WORKCAMPS IN LESOTHO

In 2007 OIKOS organises in collaboration with LWA (Lesotho Workcamps Association), a local non-profit organisation, several workcamps in Lesotho.

The fee of participation (including the annual membership-card of OIKOS) is 80,00 Euro and has to be paid when applying for a camp. 
The camp-fee (including board and lodging) is 200,00 US-Dollar and has to be paid to the camp-coordinator on arrival in Lesotho.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Lesotho Workcamps Association is a non-profit, non-political, non-governmental, youth voluntary organization formed in 1977 and registered as a society no. 77/15.

LWA is affiliated to several organizations including Lesotho Association of Non-Formal Education (LANFE), Lesotho Volunteers Commission (LVC), Southern African Workcamps Cooperation (SAWC) and Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS).

 Aims and objectives:

• To encourage, enable and mobilize young people to participate voluntarily in national and community development activities;

• To promote peace, international understanding and inter-cultural learning through volunteer exchange;

• To create opportunities for acquiring understanding and concern for social, economic and physical challenges of the country;

• To organize and use workcamps as a tool for local development

• To encourage adults to take greater interest in affairs of the young people.

Activities:

Since its inception in 1977, LWA has carried out more than 390 projects in various communities of Lesotho in the following categories:

• Construction:Roads and foot-bridges, low income housing, schools, clinics, churches and community centres

• Renovation:Royal buildings, archeological and historical sites

• Environmental:Soil and water conservation, tree planting

• Health: Water supply, pit latrines, Health awareness and mitigation

• Economic:Poultry, piggery and irrigation schemes, communal and home gardens, and other income generating enterprises.

Volunteers: 

An international workcamp consists of volunteers from different races, nationalities and other backgrounds although local volunteers are usually in the majority. The latter are made up of two groups namely LWA members and host community project participants.

Conditions of service:

Workcamp participants must be 18 years or above. Participation fee of US$200,00 is required from certain non African based volunteers and this covers transport between LWA head-office in Maseru and the workcamp sites, food and accommodation, insurance cover during service as well as processing of applications.

Accommodation at the LWA Training Centre is free during training workshops, orientation and general community service but volunteers are expected to take care of all personal expenses outside workcamp business.

Although English is used as a medium of communication individuals are encouraged to learn other languages and cultures as part of the objective of promoting international understanding.

Participants must stay for the duration of the workcamp as stipulated in the contract.

Work clothes are necessary and warm clothing is a must in winter (May, June, July and August) as most parts of Lesotho can be very cold.

TO PARTICIPATE TO A WORKCAMP CLICK HERE

Work: Construction of low income houses in support of the lowest of the low income earners in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho.

Location: About 10km on the outskirts of Maseru city

Accommodation: LWA Training Centre with showers, toilets and beds

Work: Construction of pit latrines for members of the community

Location: south east of Maseru in the rugged mountains of Lesotho

Accommodation: Classrooms with simple pit-latrines and no showers

Work: Construction of a church  

Location: 25km north of Maseru city and 15km south-west of TY

Accommodation: A simple private house without bath/shower.

LWA07/06

15.07.2007 - 27.07.2007

Maseru

Work: Renovations of the centre in preparation for 30^th anniversary of the association.

Location: No. 22 Cathedral Area, Maseru city, LWA Training Center

Accommodation:LWA Training Centre with showers, toilets and beds

LWA07/400	10.09.2007 - 20.09.2007	Mokoallong, Berea
LWA07/09	06.01.2008 - 17.01.2008	Mokoallong, Berea

Work: Among other things the activities shall include working on the farm owned by the centre where looking after animals and tilling the soil for production of vegetables and other crops shall be the major focus.

Location: about 20km outside Maseru city on top of the Berea Plateau

Accommodation: The centre has several accommodation options but if not sufficient the local primary school shall be used.

Notes: The 400^th workcamp ( LWA07/400) shall form part of the celebrations of LWA’s 30^th anniversary

TO PARTICIPATE TO A WORKCAMP CLICK HERE

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