG – Language / MANU – Manual / MEDI – Medical / PEACE – Peace / Plant - Plantation / RELIEF – Disaster Relief / RENO – Restoration, Renovation / SOCI – Social / SPORTS – Sports / STUDY – Study, Discussion, Research / YOGA – Yoga

Background Information:

BWCA has been organizing local, National and International Workcamps on different need based issues of community development service. The projects nature are socio-economic and cultural development, health and environmental, education and motivational,  promotion of understanding and solidarity between local and international through mobilizing volunteers from local and abroad since 1958. It has been organizing 5 to 10 International Workcamps in a year and also there are some scope to accommodate Medium and Long Term Volunteers in various social development project which are being operated by it’s unit and partner organizations in Bangladesh.

BWCA has been started to establish a basic pilot Project like “Volunteers Training Center” (VTC) which would help to train more people to be a VOLUNTEER and help the community people through the benefit of it’s voluntary effort.

The target period for establishment of the project is being fix up 3 (three) years and it has started it’s initial development work since January, 2006 through a commendable effort done by  Korean students volunteers Team from Hongik University and IWO-Korea. The project would carry out it’s total infrastructure development through continuous effort of overseas and local volunteers. The cost of development elements and building materials expected to be managed from the volunteer’s participation fee and thus it would be a great contribution towards the establishment of VTC. As the BWCA is an Organization of Volunteers and no one here as salaried or paid, we believe that our dream will come true trough the collective efforts of our international volunteers, different voluntary Networks and partner organization’s contribution.

We could also facilitate like minded interested volunteers to participate it’s on going day to day development work like physical, intellectual and basic construction work of  the project as well through Long and Medium Term Volunteers (LMTV) towards VTC project. Therefore, all of our Workcamp schedule concentrated at the VTC project for the preservation of every bodies contribution in BWCA archives towards the establishment and development of the VTC.

The aim of our continuous Camps organizing and operating LMTV / RTYP (Round The Year Program) is to facilitate the participants (from different countries) with an extra ordinary atmosphere to have better interaction, understanding, exploring new culture and traditional heritage of Bangladeshi rural life and promoting friendship through living and working together. It may provide a change or break to one’s busy and as usual mechanized life with a different test in an unknown atmosphere which might beyond one’s expectation.   

OBJECTIVES: 

• Establishing a Volunteers Training Center (VTC) in order to expand the training programs.
• Involving volunteers personal and collective efforts for establishing it’s infrastructural components.
• To start income-generating activities form the components included in project proposal.
• Helping LMTV / RTYP volunteers in their regular on going assignment through a team work.

1. PROJECT

In order to meet the above objectives the work camp will be divided into 4 categories.

 1.1 Work

Volunteers will be involved in initial development of the project land, leveling and dressing soil, planting grass, planting saplings, constructing shades for different work components, preparation of seed bed for Nursery and fencing the project land by Pillars and iron wire.  We do require volunteers with knowledge/experience on project construction work internal decoration work. But it is not mandatory, volunteers with no such experience also be welcomed.

 1.2 Study (Work Shop)

Volunteers will discuss and share their knowledge and experience on the following subjects:

• Forestry
• Environment
• Development plan of  VTC

 Volunteers are strongly requested to suggest / propose more topics. Resource people will be invited to present and facilitate the workshop.

 1.3 Visits

Possibilities are:

• Bogra Archeological Museum.
• Well planed Nursery
• National Museum in Dhaka.
• Youth or Cultural Department /Ministry.
• Schools / College

 The above visits are done during free time of the project schedule, where volunteers will have pre-discussion and agree together which place to be visited with the help of the camp leader and volunteers. For such places the volunteers will be facilitated by our transport but the entrance fee would be born by them selves.

 1.4 Cultural Exchange

Everybody in all International Work Camps will appreciate, if you bring important information about your country and organization to the camp. There will be a cultural presentation whereby all volunteers will have an opportunity to present their cultures, tradition and country. You are free to choose presentation methods like story telling, singing, dancing, drama, speeches etc. It is advised to bring your National flag which to be hoisted at project site.

  2. QUALIFICATIONS

• No particular expertise / skills required
• Positive Attitude
• To adopt and enjoy simple conditions of living such as food and Accommodation
• Flexibility
• Patience

However specialized skills/expertise support will be used accordingly.

 3. FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

BWCA will provide a variety of foodstuffs available locally and the community will guide the volunteers on the local food culture. Volunteers will have opportunity to prepare their own favorite meals/dish in turn of volunteers announcement or in international food day.

Volunteers will be accommodated at the Camp House of BOGRA Unit at Ujgram. There are latrines and shower using buckets for bathing and washing volunteer’s clothes manually. Volunteers will sleep on the cemented floor using mattress, bed sheet, pillow and mosquito net. The Camp house has electricity but the supply is being interrupted time to time as load shading, moreover, arrangements for charging mobile phones, digital and video cameras can be done. . During Summer and Monsoon (March to October) weather and atmosphere is quite hot and warm so no need of sleeping bag.  

4. THINGS TO BRING 

Working shoes preferably boots, rain coat and clothes according to the weather, Flash light/Torch, personal effects (i.e. Soap, toiletries) first aid Kit for minor ailments and cuts, family and friends photos and other things that will make you comfortable during the work Camp.

5.  Technical Details:

What we expect from the Volunteers:

We expect all volunteers to have information and get aware of the following technical things well ahead of their departure for Bangladesh. We also give priority in accepting volunteers who have attended preparation seminar organized by their sending Organization.

Volunteers should :

F      Cooperation with the hosts by adopting a new culture.

F      Cooperate the camp leader at all times for creating a better atmosphere.

F      Show responsibility and sincerity towards team work.

F      Adjust to the way of life to the project and camp surrounding.

F      Realize the living condition which is different than at your home (no warm/hot water/air condition easy access to internet/ easy transportation at all time, mosquito etc)., But Internet access and international telephone are available now a days from any where in Bangladesh with cost.

F      Consider that a lot of time would be spent with local people who do not speak English well. Volunteers should try to communicate through local language (Bengali) which would show your interest learning language.

 F      Be creative; ideas for the work, discussion, excursion and free time at camp site are expected to be prepared by the group. Share your thoughts and ideas !  we do not have any salaried staff at all rather all are volunteers, so you must be sensitive and considered when you are ordering for some thing during program.

We learn by doing, only by taking initiatives and therefore, sometimes making mistakes, you learn.

Only English is acceptable when others are around, even if the people do not join in on the conversation. Behavior and dress code should be cultural sensitive, specially while in the village or School.

Costs:

These following projects are entirely funded by the participation fees collected from volunteers. The hosting organizations are non–profit and don’t have external funding. All costs of the hosts are sustained through participation fees from volunteers. Therefore, volunteers are expected to pay the underneath prices besides all their personal costs needed to come to the project (travel/Insurance/vaccinations/etc):

Total Cost: US$ 250  (Two Hundred fifty ) only as Registration Fee payable for each Camp on arrival at BWCA office, Dhaka.

Prior information regarding your additional tours should reach to BWCA in advance and just after arrival an additional cost has to be paid to the BWCA. Reasonable cost and full time guide ensured if any body interested.

 What are included ?

Full board & lodge during the 2 (two) weeks camp program.

Local  Transportation during the camp program.

 Meeting Point:

All volunteers, (who are availing Airplane ) will be received by BWCA member at the “Zia International Airport” in Dhaka on first day of the Camp.  The volunteers who are availing road through India are requested to inform the arrival point to the BWCA by “Confirmation Slip”. After the orientation seminar in Dhaka (1^st day of the program) all volunteers will be taken to the camp site with the arrangement of BWCA.