SCI International Voluntary Service

How to apply for a workcamp

The application forms below are for use by applicants resident in the US. Latin American volunteers may apply through SCI Mexico .
If you are living in another country (this includes US citizens), please check the right column of the About SCI page for an SCI branch or partner in your country of residence. If none exists, you may contact the SCI International Office closest to you.

US Resident	SCI-IVS USA Placement Office	Placement Office in Workcamp Country
Step 1 Send your application and payment to SCI-IVS USA. You can include up to 5 alternate choices in case the camp you want is closed.	Step 2 We review your application if payment is included. Then your application is forwarded to the Placement Office serving the camp.	Step 3 They review your application and check for space in your camp. This could take up to a week or more during the peak season.
Step 6 You must arrange and pay for your own transportation costs. Remember to send a Confirmation Notice back to SCI-IVS USA ASAP that you agree to do the workcamp.	Step 5 If no, we submit to the Placement Office of your next choice. If yes, we send you an info sheet with directions, what to bring, contact names, etc.	Step 4 They give SCI-IVS USA your status: yes you have a reserved spot in the camp or no it was not possible to place you in the camp.

Practical things you must keep in mind:

We do not want to discriminate against volunteers without Internet access and so there is no first-come-first-serve between April 1st and 17th.

When you fill out an application please be aware that when there are more applicants than open places, we will have to make a competitive judgment based on how you described yourself in your application.

You need to understand that most workcamps are composed of a multi-national group which means that generally only one or two Americans can be accommodated in each camp.

Remember that with each application you should list up to six projects in the order of your preference so that we can place you into one of those projects.

Also keep in mind that about four weeks before the start date of the camp, restrictions such as nationality and gender balance are dropped, and so anyone can be placed into a camp if there is availability.

Please don't ask us if there are "openings" between now and mid April since everything is open.
Volunteers applying to workcamps in Africa, Asia or Latin America: North-South Exchange has some special characteristics you should keep in mind. Requirements: previous workcamp experience or at least some kind of experience in community work. You need to be at least 21 unless otherwise stated, and in some cases you need to speak the language of the chosen country. The preliminary selection will be made by SCI-IVS USA - we might even give you a call to have a small phone interview. The final decision is made by our International Secretariat in Antwerp, Belgium. You need to send us the original special N/S application form via mail. Faxed versions are not acceptable!

Please Read Before Completing the Application:
(you are responsible for knowing this information)

Communication with your placement office:
During the application process, you need to have a current phone number and current address on file with us. Having an e-mail address is highly recommended since this will speed up communication. You need to be involved and respond to requests from our office in a timely manner.

Age Requirements:
You have to be at least 16 to participate in a US/Canada workcamp, 18 to participate in a foreign projects and 21 for certain camps and in regions where greater experience is needed. There is no upper age limit except where a workcamp has stated a specific age requirement.

Transportation / Accommodation / Food:
You must arrange and pay for transportation to and from the workcamp. Please do not consider arriving late or leaving early as this is very disruptive to your host and to other volunteers. For some camps (especially for those in remote locations), a convenient pick-up point may be specified and if you miss this you may not have another way to get to the camp. Please plan your travels with care, know the stability and geography of your destination, and understand that you are ultimately responsible for all travel costs including cancel or change fees imposed by transportation companies. The workcamp host provides group living area, food and cooking facility for the duration of the workcamp.

Workcamp Application Fees:
All overseas camps are US$235. All US camps are US$100. Note that US$35 is non-refundable to cover costs and goes towards a one-year SCI-IVS USA. Applying for more than one camp $125. Payments (via check or PayPal) must be submitted with the application in order to be processed. Workcamps include shared accommodations and group self-cooked meals without additional costs unless otherwise stated in the camp description.
Please use either the free Paypal service (which accepts credit cards), or use the "Donate Now" icon on the home page and send an e-mail message notifying us. Address payments to payments@sci-ivs.org Do not send applications to this address.

Important Travel Notes:
When crossing international borders, you may wish to declare yourself as a tourist. Otherwise, you may be mis-interpreted by border officials as having the intention to work for pay and therefore they may prohibit or seriously complicate your entry. Remember that before traveling internationally, you need to have a valid passport and if necessary need to obtain an entry visa for certain countries. See US State Dept Travel Advisories for detailed country by country official information.

Insurance:
You are responsible for knowing your insurance coverage, your health condition and your specific needs to have travel, health or medical evacuation insurance. Although SCI projects are usually covered by a secondary reimbursement policy, THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE your primary insurance coverage since there are many restrictions for illness and prior condition exclusions. If you are volunteering for a developing country, you should obtain evacuation insurance. You are responsible for your travel expenses (including entry visa if needed) to and from the workcamp and you must seriously consider having travel insurance to accommodate your specific needs.

Refund Policy:
If we cannot place you in any projects you requested or if the project is cancelled, all except the $35 non-refundable amount will be refunded. If we placed you and then you decided to cancel, we will return half of the refundable amount if we receive notice from you at least 35 days before the start date of the project.

Report Refund:
If you submit a report on your camp to the SCI-IVS USA office within three months of the start date of an international camp ( outside the US/Canada ), we will refund $35 of your application fee. This is not the same as the camp evaluation submitted to the camp sponsor. A link to the form for this report can be found on this website's menu.

Liability:
SCI USA and our partner organizations worldwide exchange thousands of volunteers each year and we inform you of the fact that a) unpredictable events may cancel or change the project as described to you, b) comfort and safety standards do vary among countries and may not meet your expectations, c) you must use common sense and be personally responsible for your property and your well being at all times, and d) you are responsible for knowing travel advisories from the government. By your participation, you acknowledge that you fully understand and accept these risks and you do not hold SCI USA and our partners liable in all matters.

Choose one of the following applications forms:

Standard Application Form

for all workcamps except Africa and Latin America:

Microsoft Word: English

PDF: English

Instructions for filling out the application are included at the bottom section of the form. At this time, this is not an online form that you can fill out. Please download either format and print or fill out on your computer. You may fax or e-mail the completed form to us. Our address and fax number are included in the form.

N/S Application Form

only for workcamps in Africa and Latin America:

Microsoft Word: English | Spanish | French | Portuguese

PDF: English | Spanish | French | Portuguese

Instructions for filling out are included on this form. Two copies of this form must be posted, not faxed, to: SCI-IVS N/S Processing, 5505 Walnut Level Rd., Crozet, VA 22932. One copy should be in the camp language of the workcamp (if not English) and must include a passport photo of the applicant. This copy will be sent to the host country. The photo is to identify the volunteer when the host country representative meets them at the arrival site. The other copy should be in English, for SCI office files.