IWO is a non-profit and non-governmental organization established in 1999 to promote world peace, global citizenship, youth and community development and cultural exchange through international voluntary service. We are an Executive committee member of CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) at UNESCO Paris, a member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Develop -ment in Asia) and a member of Alliance (Alliance of European voluntary service organizations).

Our visions

We believe that we can promote world peace by contributing to mutual respect and capacity for peaceful coexistence among all countries. We offer youth of all countries the opportunities with international voluntary service projects to understand cultural differences and diversity of each society. We believe that youth is our bright future in this world.

Our activities

Our International Voluntary Service Projects offer young people the opportunity to participate in community-based projects in over 70 countries worldwide. The projects differ enormously ranging from nature conservation, restoration, education and construction to projects that are more socially based including work with adults and children with special needs, teaching or organizing youth & children's holiday schemes. Our main activities include.

         GLOBAL Education

• Growing and training youth and volunteers
• Leading a new paradigm in the field of non-formal education
• Organizing international voluntary service projects
• Building intercultural programs
• Arranging international conferences and seminars
• Learning and understanding diverse culture

The main purpose of IWO workcamp and MTV(Medium Term Voluntary) projects is the so-called ‘Glocalization’ which is to bring the world to the country and get country opened to the world. Hence, the projects may enhance the cultural interchange between the local resident and international volunteers and also positively influence the host organization and local community by actively fulfilling the missions of each project.

• To provide opportunities to locals so that they can understand other countries and cultures by building the friendship with volunteers
• To help international volunteers understand Korean culture and learn to respect the differences
• To empower the locals to support civil associations and non-governmental organizations
• To encourage volunteers to have an active attitude toward responsibility for the environment, youth and society
• To promote voluntary service activities in cooperation with local communities and NGOs

International workcamps are a unique form of voluntary service. International workcamps offer a positive and practical way of bringing people from different countries and cultures to live and work together on projects. These projects benefit local communities and other voluntary organizations working for a more equitable and peaceful society. Workcamps help to foster tolerance and understanding, to break down barriers and reduce prejudice and stereotyping. Workcamps are designed to support and encourage local initiatives that will be continued by the local community on completion of the workcamp.

The International workcamps offer an excellent non-formal educational experience for people who are open to learn. It involves a period of intensive living for two or three weeks with a group of international volunteers and while doing so, participating in the local community through carrying out voluntary work in the frame of projects proposed by local organizations and/or communities. In organizing International workcamps, organizations try to work on three different levels at the same time;

On the first level, a group of individuals with very different geographical, cultural and social backgrounds are brought together as a workcamp-group. They form a temporary community for the entire period of the workcamp as they work together on a project and live together. During the workcamps they get to know each other, cook food together, organize leisure time, agree on how the work in the project should be done and so on. In many circumstances, the conditions of accommodation are very simple ones and often do not allow very much privacy.

People can easily imagine that in such a setting and with such variety of participants, conflicts arise. They usually do: about how to spend leisure time, about how a task should be carried out, etc. One of the aims of participating in exercising methods of non-violent conflict resolution and learning to respect different views and cultural backgrounds.

On the second level, it can be seen that the workcamp-group also interacts with the local community in which the project is based. In this way, they have, as a group, an impact on the local community where they temporarily live. In most countries, local people often look at volunteers who have come from abroad to work voluntarily on a project with curiosity. It is not always easy for them to understand why anybody would do this! In this way, international workcamps also help to broaden the perspective of local people. In most cases, the group will integrate with the local community and this will result in talking together, exchanging ideas, discussions and, enjoying local culture together.

On the third level, the practical work done is of utmost importance. Though it might be our primary goal to bring people from all around the globe together for giving them the opportunity to experiment on peaceful co-operation and non-violent conflict resolution, this is not the main reason why a local project or organization would like to have a workcamp. Often, their first concern is that a specific project with benefit to the local community should be completed. Secondly, it will be their concern how the project is completed, whether by an international group of volunteers or by someone else. So, it is important that the volunteers are dedicated to carry out the work for which they came to that particular local community.

All projects cooperate with local NGOs, civil society and local volunteers. The locals are pleased to host international volunteers who have different cultural, social and educational background because they all are warm and open-minded. Young people come together from every corner of the world, including Eastern and Western Europe, North Africa, Canada, and the USA, as well as Asia, Australia and Africa. They live together for 7 to 14 days, have fun and work on an important community project. All participants are between 19 and 35 years of age. Workcamp provides the opportunity to live with people from all over and to experience and discuss differences between cultures.

1. Number of Volunteers & Duration
   - IWO hosts 10-15 volunteers on each workcamp. Each project will have 5-7 Korean participants (Including 2 Korean camp leaders) and 6-10 international participants. The number of volunteers may alter depending on each project.
   - Normally, duration of the project is between 10 to 15 days.
    
2. Project Coordinator
   - Each project has 2 camp leaders who have been trained by IWO. They will coordinate the group to achieve the goals of each project. And, the Korean participants are preparing for the project with IWO beforehand.
    
3. Accommodation & Food
   - Meals and accommodation are provided during the project by the host organization.
   - Depending on the each project, participants may cook by themselves or served by the host organization.
   - Participants are responsible for keeping the accommodation clean and tidy during the project at all times.
    
4. Free Time
   - Participants are responsible for organizing their own free time with their own budget.
   - Host organizations will share information of spots to the participants for local attractions if asked.
    
5. Working Hours
   - Usually about 35~40 hours per week, 5~6 days a week. The 1~2days are usually free on a week. But it depends condition of local site and host, volunteer should respect and understand flexible situation of local site.
    
6. Insurance
   - IWO provides insurance for accidents only during the project (No dental clinic, illness, 3rd party’s liability compensation). It covers only a percentage of the cost (co-pay) at maximum 40% according to the insurance regulation for foreigners in KOREA.
   Therefore, Participants MUST bring their own insurance for health, travel and the 3rd party’s liability compensation. And they must be aware of the necessary documents for their insurance company when occurred.
    
7. Transportation
   - Korea has convenient public transportation network over the country; therefore, all participant are advised to arrive at Incheon International Airport regardless of the location of their project site. By taking a subway and an airport bus, participants can conveniently arrive from the airport to Seoul. There are many convenient public transportation systems from Seoul to each project sites.
    
8. Participation fee
   - 60,000 Won is charged for WORKCAMP Projects (if applicant reside in Korea as applying) It should be paid on arrival at the project.
    
9. Info-sheet for participant
   - It will be sent to applicant prior to 30-40 days of project begin.
    
10. General Requirements
    
    (1) Of the participants
    ▶ Regarding Youth theme
    - Participants are required to be proactive during a project and contribute positively
    - Participants are requested to discuss with campleader before the project by messenger
    ▶ Regarding Renovation and Environment theme
    -Participants are required to be heathy and strong enough to conduct the mission
    
    (2) For the project
    - Participants aged from 18 to 35 years are acceptable. Exceptions may be negotiated.
    - All participants are required to speak English to communicate and carry out the activities successfully. In the meantime, if volunteers try to speak Korean, it will be very much welcomed by the local people.
    - No illegal drugs in Korea.
    - No drinking alcohol is allowed when you are with children or even in youth centre.
    - Be motivated and open-minded to Korea, to local cultures and to activities.
    - Volunteers should know that this is NOT a vacation trip neither a cheap travel.
    - No illegal drugs is allowed in Korea.
    - Smoking is allowed in designated area in each project site.
    

If you would like to participate in Korea workcamp, please submit the application.
(https://forms.gle/FSDsknjF8fhffRKV8)

After the acceptance by e-mail, volunteers will receive an info-sheet regarding the project they selected. The info-sheet will let you know some useful and important information that volunteers must know before arriving at the project site.

If you have any questions, you can contact connect1@1.or.kr

* General Qualifications :
- Interest in international volunteering
- Willing to cooperate with people from diverse background
- Ages between 19 and 35
- Able to speak English to communicate in English
- Highly motivated to achieve the goal of the project
- Open minded to different cultures

* Remark :
- Applicants should read "Introduction about workcamp and General conditions of project" carefully and be aware of the project aims, life styles and the responsibilities of volunteers.
- There are 5~7Koreans in each group
- Keep in mind that the purpose of workcamp is not to provide a cheap trip.
- If applications to any workcamps are full, application forms will not be further accepted.
- No illegal drugs in IWO projects are permitted.

Yeongwol is one of the environmentally-friendly provinces in Korea. It is about 200km away from Seoul to the east bound, takes 2 hours by express bus. This village is surrounded by mountain so participants can feel fresh nature. However, as it is small village, they have less opportunities compare to the big cities. Therefore, students here have less chance to experience different cultures and understandings. This project is held in cooperation with the local child care center to provide them a new experience. Through the project, the youths will be more open-minded and cooperative when they face other cultures.

Work: Participants will organize the summer culture camp for local kids and youth. Any bright ideas are welcomed and participants can create the cultural sessions as they want. They will organize programs with music, sports, dance, traditional game and mobile phone photography so on for a better understanding on differences and diversity.

Accommodation and Food: In the local children center/ Meals are provided
Location and Terminal: Yeongwol, Gangwon-do / Jecheon Bus Terminal http://bitly.kr/CbaFaxqDC0
Leisure Activities: Swimming in the lake and visiting historical places
Requirements: Ideas to design programs and passion to engage with kids & youth

Yeosu and Nang-do region are famous with romantic night view, nature attractions, food and EXPO. It consists of 217 islands distributed across the southwestern corner of the Korean peninsula. All islands are connected by bridges or ferries for the convenience of transportation. It is 400 km away from Seoul south bound (About 5 hours by express bus).

Work: The participants will mainly clean the part of island along the coast. The garbage collected will be reused in the local farming by making various scarecrows. It would be creative and funny works for participants. They will also learn and make the local art craft for the village decoration.
Participants will attend the national festival for the islands which draw the attention on values and life of islands in Korea. They will experience the different local cultures in the festival such as food, dance and music. The festival will be held in Tongyeong(http://www.tongyeong.go.kr/eng.web), Gyeongsangnam-do which is also famous with marine cultures in Korea. Participants will gathered in Tongyeong and travel to Nangdo by bus. It would be good opportunities to experience east and west region of southern part of Korea during the project. 

Jindo county consists of 254 islands distributed across the southwestern corner of the Korean peninsula. All islands are connected by bridges or ferries for the convenience of transportation and they are famous with beautiful sceneries and sites. It is 450 km away from Seoul south bound (About 5 hours by express bus).

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Work: In Gwanmae-do, there is a café which will be open in August by the local cooperative (Coop) for the local development. Participants will open the café as a test operation by selling coffee or snacks to visitors. In the end, they will leave advices to local people from their testing operation.

Accommodation: In the local guest house
Food: Served at the restaurant
Location and Terminal: Gwanmae-do, Jeollanam-do / Mokpo train station
All participants will be gathered in the Mokpo city and move to the island together by bus and ferry.
http://bitly.kr/CbaFaxqDC0
Leisure Activities: Visiting historic place in other islands, swimming.
Requirements: Basic coffee making skill and café working experience are very welcome.