Belgium

Clean-up after a renovation project

"This was the 1st workcamp I had ever been to and was one of the best experiences of my life. All the people in the workcamp who had attended other camps said it was the best one they had ever been to. Our workcamp leader told us that the people who visited us from the parent organization said our workcamp had the best atmosphere too. What I loved about this camp was how comfortable everyone was with each other and how quickly everyone bonded."

Mark Fridman / Belgium - 2004

Bosnia

Making hay with local villagers.

Corinne Adamski / Bosnia - 2004

Botswana

Making fencing for an agricultural project

"Overall I would say that the International Botswana Workcamp to West Hanahai this April 2004 was a success. The reason is that both the people in the village and the volunteers benefited from the experience. Some of the work I was personally involved in included: weeding for an organic garden, digging out roots, hauling away branches, drilling holes for netting fixtures and cleaning up construction debris from around the chicken house intended to provide eggs and serve as a small business for the village of West Hanahai. In the process I feel that I made some friends in the village and learned a great deal about life without electricity or running water."

Tricia McInroy / Botswana - 2004

Canada

Volunteers helped build bridges on hiking trails

Naho UEMURA

China

Volunteers at a cultural and work project in Wencheng "Overall it was a really positive experience though, and I would definetly consider doing another workcamp of this type. We not only got to see what life was like in the village, we also visited local schools, attended a wedding, and toured other towns and nearby cities. We formed friendships with the children despite the language barrier, and I feel that their cultural awareness and desire to learn English has been expanded because of us."

Emily Longworth / China - 2004

Costa Rica

Environmental project at the Cacho Negro Ecological Centre "This was my first workcamp experience and it was the most amazing experience of my life. We were 12 people from different countries all over the world and different languages, English, Spanish, and French. Despite the language barriers, we were still able to communicate and work together so well. We were the first group to begin this project at the Cacho Negro Ecological Center. In 2 weeks, we built a trail in the rainforest, dug ditches, and planted trees. We worked with pouring rain, the hot sun, muddy roads and paths, bugs, no electricity and cold water and results were so rewarding. It completely amazed me how such a small group of people of different backgrounds and languages can accomplish so much in such a short period of time. The workcamp served its purpose and even went beyond. We all came out of it with a new appreciation for the environment, Costa Rica, and each other. In the end we formed new friendships, memories, a bond to Costa Rica, and a passion to help the world. Its really nice to know that we took the first steps toward a future for the ecological center, where all peoples can one day appreciate the natural world and learn from it as we did. This experience changed my life and I will never forget it. I now have a newfound drive to continue working as a volunteer for as long as I can.

Mary Lee / Costa Rica - 2004

Czech Republic

"I had an amazingly wonderful time there. Really, it was the most fun I have ever had. I would actually really like to fill out one of those reports and send you guys pictures for the people who go there in the future. My experience in Prague really inspired me to learn at least one other language and hopefully more in the future."

Miranda Gerzon / Czech Republic - 2004

France

Renovation project in an ancient mountain village "We were shoveling out the back of the tractor wagon (which was filled with small rocks and soil we couldn't use to make the cement or the stone wall). We built a large stone wall and also worked on the terrace you can see in the background as our main projects. When we weren't shoveling, we were making the cement [in the photo...]. the guy on the left was from Algeria and the girl to the right is from Poland.

Joanna Tanger / France - 2004

Germany

Volunteers at the Buchenwald workcamp "…it was the absolute BEST TIME EVER!!! Our group of 18 (combined camp) got along perfectly from the beginning to the end. I really doubt that this is typical and don't expect to have such a perfect group again, but I can always hope."

Colby McCormick / Germany - 2004

Greece

"Volunteers and leaders in our kitchen celebrating my birthday with ice cream cake. My experience in Greece was definitely an unforgettable one. It was nothing I expected it to be, but better than I could have possibly imagined. I can't wait to participate in another workcamp. Thanks for everything,"

Lizzie Keenan - 2004

India

A street theater project "I learned so much about what skills I have and how I can harness them, what works for children of various ages and educational backgrounds and what doesn't, I learned to be ultra specific and simple with all my projects so even a 6 year old could explain the rules. I learned that the best thing I could offer them was love, tools for expressing themselves and expanding their creativity and imaginations, and boosting their confidence. These boys need to know that they are valuable citizens and have skills and ideas to offer the world. They are not social miscreants devoid of culture and education. They have incredible abilities and an eagerness to learn and create that I have not seen surpassed in all the American children groups I have worked with. It was a very difficult program to take on but I will be eternally grateful that I had and will return there someday to check out the program and offer my services once I have completed Grad school in Educational Theater."

Monica Hunken/ India - 2004 Photo Credit: Don Pressnall

Italy

Maintaining an old footpath "I took part in the the work camp ItaLeg60-04 in Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Italy in August. The workcamp was a great experience - I met some friends I'll keep indefinitely, and I have wonderful memories that I'll treasure. Aside from bonding during work, we also were able to teach each other our native languages, and enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains together. Volunteer work camps are definitely something that I'll keep in mind in the future when I have time off school! I'm glad that I spent my vacation this way."

Photo Credit: Eric DeGiuli / Italy - 2004

Italy

"All the volunteers got along well as well as the Italian counselors of the children's camp. The children were great. The Italian counselors of the children's camp always had our days planned out and made sure there was never any downtime for the kids. It was very easy work from a volunteer standpoint as we just had to play with kids (just the way I like it)"

Photo Credit: Robert Biggs / Italy - 2004

Japan

Work at a local Shinto festival "I will not forget the great kindness that was shown to me and fellow volunteers no matter where we went and who we met. The generosity of the Japanese is world famous, and now I know why. A beautiful people they are indeed."

Roger Persad / Japan - 2004

Kenya

General Assembly of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service, the umbrella group which helps coordinate over the exchange of over 100,000 volunteers each year.

Photo Credit: Ron Ashley.

Kenya

Children at a local school where volunteers helped to teach English.

Photo Credit: Ron Ashley

Lithuania

Mealtime with new friends that helped build paths at the Jautmalke Nature Protection Centre

Photo Credit: Mike Huck

Mexico

....on the final day of a project to protect sea turtles.

Photo Credit: Miranda Gerzon

Mexico

Building a community playground.

Photo Credit: Francisco Martinez

Palestine

Working with children at a refugee camp. "At first the children were wary of the 32 strangers who suddenly entered their lives wanting to play with them and just generally be friends. It didn't take long for them to warm up to us once they realized we were there to help them, not harm them. There was nothing more rewarding than seeing their smiling faces run towards us for hugs when we arrived in the camp first thing in the morning, and it didn't take long for the volunteers to really begin to feel at home, not only with the children, but the local volunteers from An-Najah University who generously gave of their time."

Lisa Forestell / Palestine - 2004. Photo Credit : Al-Najah University

Peru

Art class for children.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Hundley

Poland

Working in a children's camp.

Photo Credit: Shacy-Claire Cagat

Romania

Children and staff from the Everychild Centre, Cluj-Napoca.

Photo Credit: Christopher Fogg

Scotland

Repairing old stone walls.

Photo Credit: Annie Sollinger

Tanzania

A renovation project at the Good Samaritan Centre.

Photo Credit: Maria Torra

Tanzania

"I will say that it was one of my best travel experiences I've had. (believe me, I've had my share.) I stayed with a wonderful family on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and helped a local secondary school teaching English for two weeks. I followed it up with a safari to the Serengeti area. I can not say enough about the rich experience I had in Tanzania and the organization of VFP"

Larry Jensen - 2004

Thailand

Cultural exchange with people in remote village.

Photo Credit: Robert Popken

Thailand

Volunteers and workcamp leader in "tuk-tuk" (local taxi).

Photo Credit: Jessica Thoennes

Thailand

Volunteers biking.

Photo Credit: Julie Tam

Thailand

Boat trip to plant Mangrove trees.

Photo Credit: Erik Smith

Thailand

I have just arrived home from six months in Thailand. Three of those months were spent volunteering for an origination called Greenway. It was an amazing three months and an incredible learning experience. I was in the North-East of Thailand in a rice-farming village called Ban Nakor (ban means village in Thai). I was working with six other volunteers between the ages of twenty-two and thirty. We taught English to Thai children between the ages of four and fifteen. We would teach at a local primary school five days a week and we had evening teaching at our house four nights a week. We also helped the villagers with rice farming and gardening. I felt like I truly got a taste of authentic Thai culture.

Photo Credit: Anna Keene-Winsor

Togo

Making ‘fufu' with Togolese volunteers.

Photo Credit: Katherine Wright

USA

Volunteers on an excursion with homeless New Yorkers.

Photo Credit: Sachiko Otohata

USA

Peter Coldwell, Director of VFP and Dr. Matthias Weiter, VFP Advisory Board member outside the UN building in New York City.