WORKCAMPS IN BOTSWANA

Oikos organises in 2010 international workcamps in Botswana in cooperation with the association BWA (Botswana Workcamps Association).

Botswana Workcamps Association (BWA) is a non-governmental, non-profit making youth voluntary organization, started in 1979 in Mochudi and was registered with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in April 1980 under societies act. It is also known as “Lekgotla La Baithaopi” in our Setswana, which means a voluntary organization.

 Its first president was Chief Linchwe II of the Bakgatla Nation in Botswana & South Africa, who was responsible for publicizing organizational events and other meetings that generated awareness about BWA.

It's Headquarters are based in Boseja North Ward, Mochudi, Botswana.
BWA is a member of the Southern Africa Work camps Cooperation (SAWC) and affiliated to Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), founded in 1948 to assist and promote work-camps throughout the world.

Botswana is the safest country with the best democracy record in Africa. The country had never experienced any civil or political war since its occupation by people originating mostly from South Arica.  Botswana has one of the best economic images in the world boasted by stable currency-Pula.

Why volunteer with BWA?

BWA had committed itself to develop communities and institutions through effective voluntary service locally and internationally.

The volunteers who had volunteered with BWA before describe our organisation as an ideal institution to work with and most importantly the effective running of workcamps projects modeled on a team work principle makes the participation worthy taking with valuable contribution and difference made to the community.

BWA offers quality and effective voluntary service through its friendly, charming, supportive management, members and partners.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The projects are open to the volunteers over 18 years old  from all over the world.

All the travel costs are carried by the volunteers.

The language of the workcamp 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 Botswana is 200 dollars and has to be paid to the camp-coordinator on arrival in Botswana.

NB: Volunteers are at all times required to bring their own sleeping bags when coming to the camps.

For the description of the project, please, click the camp code:

---

BWA 01 KRS	10.01-22.01.10	Khama Rhino Sanctuary
BWA 08 KRS	21.06-02.07.10	Khama Rhino Sanctuary
BWA 12 KRS	26.07-06.08.10	Khama Rhino Sanctuary
BWA 14 KRS	06.09-17.09.10	Khama Rhino Sanctuary
BWA 17 KRS	06.12-17.12.10	Khama Rhino Sanctuary

LOCATION: Khama Rhino Sanctuary is located around 25km north of Serowe and 320 km North West from Gaborone, capital city of the Republic of Botswana. It is defined by Kalahari desert sands and quite range of vegetation. Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a conservation park for the endangered animals mainly white and black rhinos. It also hosts a wide range of animals including kudus, impalas, gemsboks, giraffes, and a variety of small animals and birds.

Volunteers at the nature reserve can enjoy day and evening game drives and some educational lectures on some days. Volunteers can also arrange to join the rangers for their animals counting exercises and patrols along the park fences.

The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is having an active working partnership with BWA. BWA had committed itself by assisting to sustain the ecosystem of the reserve.

WORK: The volunteers will assist in the maintenance of the footpaths, park fence, fire breaks and trails and helping in day to day business maintenance of the park. The volunteers will participate as a team in the whole duration of the camp.  Volunteers can share and exchange different cultural forms during the workcamp. The orientation for the workcamp is scheduled at BWA head offices for the day before the workcamp start at Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

ACCOMMODATION: Khama Rhino Sanctuary provides accommodation in camping sites. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tents. Internet, supermarkets and banking are available in Serowe town which is 20 minutes drive form the sanctuary.

---

BWA 02 MOK	10.01-22.01.10	Mokolodi
BWA 07 MOK	14.06-25.06.10	Mokolodi
BWA 09 MOK	19.07-30.07.10	Mokolodi
BWA 15 MOK	06.12-17.12.10	Mokolodi

LOCATION: Mokolodi Nature Reserve is located around 15km south of Gaborone, capital city of the Republic of Botswana. It is defined by hilly terrains and quite range of vegetation. Mokolodi hosts a wide range of animals including white rhinos, elephants, leopards, giraffes, elephants and a variety of small animals and birds.

Visitors to the nature reserve can enjoy day and evening game drives and some educational lectures. It also has numerous camping sites. There are self catering chalets available for visitors of the Nature reserve.

The Mokolodi Nature Reserve is having an active working partnership with BWA. BWA had committed itself by assisting to sustain the ecosystem of the reserve.

WORK: The volunteers will assist in the maintenance of the footpaths and trails and helping in day to day business maintenance of the park. The volunteers will participate as a team in the whole duration of the camp.  Volunteers can share and exchange different cultural forms during the workcamp. The Nature Reserve is around 40 minutes drive from BWA head offices.

ACCOMMODATION: Mokolodi provides accommodation in camping sites. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tents.

---

BWA 03 SOS	15.02-26.02.10	Francistown
BWA 13 SOS	26.07-06.08.10	Tlokweng
BWA 16 SOS	06.12-17.12.10	Tlokweng

LOCATION: Tlokweng SOS Chidrens` village is located ~10km south east of the centre of Gaborone, capital city of the Republic of Botswana. There is also a SOS centre based in Francistown - the second mining city of Botswana which is 450 km North from capital city of Gaborone. SOS Centre is a home to close to three hundred kids affected by different social ills. These include being homeless after being dumped by their mothers mainly immediately after birth and chased away from home due to in fights in some households. Some of the kids fell to lack of guardianship due to imprisonment of mothers, very poor households living under a dollar daily.

The kids at the SOS centre stays in some family like format headed by mothers volunteering at the centre. The family models are done so as to give the kids an opportunity to grow in a family set up like other person.

The kids are taught during the day depending on their standards of learning. The centre mainly offers pre-school/kindergarten and primary schooling for free.

The SOS centre is having an active working partnership with BWA. BWA had committed itself by assisting in developing a psychological and social development set up at the centre.

WORK: The volunteers will assist in the daily education of the kids, gardening, sports coaching & mentoring and general counseling of the kids. Moreover, volunteers can assist the centre on some renovation work that arises and maintain kids` library. Spare time is usually meant for interaction with kids on their music practice sessions.  Volunteers can share and exchange different cultural forms during the workcamp.

ACCOMMODATION: SOS Centre provides accommodation in their shared guest houses. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tents for their privacy. Hot showers and bathrooms/toilets with running water are available.

---

BWA 04 TAC	15.02-26.02.10	Francistown
BWA 10 TAC	19.07-30.07.10	Francistown

LOCATION: Tachila Nature Reserve is a nature reserve that borders the second and mining city of Francistown —North of Botswana. The city of Francistown is a gateway to the unique scenic beauties of the Okavango Delta and the Victoria Falls. The booming mining economy of the city of Francistown makes it a must visit place. Tachila Nature Reserve is home to kudus, wild beast, hyenas, baboons, leopards, warthogs, snakes and other species of friendly animals and birds.

WORK: Environmental work and rehabilitation work. Volunteers will be working with the reserve management in the day to day activities, managing the ecosystem and assisting in the renovation of the nature reserve.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be accommodated in shared tents. Those with their own tents must bring them with to the camp.

---

WA 05 SER

10.05-21.05.10

Serowe

LOCATION: Il campo si svolgerà nell'antico villaggio di Serowe famoso per il Khama Memorial Museum.

WORK: I volontari saranno impegnati in lavori di manutenzione e di ristrutturazione nel centro giovanile recentemente costruito, inoltre collaboreranno con altre organizzazioni non governative della zona.

ACCOMMODATION: I volontari alloggeranno in case; coloro che possiedono delle tende sono invitati a portarle con sé.

---

WA 06 TRC

14.06-25.06.10

Serowe

LOCALITA': Tshidilo Rehabilitation Centre is situated in Serowe, 300 km north of capital city, Gaborone in the Republic of Botswana. Serowe is the largest traditional village in Botswana. The centre is an NGO which was formed in 1989 by the community Service Trust of Catholic Church; however the Catholic Church has left the trust to the community and does not financially assist the centre. 

The Tshidilo Centre is a home to over two hundred kids affected by different physiological and social problems. The centre provides rehabilitation services in form of physiotherapy and social support to the kids. The kids are taught during the day depending on their standards of learning.

The SOS centre is having an active working partnership with BWA. BWA had committed itself by assisting in developing physiotherapy and social development set up at the centre.

WORK: The volunteers will assist in the daily physiotherapy sessions and education of the kids, gardening, sports coaching & mentoring and general counseling of the kids. Moreover, volunteers can assist the centre on some renovation work that arises and maintain kids` library. Spare time is usually meant for interaction with kids on their music practice sessions.  Volunteers can share and exchange different cultural forms during the workcamp. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is only 10 minutes drive from the centre and therefore can provide the much needed excursion during the workcamp.

ACCOMMODATION: Tshidilo Rehabilitation Centre provides accommodation in their allocated houses. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own tents for their privacy. Hot showers and bathrooms/toilets with running water are available.

---

BWA 11 New Xade

19.07-30.07.10

Kalahari

LOCATION: Botswana is inviting volunteers from all the world to join on a workcamp scheduled for 19^th -30^th July 2010 at New Xade Township,  ~180 km east of the town of Ghanzi in the Kalahari Desert in the Central Botswana, Southern Africa.  New Xade Township is home to the San people who had been relocated to the new place by the Botswana government some few years ago. The relocation of the San people was received with different tones with some human rights captains claiming that the exercise was unlawful & cruelty to the existence of the San race. The New Xade Township is just few kilometers from the largest Central Kalahari Game Reserve, where originally the San used to stay before their controversial relocation.

WORK: BWA assists the San community to construct their own shelters through the setting of modern houses for the families after they were left with no shelters after relocations. The work also includes brick moulding and establishment of vegetables gardens, horticultural projects and chicken farming as a way of involving the San people in sustainable forms of generating income due to the fact that they are no longer able to live their original life of animal hunting.

ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will have to bring their own tents for their own privacy though a shared modern bedroom is available.

      TO BOOK A WORKCAMP CLICK HERE

BACK

OIKOS

INFORMAGIOVANI

VOLONTARIATO

E-MAIL