ESC: working on an organic farm that also serves as an educational center

Bouworde vzw is part of IBO, Internationale Bouworde, an international organisation founded in 1953. Bouworde is a Belgian youth organisation that sends nearly 1000 young volunteers abroad every year, mostly for short-term workcamps but also for long-term voluntary service. Bouworde organises workcamps in Belgium, Europe and in low and middle income countries all over the world. By living together with local people and helping small, local non-profit organisations/charities/small NGOs/... the youngsters learn about other cultures, other societal needs (e.g. migration, inclusion, climate change, poverty, ...), and about themselves. The aim of the workcamps is thus to encourage intercultural exchange, solidarity and global citizenship. We help youngsters acquire social and intercultural skills and encourage them to identify themselves as European citizens. Our target group is aged between 15 and 30 years. We have two different sections in our organisation: projects for 15 till 18 year old youngsters, and one for 18 till 30 year old volunteers. Crucial to all our activities are the obligatory predeparture trainings for our participants. For Bouworde, the workcamps are a means of education and intercultural exchange, and therefore pre-departure trainings are key to our organisation.