GET INVOLVED

HOW TO APPLY?
In order to apply to one of the workcamps, please contact your sending organisation in the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations, Service Civil International or Coordinating Committee of International Voluntary Services. See - international partners.

You can not apply directly to flood relief workcamps. It is essential that you go through your sending organisation and go through the entire process of preparation, evaluation and follow'up with them.

The majority of workcamps are open only for national volunteers, as it is easier to recruit and more effective in terms of organisation and communication. However, the international dimension is very important, even if international volunteers will be involved in just a small part of this year’s workcamps.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Anyone vcan participate in flood relief workcamps no matter the origin, social/economical status, gender, sexual orientation. The only limits are these:

• You should be between 18 and 30 (exception for +30 are possible)
• have the basic level of English or Serbian
• not apply directly but through the sending organisation in your country
• inform us imediately if for any reasons you are unable to come once you are accepted - if you don't there will be one person less in fullfilling the given task, and that place could have been taken by someone else.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
Without a solidarity fee at workcamps, we will not be able host international volunteers this year. Usually, volunteers pay the inscription fee in their sending organisations, not in the hosting organisations, where they have food and accomodation covered. This year, as a sign of solidarity, many of our international partners are directing their usual inscription fee partly or entirely to the flood relief workcamps in Serbia. This means that what you would normally give as an inscription fee to support the sending organisation, this year you will give at the workcamp. So, zour sending organisation is also volunteering their time and resourses!

 Please check with your sending organisations what would be the solidarity fee in your country. It is of a minimum of 100 euros. All donations collected this way will be strictly used for the workcamp tools, material and food for volunteers. All involved staff in this years organisation of flood relief workcamps are volunteering their time and resourses, both incoming (in Serbia) as well as outgoing (in the sending organisations all over the world).
If there will be money left from the solidarity fees collected by the international volunteers, it will be directed to the Youth Foundation Obrenovac. Obrenovac was the most damaged town in the May floods and is hosting 3 workcamps this year.

All the international volunteers cover their own travel costs. Accomodation, food, material for work and free time activities are organised by the host.

Insurance is not provided for you. You must arrange it before your departure from home. The camp leaders will deal first aid and minor medical problems and assist you in any way.

WHAT ARE THE WORKING TASKS?

• after flood reconstruction of public places,
• renovation of used and production of new furniture of pallets for socially disadvantaged families as a temporary or permanent solution,
• organizing social activities for local communities affected by floods, as there is no cultural/social content in affected areas and morale is low,
• workcamps in non-affected areas will gather children and young people from affected areas, as a break from everyday life in affected areas,
• cleaning and reconstructing public places, nature parks, lake and river banks etc.

Volunteers will be working approx. 6 hours a day. Be flexible in terms of working hours. Sometimes there will be morning and evening shifts. The work dynamics depend largely on wheather conditions, number of people available, material and any number of unexpected reasons. be flexible and tolerant.

IS IT SAFE?
Have in mind that flood relief workcamps are not the first line of flood relief activities, which is being delivered by the government, police,army, Red Cross and other international institutions since the beginning of the floods and in the following month, but a second line of action – when the media attention decrease but there is still a lot to be done especially towards the poorest communities who have been left with nothing. This means that the flood relief workcamps will not involve any risky work and will not put the volunteers in any potential dangerous situations or ask for volunteers with specific skills, only for good emotional preparation in your sending organisation and at the orientation once you arrive.

IS FREE TIME GOING TO BE ORGANISED FOR US?
There will be various educational and art workshops, concerts, sightseeing and evenings out with the locals. Even in this particular setting, workcamps are a great possibility to met the local culture and places tourists don't usually find. You become one of the locals, especially with the help you will be providing.

WHAT IS THE ACCOMODATION LIKE?
Expect more modest conditions, sleeping mainly in schools and youth, cultural or sport centres. Folding beds or matterasses will be provided. For some workcamps you will have to bring your own sleeping bag. Toilets and showers are available in all workcamps. Food is going to be prepared for you, but there will be possibilities to cook some of your favorite dishes form your countryat international evenings. You are expected to be an active member of the group and contribute not only to work, but housekeeping as well.

Flood relief workcamps are for those who can adapt themselves well to simple life conditions.

DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL SKILLS OR BE SPECIALLY PREPARED?

No special skills needed just high flexibility and motivation.Volunteers should be flexible and ready to work outdoors. No need to be skilled, but it is an asset to have volunteers with good manual and artistic skills for workcamps about building furniture or painting children playgrounds or kindergardens. Please specify in your application form what are you good at and what you think can be of help.

You will start getting ready already at the first meeting with your sending organisation.

DO I NEED A VISA FOR COMING TO SERBIA?
Don’t forget that you need your passport when coming to Serbia. Citizens of European Union countries, the Swiss Confederation, Kingdom of Norway and Republic of Iceland may enter the Republic of Serbia using their identity cards and stay up to 90 days without the visa. If you are coming from Korea, Japan, Russia, Canada, Mexico or USA, you don’t need a visa neither. If you do not have a passport of the above - mentioned countries, please check if you need a visa for Serbia. We will provide you with ther invitation letter if you do.

HOW TO REACH THE WORKCAMP?
Once you are accepted for a workcamp, you will receive an infosheet with all the neccessary info on how and when to reach the meeting place, what to bring, about the local host and contacts of your camp leaders.


CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION - FEW MORE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

In order to be fully aware of your responsibilities during the workcamp, please read carefully the following:
• You are expected to be an active member of the group and contribute to work, housekeeping and free time activities;
• Working hours can be flexible depending of weather conditions. Working hours can be divided into morning and afternoon part with a mid-day break for lunch and rest.
• Your workcamp leaders have been trained to run the workcamp; they are responsible for organising work, food, contacts with local authorities and many other things. Don’t forget that they are volunteers like you, so try to cooperate with them at the work and during free time activities. Workcamp-leaders are not fully responsible for organising your free time and we expect your ideas and contribution to do so.
• Smoking is not allowed in the accommodation areas. Use of alcohol should be moderate with consideration and only during free time.
• You are expected to stay for the whole duration of the workcamp.
• The local organisers support and try to involve as many people from the local community as possible. We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to meet them during the days and the evenings.

Especially for flood relief workcamps:

• You will work with people who have lost their homes or suffered great damage. Be considerate in how you act! Don't insist to talk to poeple, but be open to interact if you see they are willing to talk. Talking helps as much as working, but try your best to understand them.
• Respect the instructions given by your camp leader. They will be open for good ideas, though, so don't be affraid to say.
• Be carefull when taking pictures. Check beforehand if people are ok with that. Again, be considerate to the bed fortune of the people you will get in touch with.
• Don’t keep any problems only inside and only for yourself, please share with us! Don’t act alone!
• Your first priority motivation to join should be to help people and improve their life conditions. On the second place comes to interact with your fellow volunteers, have fun and make friends.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE USE AND POSSESSION OF ANY KIND OF DRUGS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON THE CAMP AND IT IS ILLEGAL IN SERBIA.