SIW Internationale Vrijwilligersprojecten (SIW International Volunteer Projects) is a Dutch non-governmental, non-profit voluntary service organisation that was founded in 1953. The mission of SIW is to stimulate people to broaden their horizon. This is achieved by bringing volunteers into contact with different cultures. This way, SIW wants to facilitate international contact and understanding, contribute to the personal growth and development of young people and encourage them to carry out social, cultural and environmental work. That work is offered in our projects in the Netherlands and in the projects organised by partners from our network abroad.

Every year, SIW sends approximately 175 volunteers to foreign sister-organisations in Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America and Africa, to work in voluntary workcamp projects in international groups. In 2019 SIW also organises 6 international work camps in the Netherlands. These take place in summer and last for two weeks. We organise these work camps in cooperation with Dutch social organisations such as the Dutch State Forestry, Emmaus (international charitable movement to combat poverty and homelessness) and the Central Agency for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. In the past years SIW has welcomed up to 100 volunteers from all over the world.

Each project is guided by two camp leaders. Being a camp leader is a voluntary job. There is no payment. However, all costs are covered by SIW. Each project lasts two weeks. Camp leaders must be available for the whole period of two weeks. Their job is to make the group function well and have a good time. Instruction about the work that has to be done, is done by the host organization. The language in the camps is English. The camp leaders receive a training by SIW. The training will take place on 22 and 23 June.

The booklet describes the 6 projects. We are still looking for camp leaders for the projects Zonnehoeve Zeewolde and Emmaus Haarzuilens. These projects take place from 3 through 17 August and from 18 August through 1 September respectively.

For further information, please contact Hans van Dommele, Coordinator Dutch projects, 06-23263134 or email bestuur.ontvangst@siw.nl.

https://www.siw.nl/wp-content/uploads/siw-program-dutch-projects-2019.pdf