- Project Outline:
This project is organized under the auspices of Eastern Africa Work camps Network (EAWNET) that is a regional platform bringing together volunteer involving organizations in the region. EAWNET steering committee has agreed to run the fourth edition of the program in 2015 involving the four countries Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya. The volunteers will stay for one week in each of the four countries and this is a great opportunity to enhance inter-cultural learning and exposure to challenges of development.
- Hosting organizations:
UVIKIUTA (Tanzania), ABSV (Burundi), UPA (Uganda) and KVDA (KENYA)
- Project Locations:
The work camp will start near Dar es Salaam Tanzania and then move to the second city Bujumbura in Burundi and thirdly to the capital city of Uganda that is Kampala and the final destination will be the third largest city in Kenya and that is Kisumu.
- Project team leaders:
There will be a team leader recruited by the hosting organization in each country and this means that by the end of the caravan work camp four team leaders would have facilitated the project and they will also be present in all the countries.
- Mandatory:
Participants in this project are required to fully participate in the activities in all the countries and it will not be allowed for participants to discontinue their participation before the end of the project. Certificates of participation will be issued to volunteers who will successfully complete their projects in the four countries. Partner organizations recruiting the volunteers to join this project should emphasize this point to avoid a situation where some participants would wish to participate in some of the projects and not the entire caravan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS
1. UVIKIUTA TANZANIA:
UVIKIUTA is a Youth development organization guided by the spirit of "volunteerism for sustainable development". Our mission is to develop and enhance social and economic capacity of young men and women so as to be self-reliant and able to address their challenges using available local resources. Established in 1983, we work with Youth and volunteers in partnership with communities to build capacities through holistic experience that broaden minds, expand horizons and empower them to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
2. ABSV BURUNDI:
Alliance Burundaise pour le Service Volontaire (ABSV) was established in 2007 by two local non-profit national organizations with the aim of making an effort together and of doing good work for the community. ABSV works in three areas: peace education in a country that has suffered civil war and ethnic tension; environmental protection, it works together with the communities to clean areas and plant trees e.g. in deprived suburbs of the capital; and tries to support displaced persons.
It aims to provide education to orphans and vulnerable children and aims to set up a youth exchange programme where they can share different experiences and do voluntary work, helping the communities.
ABSV is active in the Eastern Africa Workcamp Association Network and is a corresponding member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service based at Paris France.
3. UPA UGANDA:
Uganda Pioneers' Association (UPA) is a voluntary non-governmental organization registered with the National NGO Board (ref. S5914/114). The organization focuses on offering youths the opportunity to contribute to community development by involving them in community projects, workcamps and international volunteer exchange.
Founded in 1989 by a group of young Ugandans, UPA has grown over the years and currently includes ten branches in seven districts in Uganda, a permanent secretariat with four full-time employees, a Guest House with a capacity of 16 volunteers in Nansana, on the outskirts of Kampala, and a demonstration farm project in Bukomero, Kiboga district.
With the motto "Together we shape the future", UPA believes that involving youths can make a difference in development, bridge gaps between peoples, enhance co-operation and break down institutional barriers.
4. KVDA KENYA:
Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) is an indigenous and membership organization which is non political, non sectarian and non profit started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under Societies Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the establishment of NGOs Co-ordination Act.
Our Philosophy
KVDA seeks to promote inter-cultural education, international peace, inter-human understanding and solidarity as well as sustainable community development through voluntary service
"Development against Dependence", captures KVDA's philosophy.
KVDA calls upon everyone to pull their resources and freely work together for international harmony and sustainable development in the spirit of "togetherness". KVDA mobilizes volunteers from different countries in the world, regardless of their background or affiliation to live, learn and work together for the development of a needy community.
- Theme:
International Voluntary Service Against Climate Change
Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats that are facing the planet and human societies today. The international community has accepted the broad scientific consensus that the climate of the Earth is warming due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Since the industrial revolution began the average temperature has risen to 0.76 degrees Celsius and most of the warming has happened during the last 50 years. Global green house gas emissions are continuing to grow with emissions of carbon dioxide reaching in 2010 their highest level for the past 650,000 years.
The international community has recognized the scientific evidence that global warming needs to be limited to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperature in order to avoid the most catastrophic and potentially irreversible effects of climate change. This has led to the emergence and development of an international climate change regime focused on formulating a global response to the problem.
The first step towards addressing global warming was the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It requires developed countries to reduce their emissions by an average of 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. EU member states committed to an 8% reduction. However, it did not involve obligations on the part of developing countries and failed to commit major emitters such as the USA, India and China to action on mitigating climate change.
Apart from the globally concerted efforts to mitigate climate change, societies across the globe also have to adapt to the current and future adverse effects of climate change, i.e. to anticipate them and take appropriate action to prevent or minimize the damage they can cause.
Climate change is already affecting millions of people through increasingly unstable weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and water scarcity. Due to the protracted effects of the past emissions, the effects of climate change will become even more pronounced in the years to come. Examples of adaptation measures include management and conservation strategies for scarce water resources, adapting buildings to future climate conditions and extreme weather, building flood defenses, developing drought tolerant crops, opting for tree species that are less vulnerable to storms and fires, etc
- ITINERARY:
The 2015 Regional Caravan will start from Tanzanian, moving to Burundi then Uganda and finally end in Kenya. The Proposed dates and routes are as follows:
- PHASE 1 - TANZANIA:
Location - Chamazi (South of Dar es Salaam)
Arrival - 27 July 2015
Departure - 3 August 2015
Number of Days - 7
Travelling between Tanzania and Burundi on 4 August 2015
- PHASE 2 - BURUNDI:
Location - Bujumbura
Arrival - 5 August 2015
Departure - 12 August 2015
Number of days - 7
Travelling between Burundi and Uganda on 13 August 2015
- PHASE 3 - UGANDA:
Location - Kampala (Central Uganda)
Arrival - 13 August 2015
Departure - 21 August 2015
Number of days - 7
Travelling between Uganda and Kenya on 22 August 2015
- PHASE 4 - KENYA:
Location - Kisumu (Western Kenya)
Arrival - 22 August 2015
Departure - 31 August 2015
Number of days - 7
Arrival point - Volunteers can arrive in any of the airports in East Africa but should take note that the project starts in Chamazi near Dar es Salaam Tanzania and the nearest airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
- Project Activities:
Below is an outline of the project activities that will be undertaken in the four countries
- TANZANIA:
Management of community Tree nursery
Tree planting
climate change awareness activities through community engagement activities
Exposure visits to climate change impact
- BURUNDI:
Clean up exercises in the area
Garbage collection in Teka village
Sensitisation of the community on waste management
Sport tournament and dances
- UGANDA:
Tree planting at Bukomero-UPA farm
Cleaning up the health centre in Bukomero town
Sensitisation of the community on waste management
Garbage collection in Bukomero trading centre
Tree planting on the street of Bukomero Trading centre
Guided tour to stone quarry at Bukomero
Expedition game to gather facts about the local area
- KENYA:
Tree planting
Tree nursery planting
Farm management
Undertake climate change activities with focus on greening the Kisumu city
- Study Part:
The main topic will be "Climate change" Volunteers are encouraged to bring information from their home communities on the subject matter for sharing. Please note that, you might be requested to facilitate some of the workshops or other public events.
- Free time activities:
The project provides you with an opportunity to enjoy what nature spectacularly endows the Eastern African region and this will depend on the amount of time available for the volunteers during the trip to Eastern Africa and of course the financial resources.
- Accommodation:
Volunteers will be hosted either in School building or houses provided by the hosting organization and communities. There are adequate sanitation facilities. Volunteers will be sharing rooms, some with mattresses on the floor. Electricity will be available though not reliable and it is advisable to keep this in mind avoid disappointment while in urban and rural Africa.
- Food:
Food will be provided to the volunteers throughout the project while in the community. Volunteers will share cooking in turns with a support of a local kitchen staff. Volunteers with meals restrictions should inform the camp leader/facilitator on arrival for prior arrangements. Vegetarian meals will be available.
- Language:
Kiswahili is extensively spoken in Eastern Africa except in Uganda where the language is spoken by very few people. Knowing a few words and phrases of Kiswahili is highly appreciated by the locals. In the projects people will be able to communicate in English. Majority of the people in Eastern Africa can communicate in English except in Burundi where French is the official language. It is very important that volunteers can communicate at least Basic English or French in order to benefit from the project activities.
- Requirements for this project:
Volunteers coming to this project are encouraged or should be...
- Interested to do outdoor activities
- Interest on nature
- Creative, flexible and patient
- Open minded and independent
- Interested to work as a team
- Able to work under limited resources and less supervision
- Participation fee:
150 Euro (Non-refundable) to be paid on arrival per country hosting the caravan work camp. The total cost will be Euro 600 for the four countries.
This fee includes - Accommodation and meals during the project, travel fares from one project (country) to the other, project administration, evaluation and certificate of participation. The fee does not include medical services, Visas, pocket money, free/leisure activities and other personal expenses. The volunteers will be responsible for their own meals on transit between countries.
- Airport Pick up:
20 Euro (The service is optional and applies to volunteers coming through Nairobi-Kenya and Tanzania. Please notify UVIKIUTA Tanzania and KVDA Kenya at least one week in advance in case you need airport transfer services).
- Visa costs and vaccinations:
Kindly verity the visa costs from the Kenyan/Ugandan/Tanzanian/Burundian consulate in the country of your Residence. Explore the possibilities on the newly introduced joint visa for the East African Community.