Workcamps

Short term International Voluntary Service projects (the - long - official name of International Workcamps) started in their modern shape after the First World War in Western Europe (the French city of Verdun is often recognised as the site of the first workcamps in 1920).
They were aiming at materially contribute to the rebuilding of the regions destroyed by the conflict, but also rebuild links, contacts and communication between peoples who were fighting each other few years before.
The philosophy of these pioneers was that individuals and communities who knew each other well could overwhelm the prejudices about “the other One” and could more hardly shoot at each other afterwards. History showed that these initiatives hadn’t had a sufficient impact on the global populations of the former fighting countries but the international movement of workcamps organisation was launched and its actual development is still inspired by the pacifist philosophy of the founders of this movement like Pierre Ceresole or Etienne Bach.

Today, some would define International Voluntary Service in general and Workcamps in particular as: “… an exchange between an individual, or a group of individuals, and a Community. The Volunteer (or group of vols) offers time, energy and effort to benefit to a Community; and through this the Community offers to the Volunteer (or group) an opportunity for experimentation, learning and personal and collective development” ( COTRAVAUX).

Some others would consider that: “International Voluntary Service is a way to experience cultural diversity as a choice for the everyday life beyond the stereotypical and folkloric celebration (or refusal) of difference. Workcamps and Long Term Voluntary service can function as a « laboratories » for today’s societies and shape the sense of global citizenship of the volunteers and local communities involved” (Coordination Committee of International Voluntary Service – UNESCO CCIVS)

Concretely, Workcamps have multiple shapes (international, national, bilateral), durations (from 10 days to 4 weeks), number of participants (from 6 to 30), take place in all the inhabited continents (about 120 countries in the world) and achieve numerous tasks of different genders (workcamps can involve volunteers in projects like Marine Turtle protection, social buildings construction and renovation, teaching to mentally or physically challenged people, orphans or disadvantaged communities, etc...).

We, in Nataté, organise workcamps as part of broader projects, as an activity aiming at involving practically the local, national and international community in social and environmental causes touching a local to international dimension, like minority empowerment, intercultural exchanges, sustainable local development, or environmental study and protection.

We like to believe (and often witness) that through workcamp, Volunteers get practical skills but also more knowledge about other cultures, individuals and even about themselves in a communitarian situation. Through this experience volunteers become aware about global issues and realities while having incomparably lower costs compared to any touristic activity.

Non-formal education, cooperation and solidarity, fair and sustainable development, respect of the basic Human rights, Heritage protection and promotion, personal development and intercultural learning are for us key-words in our everyday action, particularly in Chiapas but also in the national and international projects we are part of.

Above all, Workcamps are a fantastic process which can change lives, minds and relations with ourselves and “the other One”. We can register you for one of our workcamps in Mexico or send you abroad... “Just try it” !!