Workcamp Ringkoebing, Denmark

10.10-19.10.2003

Lidija Novosel from VCZ, Zagreb and Ana Radulovic from ZID, Podgorica participated in a workcamp in Ringkoebing, small town on Danish west coast, as SEEYN representatives. The goal of this participation was to try to establish some contact and possible ways of cooperation with African and Latin-American organizations whose representatives were also present at this camp.
At the camp 4 representatives of 4 organizations (from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Guatemala) which are all partners from MS were present. They were in Denmark for a month already and their participation in this workcamp was part of their study-visit in a sense to see how Danish (European) workcamp looks likes and how it is being organized and held. Apart from them, 2 of SEEYN representatives were present, 5 more volunteers from western European countries and 2 Danish leaders.
SEEYN representatives had informal meetings and information exchange with 4 African/Latin -American organizations, informed them about SEEYN network, exchanged some material, and talked about differences in principles of workcamp organizing and functioning as well as about possibilities for mid/long term exchange.
Possibilities and problems with exchanges between SEE and Africa and Latin-America
In a way, voluntary organizations in Africa and Latin-America are experiencing patronizing from western (northern) countries, but they are also important source of funding for them. Still, in voluntary exchanges there are no programmes in which travel costs, food and accommodation would be covered. It doesn't mean that volunteer is completely on his/her own, organization is taking care of him/her, but there is always a fee that volunteers have to bring to host organization. That is a major obstacle in exchange between this countries and SEE countries.
By these terms priority is given to volunteers from rich countries, for whom life in Africa/Latin America is very cheap and travel and fee usually doesn't make a problem. They as poor countries also don't have much possibilities to send volunteers (especially not to workcamps in north) so they are mostly receiving countries. For now, possibilities for exchange between SEE/Africa/Latin America are on individual basis.
Any potential SEE volunteers is welcome to join MTV and LTV programmes that they might have, if willing and in possibility to finance himself. The other way around can also be possible, but differences in standard maybe make this less realistic. But if we want to develop and promote this kind of exchanges, and make them closer and easier, development of new and special programme is needed.

Written by Lidija Novosel