International Voluntary Service Projects - Volunteers for Peace

At Volunteers For Peace, we are always happy when families want to share the experience of volunteering for the benefit of others. It's a great way for each member to grow from. However, there are not many options for families seeking placement.

Below is the list of 2010 FAMILY projects that accepted children accompanied by an adult or parents. They are sorted by country first and then in date order.

Projects can fill up quickly. To get the most recent list of family projects available please search the Open Projects Directory for project type "FAMILY".

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU ARE FAMILY REGISTERING FOR A FAMILY PROJECT, THE VFP REGISTRATION FEE FOR A FAMILY REGARDLESS OF SIZE IS $500 USD PLUS ANY EXTRA FEE THAT IS LISTED.

Select Programs By Country

Family Camp Volunteer ~ Richelle Raagas

“Theo and I participated in the family volunteer workcamp run by INEX Slovakia. We had some worthwhile projects including cleaning up litter from the local river, cleaning up the local theater which the village intends on renovating, and hosting an event so that the locals could learn about Italian and American culture.”

Slovakia ~ 2008

Estonia

EST 22 Family Camp at Kiidi Farm 16.08 - 29.08 MANU/ FAMILY 8 adults + 8 kids

Project
EstYES promotes camps where parents and children can participate together. The idea is to create a sort of temporary community where adults and children can share the idea of voluntary activity for the benefit of rural area. The schedule of the camp allows adults to act as volunteers like in any other voluntary camp (4-5 hours a day for practical tasks). Meanwhile children “work” as well, in the sense that they take part in the activities helping parents and sharing easy tasks with them. Local organisers supported by parents care about the children during the working activities, providing snacks, proposing games, etc. In the daily free time and in the days off group excursions will be suggested by the local hosts. Parents can join the camp in pair or alone with their children. The age of children is 3 to 13. Some English is necessary for parents in order to communicate among them and with the campleader.
This camp follows positive experience of last two years.

Venue
It is a long tradition for EstYES to organize international workcamps in co-operation with Kiidi Farm located in the Voru County in the South of Estonia. With the support of the state and local authorities the eco- and farm sustainable tourism has been developed in this area. Besides promoting the environmental tourism, this initiative supports rural development, which is an important issue for Estonia. Estonian Association of Farm Tourism has launched several projects, and Kiidi Farm, where the camp takes place, is one of them. It is run by the large Piho family with 8 kids of different age. More information on Kiidi Farm is on site www.kiidi.ee

Location
The charm of Haanja Uplands in South Estonia lies in its lovely hilly landscape, winding roads and numerous lakes. Most of its ancient villages, special dialect, handicraft, and customs have been preserved until today. The whole area, called Vorumaa, is an area of outstanding beauty. It is famous for its diverse and very well preserved nature. Untouched forests with wildlife, deep valleys, hills, 170 small lakes with extremely clean water, rivers with caves in the steep banks - you can find everything there. Kiidi Farm is situated 15 km south of Voru, capital of the County, which has a population of 17 000 people and lies about 250 km south-east of Tallinn, very close to the Latvian and Russian borders. The closest village to Kiidi Farm is Rouge (3km) with a population of less than 1000 people. More information about Estonia www.visitestonia.com; South-Estonia www.werro.ee, www.southestonia.info

Work
Various works in the forest: cutting unwanted trees and bushes, burning old tree brunches and brushwood, preparing firewood for heating the farm; also diverse odd jobs in the farm buildings as well as general household work. Most of the work will be outdoors. There can be also some light maintaining works indoors if weather is too rainy. The work will be usually 4-5 hours a day, the rest of the time will be spend to get acquainted with the area, its natural and historical sites as well as with local people. Some local families will join the camp for work and leisure.

Accomodation:
In the farmhouse in 2-4-bedded rooms. WC, shower, hot water, & sauna are available. Hosts will prepare meals themselves, however, participants will be asked to help out in the kitchen.
Terminal
Airport, harbour, bus or train station in Tallinn; bus to Voru.

Special requirements
The camp is open for families with their children aged 3 to 13. Parents can come in pairs or alone. English is the camp language.

Leisure time
There are many possibilities for leisure time, especially for those who love nature: acquaintance with nature sights in the area, hiking, swimming, etc. Excursions to the historical sites of the County of Voru are planned as well. Volunteers will have a very good chance to get in close contact with the local people, experience local traditions and learn some customs like hot Estonian sauna!

Participation fee
As EstYES does not receive funds to support your participation in this camp neither from the state nor from private sponcors, you are asked to contribute towards cost of board and lodging, local transport, leisure time program, etc. The fee has to be paid by volunteers upon arrival to the camp and it is 60 Euro for every adult and every child.

Finland

Georgia

GEORGIA LYVG WC 13 AJARA/FAMILY & SENIOR 10.07 - 24.07 10 – 20 VOLS CULT/ENVI

PROJECT (MOTIVATION): The project “Clean up the Coastline” is organized and implemented with The Charity Association of Multi Children Families of Georgia “For the Future of Georgia” and with support of Kobuleti city in Adjara. Anyone who likes the sun and the sand is sure to like this Camp!!

LOCATION: The work camp is located in the beautiful seaside region of Georgia, Ajara in Kobuleti. The resort is famous for its splendid 12 km long beach covered with fine sand. It will take only 120 m from the camp to the magnificent beach of the Black Sea. This resort is also notable for its unique medical properties. www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adscharien

ACCOMODATION: In comfortable 2-floor cottage with an open balcony and a loggia on the 2nd floor.
First floor: 5 rooms (4, 6, 3 beds), 1 shower, 1 toilet, 2 kitchens (inside and outside). Second floor: 6 rooms
(3, 4, 4, 6 beds), 2 showers, 2 toilets. The cottage is supplied with constant gas, electricity and water.

FOOD: Will be provided three times a day.
WORK: Volunteers will have to work 4-5 hours per day. Their work will contain cleansing the beaches and the inshore part of the bottom, planting of trees and gardening.

LEISURE TIME: Camp leaders will organize free time activities with participants: swimming in the sea, fishing, excursions in nearby cities, to the Botanical Garden, the Tee Factory, discotheque and etc. The cottage is endowed with piano, TV-sets, videos and games (domino, cards, chess, nards and lotto).

MEETING PLACE AND TIME: Please inform us about your arrival details in order to make meeting place and time more comfortable for you.

HOW TO GET TO GEORGIA: ATTENTION: I – It is possible to reach the place of destination from International airport Istanbul (Turkey) to International airport Batumi or the trip from Istanbul to Batumi by bus (costs 50 $); from Batumi to Kobuleti by minibuses (10, 00 GEL). II – Terminal International airport Tbilisi (Tiflis) – Kobuleti by day train 17, 50 GEL / night train 29,00 GEL / minibus 18, 00 GEL.

Germany

Indonesia

INDODEJA21-10 KALIMENDONG FAMILY CAMP 02-OCT-10 TO 15-OCT-10 FAMILY/SOCI/HERI 12 V. AGES 18+ FEE:$300.00 XTRA FEE: $825.00 REPORT REFUND: $50.00
KALIMENDONG FAMILY CAMP:

Background: Kalimendong is small village located in Wonosobo Regency. Wonosobo is located 12 kms southern away from semarang, the capital city of Central java. It is surround by mountain, Sindoro, Sumbing Mountain, Dieng Highland and Prahu Mountain, so the local people works in agriculture, planting some vegetables, fruit, etc. Because of living in slope of the mountain, so the weather there are so cold. This project is in cooperation with local community centre called “LMDH Kalimendong”. This community centre is actively doing some activities together with local people aiming to support local people’s income. This centre created some program dedicated for local people such as agriculture, fishery and livestock. There are also some others activities performed by local people to promote and improve their village such as by making some home industries. There are some home industries in Kalimendong Village such as coconut sugar and traditional snacks. Through this project, the volunteers will experience local tradition and customs whish are very unique and interesting.

Work: The volunteer will have various activities together with this “LMDH” and local people. Volunteer will work in farm where “salak” Indonesian fruit are taken care. In the farm volunteers will work for cleaning and harvesting “salak”. Moreover, volunteers will have a chance to experience in looking after cattle (goat) with local people which are belong to the centre. Volunteer will preparing the food as well as feeding the cattle.

Study theme: The volunteers will be introduced to the Indonesian culture and customs in general, with a special focus on the Javanese particularities. Some cultural visits are also foreseen.

Leisure Time: During the free time, the volunteers may visit Dieng Plateau and feel the fresh air on the slope of the mountain

Accommodation: The volunteers will be accommodated in Indonesian host families (basic conditions, sleeping bag and mat needed) and cook their own meals.

Location: The workcamp will take place in Kalimendong village, Leksono sub-district, Wonosobo Regency. It is located about 200 km west away from Semarang

Participant fee: 8.400.000 Indonesian Rupiahs (equivalent TO $825/family: at least 4 people)

Norway

NORID11.1-10 JØSSÅSEN CAMPHILL VILLAGE, NEAR TRONDHEIM 04-JUL-10 TO 18-JUL-10 RENO/FAMILY 12 V. AGES 18+ FEE:$300.00 XTRA FEE: $0.00

Jøssåsen is a Camphill village which has an anthroposophical background. Located in Malvik Municipality of Sør-Trøndelag County, the village is approximately 1 hour drive from Trondheim, the third largest city in Norway. Jøssåsen has five different houses, in which 50-55 people, with or without disabilities, live. The village, situated on a biodynamic farm, offers various workshops and has a large hall to hold all types of cultural events. The village property, including all the buildings, land, and forest, is owned by the Camphill Trust.

A: In cabins. Mattresses will be available. The volunteers are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

X: Families are welcome. There is not wheelchair access in the village. Use of alcohol and drugs is forbidden in the village.

SWEIAL06.1-10 SUDERBYN PERMACULTURE GARDEN, VISBY 04-JUL-10 TO 17-JUL-10 ENVI/AGRI/FAMILY 9 V. AGES 18+ FEE:$300.00
Suderbyn is a quite recently-started collective ecovillage being established on the island of Gotland in the middle of the Baltic Sea (www.ekobogotland.se). It wants to be an example of sustainable living. The workcamp will further develop the gardens and build up eco-infrastructure/farm buildings, such as henhouses and integrating poultry in the gardens.

Work: Work on various projects connected with organic permaculture gardening and eco-building.

Study: What is permaculture and how can food be supplied in sustainable ways?
Practical design work in the field and discussions on developing the future Suderbyn.

Accommodation: Simple conditions, sleeping on home-made beds with mattresses in the barn near a road or in tents, primitive shower, vegetarian meals.

Qualifications: strongly interested in ecology, non-violence, simple lifestyle and collective living desirable. Gardening, eco-building, permaculture and cooking skills especially welcome.

Extra info: Wheelchair accessibility difficult. Families with children welcome. The camp food, to be prepared by the volunteers, will be vegetarian.

Sweden

SWEIAL06.1-10 SUDERBYN PERMACULTURE GARDEN, VISBY 04-JUL-10 TO 17-JUL-10 ENVI/AGRI/FAMILY 9 V. AGES 18+ FEE:$300.00

Suderbyn is a quite recently-started collective ecovillage being established on the island of Gotland in the middle of the Baltic Sea (www.ekobogotland.se). It wants to be an example of sustainable living. The workcamp will further develop the gardens and build up eco-infrastructure/farm buildings, such as henhouses and integrating poultry in the gardens.