WHAT IS Service Civil International (SCI)? It’s international volunteering around the world.
SCI INTERNATIONAL CAMP
WHAT IS AN SCI CAMP AND WHAT OPPOTUNITIES DOES IT PROVIDE?
An international volunteer camp is a short-term volunteering experience abroad, providing a space for us to come together as people and dedicate our time, energy, and hands to work on a non-profit project organized by a local organization. In return, we gain the experience of co-living and collaborating with individuals from all over the world (different nationalities, beliefs, religions), as well as interacting with the local community, all in the spirit of altruism, peace, and doing good deeds without expecting material rewards.
Typically, the camps are organized in a way that the group works on volunteer tasks for 6 to 8 hours a day, with the remaining time filled with other recreational activities, excursions, trips, etc.
WHO IS AN SCI CAMP INTENDED FOR? Anyone aged 18 or older*
*In addition, organizations reserve the right to set specific conditions for participation in each SCI camp, based on the theme and needs of the local community.
DURATION: between 7 and 21 days
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCI INTERNATIONAL CAMPS
Most of the international camps take place during the summer months, with each camp hosting 6 to 20 participants, and sometimes even 50 or more.
Upon registration, a participation fee must be paid (45 EUR for projects within Slovenia, 90 EUR for projects in Europe, and 115 EUR for projects in other countries around the world), which covers the costs of registration and insurance.
Accommodation and meals at the camp are provided for volunteers, while individuals are responsible for their own transportation costs.
Additional or special conditions for participation depend on the needs of the local organization. Host countries reserve the right to charge an additional fee for participation (especially in cases where they do not have co-financing for the event; the amount may vary from camp to camp).
HOW DO I APPLY?
The route to a camp is simple.
- clicking the button will take you to the SCI search engine website
- register on the platform
- search among the available camps until you find one that suits you
- register for a camp (you can register for up to 6 camps at a time).
After submitting your online application, our team will contact you via the provided email and keep you informed about the further steps of your application, supporting you until departure.
Leading an international volunteer work camp is a unique adventure of learning, discovering oneself, and encountering many stories and lives of people from all corners of the world, which can lead to the creation of new signposts and paths.
THE ROLE OF THE CAMP LEADER
As a leader of a camp or an international group of volunteers, you act as a link between the organiser and the group of volunteers. Your tasks are best summarised by words like: lead, organise, coordinate, collaborate and mediate. You are a participant with an additional role and responsibility, but remember that you are an equal member of the volunteer group, so avoid taking a hierarchical or authoritarian stance, as this can quickly risk a bad atmosphere and conflicts at the camp.
It is important that you are familiar with the content and goals of both, Voluntariat and the local organiser.
For this role, it is important to be/to have:
- open to intercultural learning,
- developed ideas for the study work and accompanying program of the camp,
- visited or is informed about the camp location and the organisation and is well acquainted with them,
- a representative of Voluntariat and collaborate with the camp leader and the organization, communicate with the camp participants, doctors, media, and local authorities, and are well-informed about the daily conditions at the camp location and its surroundings (e.g., food prices, public transportation, etc.).
HOW DO I BECOME A CAMP LEADER?
If you want to try leading an international camp in Slovenia and have some experience with volunteer work, contact placement@zavod-voluntariat.si for more information with the subject “camp leader.”
*Communication via placement@zavod-voluntariat.si is in English, so please write your questions in English as well. Thank you for your understanding.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As the camp leader, you will receive support from the organiser— the organisation that submitted the project— and Voluntariat during both the preparation phase and the implementation of the camp. After the camp, you will also be invited to the autumn evaluation meeting.
LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING WITHIN SCI
Long-term volunteering programs (LTV) are an extension of SCI camps, where you have the opportunity to engage in voluntary work with a social and/or environmental focus around the world for an extended period.
WHO IS LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING INTENDED FOR?
Anyone aged 18 and over with previous volunteering experience and/or a strong motivation and commitment to be active on a global level, who wants to gain practical work experience in an international environment in an informal way.
DURATION: between 1 and 12 months
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING PROVIDE?
It is an experience of living abroad, deeply involved in a specific project that benefits the local community. It provides you with the opportunity to learn in an international environment, discover different cultures, people, cuisines, languages, etc. At the same time, this type of volunteering is a commitment that enables long-term work for peace, both on a personal level and for organisations and members of the local community.
You can choose from various themes and activities, ranging from human rights work, social work, working with disabled individuals, disadvantaged youth, and/or ethnic minorities, to work in culture, office tasks, environmental protection, leading daily activities in an eco-village, and more.
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED IN A LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING PROJECT?
The path to the project is simple:
- Clicking the button will take you to the SCI search engine website.
For each project, you will find a short description of volunteering and life: theme, location, duration, application, Vacancies and Languages. We advise you to pay special attention to the job description (Work), the provisions for Food and Accommodation, and the most important financial points: Fees, Visa, Insurance and the possibility of Pocket money. - Select a project and send us an inquiry to placement@zavod-voluntariat.si* to see if the position is still available.
- Fill out the application form and send it, along with your motivational letter and resume (CV), to placement@zavod-voluntariat.si*. In the application, specify your preferences for the period you would like to spend on the volunteering project (duration and when you could start).
- We will forward your application to the hosting organization, and based on the submission, we will finalize the agreement. If necessary, we will invite you for an interview, which is primarily aimed at identifying and aligning expectations and needs (yours, ours, and of the hosting organisation).
- The host organisation makes the final decision on whether you will be accepted on your chosen project. This is followed by signing a long-term project agreement, where the duties and rights of everyone involved are clearly defined.
- Once your participation is approved, you will arrange all the necessary travel documents. You will have our support up until your departure. If needed, we will provide a guarantee letter for visa processing.
*Communication via placement@zavod-voluntariat.si is in English, so please write your questions in English. Thank you for your understanding.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS
Arrangements for practical matters such as meals and accommodation, pocket money, health insurance, travel expenses per project, etc., vary significantly from project to project. Therefore, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the situation in the chosen host country before making a final decision.
Please note that SCI works with various volunteering programmes (such as the European Solidarity Corps and National Volunteering Programmes) as well as independent long-term volunteering opportunities.
When traveling to non-European countries, you usually cover most of the expenses yourself. These include:
- a project application fee of 115,00 EUR
- travel expenses to the project country and possible local transportation costs to/from work
- insurance, vaccinations, visa costs, etc.
- usually also accommodation and food expenses (specified in the description of each project).
Why would you pay for accommodation and food expenses?
Many of the host organisations in the Global South do not have their own funds to cover the cost of your stay for the duration of the project. Projects are usually run by small local initiatives that are trying to make some changes and improvements in their environment in the context of a global partnership, but do not have sufficient resources. Unfortunately, Voluntariat also does not have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your transport and accommodation in the host country, but it does cover the costs of project preparation and mentoring.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IN CASE OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROJECT?
If you find that you can no longer participate in the volunteer project, you must inform about your withdrawal in writing via email to placement@zavod-voluntariat.si.
Refund of registration fee:
- The full amount (100%) of the registration fee will be refunded if you are not accepted to the desired camp.
- The full amount (100%) of the registration fee will be refunded if the camp is canceled.
- 75% of the total registration fee will be refunded if you provide a medical certificate confirming your inability to attend due to illness.
- 50% of the total registration fee will be refunded if you cancel your participation at least 21 days before the camp starts.
- The registration fee will not be refunded in case of late cancellation (less than 21 days before the camp starts).
*The registration fee is usually refunded within a week, but it may take a bit longer.
**By prior agreement, the registration fee can be transferred to another camp.
***Communication via placement@zavod-voluntariat.si is conducted in English, so please also write your questions in English. Thank you for your understanding.
