WORKCAMPS IN CHINA
Oikos organises in 2010 international workcamps in China in cooperation with the association Green Lion. Green Lion specialises in the field of tourism and also organises international volunteering activity in Asia (Thailand, China, India, Nepal, Indonesia, etc.). Please, be advised that the life and accomodation conditions of the projects of "Green Lion" are better than those of standard workcamps.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The projects are open to the volunteers of 18-30 years old from all over the world.
All the travel costs are carried by the volunteers.
The language of the workcamps is English.
The participation fee that includes the annual adheration fee of Oikos is 100,00 euros and has to be paid by a bank transfer destinated to the cultural association Oikos at the moment of the application.
The workcamp fee that includes food and accomodation during your stay in China, transports, meeting in the airport varies depending on the project and has to be paid by a bank transfer destinated to the cultural association Oikos 10 days after your application is confirmed.
We recommand to send us your application at least 30 days before the workcamp starts.
Every camp lasts at least 2 weeks (including the first week of introduction and the second of volunteering activity). It is possible to stay longer, but not over 5 weeks.
CAMP CODE PERIOD
CAMP NAME PROJECT TYPE
GLC01 Date aperte
(tranne febbraio)Village Experience Educazione GLC02 date aperte
(tranne febbraio)Volunteering in Orphanage Educazione/ Assistenza ai orfani GLC03 date aperte
(tranne febbraio)Volunteering in Community Work Didattica/ Sociale/ Ambiente GLC04 date aperte
(ogni due mesi )Volunteering in Panda Reserve Ambiente
| GLC01 | Village Experience | Open dates (except February) |
LOCATION: Fengyan village and surrounding areas, 104 kms from Guilin city. Gongcheng Yao minority Autonomous County is located in north-east of Guangxi Province,bordering on Yangshuo town in the west, 108km away from Guilin city. There are Yao, Han, Zhuang, Miao, Tong, Hui etc. 12 kinds of Minorities in this county, including 163 thousand Yao Minority, 57.34% of whole population. Gongcheng Yao Minority County is rich in many kinds of resources, for example, mineral, waterpower,forest etc. There are many famous tourist attraction: including well-preserved relics: Wen Temple, Wu Temple, Zhou Family Temple, Hunanese Temple and beautiful natural scenery spots: ocean of Peach flower, persimmon trees,pomelo, betel palm etc.It is also famous for local Tea--- Gongcheng You Cha--- very healthy drink.
WORK: The first week will be the week of Introduction.
The Introduction Week is the first step towards a great stay in a new country! It's an action packed and fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know China and some of its cultural aspects with a first hand live in experience.
You will also get time to meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the Chinese customs. The Introduction Week will take place in our regional center located in Fengyan village, with a group of participants from different parts of the world. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to get used to the local culture.
Our schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks usually consist of:
General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on cooking lessons (Making dumplings, local dishes, Oil tea of Yao Minority), team work, Traditional games like Majiang, local transportation, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & don'ts, and emergency preparation.
Chinese Culture and habits, Yao customs, history, social issues, art & music appreciation are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits.
Language Skills: A first contact with the Chinese language, and we will show you how to write your name in Chinese Calligraphy with writing brush, how to pronounce Chinese Pinyin, how to greet, how to bargain etc. Actually, it is 4 weeks’ continuous teaching & training& practicing your Chinese.
Cultural Site Visit and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. You will have the opportunity to visit the local village, Confucius Temple and Guangong Temple, Local fair, Hengshan Yao Zhai, Hongyan village and some amazing natural scenery sites in groups or individually during free time.
Group Games: will be the style of operation of our coordinators during the orientation week to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic as possible. Do not forget to bring items from your home (photos, music, food) to be able to talk about your place and your culture. There is also a big Party with Chinese volunteers, the students you have taught during Volunteering week and the local villagers.
Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a school visit on site.The second week is called "Village Experience".
The volunteers can choose between 3 options :
A. Teaching in the villages or surrounding small towns (all year round, always available).
The teaching is meant to help children in the villages /towns to have a chance to speak more English; farming will give you an insight into the pleasure of manual labor in nature; partaking environment cleaning and protecting activities will awaken and enhance the villagers’ consciousness and sense of responsibility of protecting environment and improve the local surrounding; Teaching English and taking care of Orphans will improve the orphans’ English and to give them a great chance to know the outside world.
Our Volunteer China Program will give you the possibility to make real friends among students, teachers and the local villagers.
Volunteers should have a good level of conversational English and a little knowledge or prior experience in teaching is highly appreciated but not necessary. But the most important thing is that you have to enjoy spending time surrounding by children! If you can bring any English textbooks (for beginners), any English magazines (with vivid pictures), any handy teaching facilities (flash cards etc.) we will really appreciate it! There is nearly no chance for the kids to get any authentic English learning materials …
B. Farming in the forest of fruit trees (Seasonal, Oct. --- Dec. ).
For working in the farm, the harvest season of pomelo, tangerine, and persimmon is Oct. and Nov. and this is the best time to enjoy. You can help the villagers to pick up fruits from the trees and help them to pack it. In Dec. you can help the farmers to take care of the fruit trees, for example, to cut the extra branches or to pack the oranges, etc.
C. Partaking Environment cleaning and environment protecting activities (seasonal).
For volunteering participating protecting the village environment, we plan to build several landfill pond by cement to collect rubbish in order to help the villagers to build up the sense of protecting environment; clean the village river by collecting the rubbish in the water; clean the main street of the village and the town with Chinese volunteers; disseminate handout to promote the public sense of protecting environment; plant trees to protect environment, especially in the spring, to protect the drinking water of the village (Seasoning); repair the road by putting some stone and sand; help the village schools to paint the walls of the school and the classrooms, to make a nice garden, playground, etc.
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will be at our center in shared bedrooms or homestay with local families (at least with one English speaking family member) All food is included and will be provided at our center/ host family/school canteens.
VACCINATION: All the updated information about vaccinations is available at: www.who.org (The World Health Organization's website). There is no compulsory vaccination to enter China. However, it is recommended to undertake the following: Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid. Please consult your doctor and the above-mentioned website of the W.H.O. for updates and special warnings.
FEE: The workcamp fee is 125,00 euros per week and includes food and accomodation during the whole stay, local transports, meeting in the airport, transfers from and to the airport. The minimum stay is of 2 weeks, the maximum - of 5 weeks.
LOCATION: Fengyan village and surrounding areas, 104 kms from Guilin city. Gongcheng Yao minority Autonomous County is located in north-east of Guangxi Province,bordering on Yangshuo town in the west, 108km away from Guilin city. There are Yao, Han, Zhuang, Miao, Tong, Hui etc. 12 kinds of Minorities in this county, including 163 thousand Yao Minority, 57.34% of whole population. Gongcheng Yao Minority County is rich in many kinds of resources, for example, mineral, waterpower,forest etc. There are many famous tourist attraction: including well-preserved relics: Wen Temple, Wu Temple, Zhou Family Temple, Hunanese Temple and beautiful natural scenery spots: ocean of Peach flower, persimmon trees,pomelo, betel palm etc.It is also famous for local Tea--- Gongcheng You Cha--- very healthy drink.
Beikadun Orphanage, Beishan Village, Longhui county, Hu’nan Province. 3 hours by bus from Changsha city, the Provincal city of Hu’nan province. It tasks 9 hours to go to Beikadun Orphanage from Fengyan village by highway bus.
Tiandeng Orphanage,Chongzuo city, Guangxi Province. 4 hours away Nanning city, the provincal capital of Guangxi Zhuang Minority Autonomous Region; 4 hours away from Beihai city, which is very famous for the amazing beach. It takes 10 hours to go to Tiandeng Orphanage by highway bus.
There are around 100 children in Beikadun orphanage, from 5 to 16 years old. Most of them go to the primary, middle schools nearby.
There are around 50 children in Tiandeng Orphanage, all of them are primary school students, from 6 to 12 years old.
WORK: The first week will be the week of Introduction.
The Introduction Week is the first step towards a great stay in a new country! It's an action packed and fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know China and some of its cultural aspects with a first hand live in experience.You will also get time to meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the Chinese customs. The Introduction Week will take place in our regional center located in Fengyan village, with a group of participants from different parts of the world. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to get used to the local culture.
Our schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks usually consist of:
General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on cooking lessons (Making dumplings, local dishes, Oil tea of Yao Minority), team work, Traditional games like Majiang, local transportation, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & don'ts, and emergency preparation.
Chinese Culture and habits, Yao customs, history, social issues, art & music appreciation are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits.
Language Skills: A first contact with the Chinese language, and we will show you how to write your name in Chinese Calligraphy with writing brush, how to pronounce Chinese Pinyin, how to greet, how to bargain etc. Actually, it is 4 weeks’ continuous teaching & training& practicing your Chinese.
Cultural Site Visit and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. You will have the opportunity to visit the local village, Confucius Temple and Guangong Temple, Local fair, Hengshan Yao Zhai, Hongyan village and some amazing natural scenery sites in groups or individually during free time.
Group Games: will be the style of operation of our coordinators during the orientation week to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic as possible. Do not forget to bring items from your home (photos, music, food) to be able to talk about your place and your culture. There is also a big Party with Chinese volunteers, the students you have taught during Volunteering week and the local villagers.
Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a school visit on site.The second week is dedicated to the volunteering in the orphanages of Beikadun and Tiandeng.
In the morning, the volunteers can help with some chore work such as cleaning, washing or watering the garden when children are at school or play with some small children who are yonger than 6 years old. After 3 o’clock in the afternoon, all the children come back from school. The volunteers can play with the children, or teach them English or help them with their English homework etc.
Free time can be shifted from Sat. and Sun. to Mon. and Tue. All the children will be back to Orphanage on weekends so it is good time to do some activities with children.
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will be at our center in shared bedrooms or homestay with local families (at least with one English speaking family member) All food is included and will be provided at our center/ host family/school canteens.
VACCINATION: All the updated information about vaccinations is available at: www.who.org (The World Health Organization's website). There is no compulsory vaccination to enter China. However, it is recommended to undertake the following: Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid. Please consult your doctor and the above-mentioned website of the W.H.O. for updates and special warnings.
FEE: The workcamp fee is 125,00 euros per week and includes food and accomodation during the whole stay, local transports, meeting in the airport, transfers from and to the airport. The minimum stay is of 2 weeks, the maximum - of 5 weeks.
LOCATION: Fengyan village and surrounding areas, 104 kms from Guilin city. Gongcheng Yao minority Autonomous County is located in north-east of Guangxi Province,bordering on Yangshuo town in the west, 108km away from Guilin city. There are Yao, Han, Zhuang, Miao, Tong, Hui etc. 12 kinds of Minorities in this county, including 163 thousand Yao Minority, 57.34% of whole population. Gongcheng Yao Minority County is rich in many kinds of resources, for example, mineral, waterpower,forest etc. There are many famous tourist attraction: including well-preserved relics: Wen Temple, Wu Temple, Zhou Family Temple, Hunanese Temple and beautiful natural scenery spots: ocean of Peach flower, persimmon trees,pomelo, betel palm etc.It is also famous for local Tea--- Gongcheng You Cha--- very healthy drink.
WORK: The first week will be the week of Introduction.
The Introduction Week is the first step towards a great stay in a new country! It's an action packed and fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know China and some of its cultural aspects with a first hand live in experience.
You will also get time to meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the Chinese customs. The Introduction Week will take place in our regional center located in Fengyan village, with a group of participants from different parts of the world. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to get used to the local culture.
Our schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks usually consist of:
General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on cooking lessons (Making dumplings, local dishes, Oil tea of Yao Minority), team work, Traditional games like Majiang, local transportation, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & don'ts, and emergency preparation.
Chinese Culture and habits, Yao customs, history, social issues, art & music appreciation are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits.
Language Skills: A first contact with the Chinese language, and we will show you how to write your name in Chinese Calligraphy with writing brush, how to pronounce Chinese Pinyin, how to greet, how to bargain etc. Actually, it is 4 weeks’ continuous teaching & training& practicing your Chinese.
Cultural Site Visit and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. You will have the opportunity to visit the local village, Confucius Temple and Guangong Temple, Local fair, Hengshan Yao Zhai, Hongyan village and some amazing natural scenery sites in groups or individually during free time.
Group Games: will be the style of operation of our coordinators during the orientation week to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic as possible. Do not forget to bring items from your home (photos, music, food) to be able to talk about your place and your culture. There is also a big Party with Chinese volunteers, the students you have taught during Volunteering week and the local villagers.
Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a school visit on site.The second week is called "Community Work & Volunteer China".
The volunteers can choose between 4 options :
A. Teaching in the villages.
The teaching is meant to help children in the villages of Gongcheng to have a chance to speak more English; farming will give you an insight into the pleasure of manual labor in nature; partaking environment cleaning and protecting activities will awaken and enhance the villagers’ consciousness and sense of responsibility of protecting environment and improve the local surrounding; helping in the Nursing home will get you to know the real stories of the society and experience the happiness of giving.
Our Volunteer China Program will give you the possibility to make real friends among students, teachers and the local villagers.
Volunteers should have a good level of conversational English and a little knowledge or prior experience in teaching is highly appreciated but not necessary.B. Farming in the forest of fruit trees.
For working in the farm, the harvest season of pomelo, tangerine, and persimmon is Oct. and Nov. and this is the best time to enjoy. You can help the villagers to pick up fruits from the trees and help them to pack it . In Dec. you can help the famers to take care of the fruit trees, for example, to cut the extra branches, etc.C. Partaking Environment cleaning and environment protecting activities.
For volunteering participating protecting the village environment, we plan to build several landfill pond by cement to collect rubbish in order to help the villagers to build up the sense of protecting environment; clean the village river by collecting the rubbish in the water; clean the main street of the village and the town with Chinese volunteers; disseminate handout to promote the public sense of protecting environment; plant trees to protect environment, especially in the spring, to protect the drinking water of the village (Seasoning); repair the road by putting some stone and sand; help the village schools to paint the walls of the school and the classrooms, to make a nice garden, playground, etc.D. Work in the nursing home. For working in the nursing home, you can help the elders to clean their rooms, to work in the garden with them, to play some games, etc.
All the volunteers have chances to work with Chinese University Volunteers (China have a University Graduating Students Volunteering Program in aim to support backward area in west of China.) There are 35 volunteers in Gongcheng each year. When you come to China as a volunteer, there will be Chinese volunteers to greet and share your experience in volunteering. The Chinese volunteers can speak good English and are eager to meet you. 100% for sure, it will be easy to get along, happy to share insights and knowledge of the world with the young friends.
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will be at our center in shared bedrooms or homestay with local families (at least with one English speaking family member) All food is included and will be provided at our center/ host family/school canteens.VACCINATION: All the updated information about vaccinations is available at: www.who.org (The World Health Organization's website). There is no compulsory vaccination to enter China. However, it is recommended to undertake the following: Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid. Please consult your doctor and the above-mentioned website of the W.H.O. for updates and special warnings.
FEE: The workcamp fee is 125,00 euros per week and includes food and accomodation during the whole stay, local transports, meeting in the airport, transfers from and to the airport. The minimum stay is of 2 weeks, the maximum - of 5 weeks.
GLC04 Volunteering in Panda Reserve Open dates LOCATION: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) is located in Wolong Nature Reserve, 150 km from Chengdu City, Sichuang Province, and was established by Chinese government cooperated with WWF in 1980. With the efforts over 20 years, CCRCGP has already resolved three key problems of breeding: difficult mating, pregnancy and infant survival, which restricted reproduction of the giant panda for a long time. There are now in a total of 43 litters with 66 cubs succeeded in CCRCGP and 53 cubs are alive.
The Base owns nice environments, condign climate and verdant forests. It’s an ideal habitat of the giant panda as well as an important place for tourism, scientific study and public education. The first stage project of the Panda Conservation Base was finished in September 2003 with the measure of 714,357m2 (equals to 71.4357 hectares). It is divided into six sections as panda raising and breeding area, scientific study area, food preparing and animal hospital area, staff living area, bamboo base area and tourist accommodation area.
Chengdu is located in the western Sichuan Plain, is the capital of Sichuan Province. It is a well-known city with a longstanding history and civilization. Among other interesting facts about the city, Chengdu is also known as the City of Brocade and the City of Hibiscus. Chengdu, as early as 500,000 years, was a major transportation hub for telecommunications in southwestern China. Chengdu has many places of interest and is famous for its traditional arts and crafts, ethnic folklore, and beautiful landscapes.
WORK: The first week will be the week of Introduction.
The Introduction Week is the first step towards a great stay in a new country! It's an action packed and fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know China and some of its cultural aspects with a first hand live in experience.You will also get time to meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the Chinese customs. The Introduction Week will take place in our regional center located in Fengyan village, with a group of participants from different parts of the world. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to get used to the local culture.
Our schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks usually consist of:
General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on cooking lessons (Making dumplings, local dishes, Oil tea of Yao Minority), team work, Traditional games like Majiang, local transportation, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & don'ts, and emergency preparation.
Chinese Culture and habits, Yao customs, history, social issues, art & music appreciation are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits.
Language Skills: A first contact with the Chinese language, and we will show you how to write your name in Chinese Calligraphy with writing brush, how to pronounce Chinese Pinyin, how to greet, how to bargain etc. Actually, it is 4 weeks’ continuous teaching & training& practicing your Chinese.
Cultural Site Visit and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. You will have the opportunity to visit the local village, Confucius Temple and Guangong Temple, Local fair, Hengshan Yao Zhai, Hongyan village and some amazing natural scenery sites in groups or individually during free time.
Group Games: will be the style of operation of our coordinators during the orientation week to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic as possible. Do not forget to bring items from your home (photos, music, food) to be able to talk about your place and your culture. There is also a big Party with Chinese volunteers, the students you have taught during Volunteering week and the local villagers.
Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a school visit on site.The second week will take place in a Panda Conservation Base.
China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) is located in Wolong Nature Reserve and was established by Chinese government cooperated with WWF in 1980. With the efforts over 20 years, CCRCGP has already resolved three key problems of breeding: difficult mating, pregnancy and infant survival, which restricted reproduction of the giant panda for a long time. There are now in a total of 43 litters with 66 cubs succeeded in CCRCGP and 53 cubs are alive.
The panda birth rate and survival rate are in the top of the world. The captive panda population of CCRCGP was developed from initial 6 to now over 70 animals. For the safety and development of the captive giant panda, the State Forestry Administrative Bureau decided and invested 27.6 million RMB to build a new panda base. It’s a giant panda’s paradise with well captive raising, reproduction, rare wild animal rescuing and education facilities.
The Base owns nice environments, condign climate and verdant forests. It’s an ideal habitat of the giant panda as well as an important place for tourism, scientific study and public education. The first stage project of the Panda Conservation Base was finished in September 2003 with the measure of 714,357m2 (equals to 71.4357 hectares). It is divided into six sections as panda raising and breeding area, scientific study area, food preparing and animal hospital area, staff living area, bamboo base area and tourist accommodation area.
Volunteers are needed to play a part in safeguarding the future of these cuties. The Giant Panda is one of the most delightful and captivating of animals, yet one of the most endangered species in the world. The best scientific estimates place the total number of all pandas at only about 1600. Pandas are one of the cutest, most magnificent, adorable animals on the earth giving joy to adults and children alike.
Their survival is Paramount. Saving this species is truly a race against time. We are now placing individuals and groups to volunteer at the Panda Conservation Base, which is a branch of the Wolong Panda base.
Volunteers would be required to, prepare food for the pandas such as apples, panda bread, carrots, carry lots of bamboo, serve them food, clean their enclosures, observe and do research on the pandas, and help in providing medical care for the pandas. You will also have time to watch and photograph the pandas. We promise you, you will love the cute Pandas.
You will receive an in-depth training on the care of Pandas and guidelines while working with the Pandas. Your trainer will answer all your questions and is very important that you do whatever the trainer requires.
ACCOMMODATION: During the first week the accommodation will be at our center in shared bedrooms or homestay with local families (at least with one English speaking family member) All food is included and will be provided at our center/ host family/school canteens.
During the second week your new home will be the hotel in Xiaoxitian, which is located in the Panda Conservation base, enclosed in the mountains. There are 2 or 3 beds in the room with attached bath, 24-hour hot water. There is a washing machine. You can use it for free.
You will have 3 good meals in the restaurant, which is named “Family in Mountain” and is located in Xiaoxitian. The food is typical Chinese and will contain a variety of yummy dishes.
VACCINATION: All the updated information about vaccinations is available at: www.who.org (The World Health Organization's website). There is no compulsory vaccination to enter China. However, it is recommended to undertake the following: Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid. Please consult your doctor and the above-mentioned website of the W.H.O. for updates and special warnings.
FEE: The workcamp fee is 125,00 euros for the first week and 250,00 euros for the second week and includes food and accomodation during the whole stay, local transports, meeting in the airport, transfers from and to the airport. The minimum stay is of 2 weeks, the maximum - of 5 weeks.
The applications for this project have to be sent at least 45 days before the departure date.
TO BOOK A WORKCAMP CLICK HERE
