International workcamps 2008 MS Denmark Contact information Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke Att. Global Contact Borgergade 14 DK-1300 Copenhagen K Denmark Phone: Switchboard: +45 7731 0000 Direct, outgoing: +45 7731 0055 Direct, incoming: +45 7731 0055 Skype: ms-workcamp Fax: +45 7731 0121 Email: Outgoing placements: outgoing@ms.dk Incoming placements: incoming@ms.dk (Denmark and Greenland) Contact/programme responsible: Camilla Holm-Jensen, chj@ms.dk Office hours: Monday – Thursday: 10.00 – 16.00, Friday 10.00-15.00 Introduction to Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (Danish Association for International Co-operation) was established in 1944. Our aim is to further international understanding and solidarity across and beyond national and cultural boundaries. We do this by trying to influence development on every level from grassroots to government. MS’ vision: A world in peace where cooperation among people promotes global equity and ensures improved conditions for poor and marginalised. MS’ Mission: MS provides opportunities for action for people, who accept a shared responsibility for global sustainable development. MS promotes understanding and dialogue between people. Together with partners we promote popular participation and democratisation in the North and in the South. We endeavour to enable poor and marginalised people realise their vision of a dignified life. Today MS is responsible for a variety of programmes in the North as well as in the South: • Exchange world-wide • MS in the South Partnership and development in Africa, Asia, and Central America • Information, advocacy and lobbying on global issues • The Arabian Initiative Introduction to the Exchange Programme The MS International Exchange programme, called Global Contact, provides opportunities for everyone to get an insight into other cultures. Our programme consists of activities and partnerships in most parts of the world. Our aim is to facilitate understanding of other cultures, political systems, religions and geographical conditions. We hope that our volunteers will make use of their experience and knowledge to further social and economic equality. Our programme makes it possible for people from all over the world to live and work together on an equal basis, to work with locals and assist in solving problems in society at large. Denmark in brief Denmark is the most southern of the Nordic countries located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In the south, Denmark shares a 68 km border with Germany. Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland (Jylland) in the west and 406 islands of which approx. 100 are inhabited. Funen (Fyn) and Zealand (Sjælland) are the biggest and most important islands. The capital Copenhagen is located on Zealand. Denmark is one of the smaller countries in Europe only slightly larger than Switzerland. Denmark is a very flat country; the highest “mountain” is almost 175 meters high. This, as well as the fertile soil and temperate climate, makes the land very suitable for agriculture and about 70% of Denmark’s land surface is used for agriculture production. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, but the responsibility for the actions of the Queen/King is taken solely by the ministers in the government. The parliamentary system has been unicameral since 1953. The parliament is called the “Folketing.” There are 179 members of the parliament of which two are elected in Greenland and two in the Faeroe Islands. Members are elected for four-year terms. For the last 20 years there have never been less than 8 parties represented in the Folketing at any time. Denmark is a member of the European Union, and 16 members are elected to take a seat in the European Parliament. The Faeroes Islands and Greenland, however, are not members of the EU. By referendum the Danish population decided not to enter the European Monetary Union, therefore the currency in Denmark is still Danish Crowns (DKK). Area: 43.075 km2 Population: 5.350.000 Capital: Copenhagen (1.400.000 inhabitants) Major towns: Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg Head of State: Queen Margrethe II Prime Minister: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Liberal Party of Denmark Language: Danish Currency: Krone (Danish Crown, DKK), not Euro Climate: Temperate sea-climate. Average temperature: -3° in February and 14°–22° in June–August Introduction to Workcamps in Denmark MS has been organising workcamps in Denmark for more than 30 years. The workcamps are hosted and sponsored by Danish municipalities, regions, institutions, private and public funding etc. MS international workcamps offers volunteers a practical and social task, which will benefit a local community. Our main objective is to get people from different countries, cultures, religions and backgrounds to work and function together, and through that to learn from and about each other: A great way to break down prejudices and stereotypes. Practical matters – Things your volunteers need to know Age The minimum age for participants on MS workcamps in Denmark is 18 years. For Greenland the minimum age is 20. There is no maximum age. Leaders Each camp in Denmark has two leaders, trained by MS. The leaders will act as contact persons for the camp and arrange the daily life of the camp. The leaders participate in the work and daily life on equal terms with the other participants. The leaders are volunteers and do not get paid for their work. Language The camp language is English on all camps, and participants must be able to communicate reasonably in English. Insurance During the camp all volunteers are insured for personal liability, personal accidents, and baggage loss with special exceptions. Important: Please note that the insurance does not cover travel to and from the camp. Sleeping bag All volunteers must bring a sleeping bag or equivalent. Often the volunteers will need to bring a sleeping mattress. If so, this will be written in the infosheet. Travel The volunteer must arrange, and is responsible for, his/her own travel to and from the camp in Denmark and in Greenland. MS cannot pick up any volunteers at stations or airports. Before the camp the volunteer will get a letter from the camp leader with practical information including direction on how to get to the camp from the nearest station/airport. Travel costs Travelling in Denmark by public transportation is very easy and fast, but also expensive. From Copenhagen Airport there is direct access to trains to all parts of the country. Thus volunteers do not necessarily have to go to one of the regional airports. However trains are quite expensive and the volunteers will often benefit economically if they can go to a regional airport. Ryan Air flies via London (Stansted) to Aarhus (Tirstrup), and Malmö (Sturup) in Sweden (close to Copenhagen) and Hamburg (Lübeck) in Germany (near the southern parts of Jutland). Eurolines Busses also go to Copenhagen and other major towns in Denmark from various European destinations. Visa The volunteers are recommended only to apply for a visa for the period of the camp as stated in the official invitation sent by MS. If a volunteer applies for a visa for more than the camp period, MS cannot provide any help if the volunteer experiences problems in obtaining the visa. MS will issue the official invitation and instruct the volunteer on how to apply for the visa, but the volunteer must apply her/himself at the Danish embassy/consulate in her/his own home country. In the countries where Denmark has a real embassy, Danish visas are issued by that Danish embassy. However, in the countries where Denmark does not have an embassy but only a little consulate, Denmark has an agreement with either the Norwegian, Swedish, French, German or another EU country about issuing visas. You can find the general Danish visa rules on http://www.um.dk/en/menu/ConsularServices/DanishVisaRules/ - they specify which documents, photos etc. you need to bring. But we advise you to call the embassy in advance to be sure you’ve got what you need before you go, and to get the opening hours of the visa section. Work and residence permit According to Danish law, all volunteers from non-EU countries must have a temporary work and residence permit for the duration of some of the camp. A valid Schengen visa is not enough. MS will issue the official invitation and instruct the volunteer on how to apply for the permit, but the volunteer must apply her/himself at the Danish embassy/consulate in her/his own home country. Volunteers from Scandinavia or the “old” EU countries DO NOT NEED a work- and residence permit to do volunteer work in the camps wher this is required. These countries are: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Volunteers from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungaria and from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Jordan) DO NEED a work- and residence permit in order to participate in some of the workcamps. You will receive a formal invitation letter from MS via the organisation through which you applied to go on workcamp. You have to bring the invitation letter to the Danish Embassy or Consulate in your country to get the permit. We will email/fax the invitation letter to the Embassy/Consulate as well, and will give the Danish immigration office a list of the people we invites. How to apply for a Work- and residence permit or a Visa To make the process as quick as possible, you have to go to the Danish Embassy in your country. Find the addresses of the Danish embassies abroad on: http://www.um.dk/en/menu/AboutUs/Organisation/MissionsAbroad/MissionsAbroad.htm?WBCMODE=Presentation%2cPresentati. The embassy will ask you to fill in some papers, and will charge you a fee of 60 EUR. We are sorry that you have to pay this – it’s not something that we invented! To get a work-and residence it is also required that you have a passport and this passport should be valid minimum six months after the end of your stay. It will be for your own benefit if you bring with you some kind of letter from your own organisation, which testify that you are send by this organisation. However this is not requested, but it will help your application on its way through the system.But please note You need to apply for the permit as soon as you receive your invitation letter, as it takes the Danish Immigration Service up to 60 days to process the permit. The permit is physically a sticker that will be put in your passport. Currency The Danish currency is the Danish Crown (DKK). You cannot use Euro (EUR) in most parts of the country. Shops will only accept Euros in places with lots of tourists. The serious stuff we have to mention Drugs The use of drugs, including smoking of cannabis, is strictly forbidden by Danish law and will not be tolerated on any MS workcamp in Denmark or Greenland. Expulsion MS, the organisation and the individual camp leaders reserve the right to refuse admittance or expel volunteers on the basis of bad behaviour or if the individual is breaking rules or Danish law. Responsibilities/liabilities MS does not have any responsibility economically or otherwise for the volunteers before or after the camp. Workcamps, Denmark 2008 Code Name Location Dates Type Vols Age Remarks MS01 Kids Camp 2008 Tingbjerg –Utterslevhuse, Seeland 27.06.08-11.07.08 KIDS 8 18+ Motivation letter required MS02 Vollsmose Vollsmose, Odense 2 weeks probably in July KIDS/MANU 15 18+ MS03 Environment/Climate ambassadors Samsoe, Island 07.07.08-23.07.08 STUDY 15 18+ MS04 Bovbjerg Lighthouse Lemvig, Jutland 21.07.08-31.07.08 ART/MANU 12 18+ Require work and residence permit MS05 Healthy food and funny sport Copenhagen 25.07.08-08.08.08 KIDS 15 18+ MS06 Sustainable Community - Living and Local democracy Roskilde, Seeland 03.08.08-17.08.08 STUDY/ENVI 18 18+ Require work and residence permit MS07 Christania Christania Democracy 04.08.08- 24.08.08 STUDY/MANU 12 18+ MS08 International interaction and understanding. Lem school 07.08.08-21.08.08 KIDS 13 18+ MS09 The world in a moving garden Brenderup Højskole 09.08.08-30.08.08 STUDY/MANU 18 18+ MS10 Global Café Copenhagen 15.08.08-03.08.08 ART/MANU 17 18-30 Require work and residence permit MS11 In search for democracy Any place in Denmark 23.08 – 07.09 2008 STUDY/CULT 15 21+ GR-MS1 Greenland Workcamp – Manermiut Greenland 27-30.06.08- 25-28.07.08 FLEXIBLE ARRIVAL DATES KIDS/ REN 10 21+ EKSTRA FEE 250 EURO Require work and residence permit MS01 – KIDS CAMP 2008 - 27.06.08-11.07.08 – 8 vol - KIDS Many people in the Tingbjerg area are children (33%). Many of the kids need better integration across cultural borders in the area. The many cultures represented in the area are a resource which the host would like to make visible with this project. Many of the children are not having spare time activities to do in the summer holidays and therefore are hanging around in the streets having nothing to do. Furthermore their social networks are very weak and the interconnections among the cultures are weak. WORK: The purpose of the workcamp is to give the children some shared experiences across their different backgrounds and cultures. The group have a large need of contact with adult people and the project will give the kids some good relations. The volunteers will help preparing activities for the children during the workcamp. LOCATION: Tingbjerg (about half an hour from Copenhagen) TERMINAL: Copenhagen (from here transport with local train is possible) NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: In a building in the Tingbjerg (Rutens Ungehus, Ruten 14, 2700 Brønshøj.) LANGUAGE: English AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REMARKS: Motivation letter is required. MS02 – VOLLSMOSE MAKEOVER – 2 weeks probably in July- 15 vol - KIDS/MANU Most of the inhabitants in Vollsmose are immigrants. The volunterers will take part in the daily work of the local children/youth club “Ragnarok” and prepare activities for the children in their summer holiday. Furthermore the aim of the workcamp is also to give the people living in Vollsmose the possibilities to participate in shinning up the area, to make it a better place to live. Volunteers will in cooperation with the locals decorate walls in the area of Vollsmose. WORK: The goals of the workcamp are to engage the local people in the decoration, and thereby creating cultural interaction among the locals and the workcamp participants. It is the plan to try to arrange different kind of activities which can facilitate the interaction between the local inhabitants and the workcamp participants LOCATION: Vollsmose, a social housing area in Odense TERMINAL: Odense Train station NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: In a local building in Vollsmose LANGUAGE: English AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REMARKS: Motivation letter is required MS03 – ENVIRONTMENT/CLIMATE AMBASSADORS - 07.07.08-23.07.08 – 15 vol - STUDY WORK: The focus of this workcamp is alternative energy sources. An area that is extremely important in these years. Energiakademiet (the academy of energy) on Samsoe and MS would like to give the volunteers some tools so they can work as environmental ambassadors in their home country. The aim of the workcamp is: -To give the volunteers a wide knowledge to alternative energy. -To make a movie about the camp -To arrange debates and lectures -To get a nuanced insight in questions about climate The workcamp will give the volunteers an opportunity to discuss climate challenges in a global context. LOCATION: Samsoe - A small Island in Denmark.. The island is, with its initiatives, among the leading in the area concerning alternative energy in Denmark why it is suitable to hold the workcamp there. TERMINAL: NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: Not settled yet. LANGUAGE: English. AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REMARKS: Motivation letter is required. MS04 – BOVBJERG LIGHTHOUSE - 21.07.08-31.07.08 – 12 vol – CULT/MANU WORK: The participants will build a terrace in co-operation with a local stone artist. There can be other odd jobs around the lighthouse, e.g. painting. At the end of the workcamp the participants will arrange some kind of cultural presentation that will be performed to the locals and other visitors of the lighthouse. LOCATION: The Lighthouse is situated at the beautiful west coast of Denmark a few hundred meters from the North Sea. Bovbjerg is a small village in a rural area. The nearest town is Lemvig 10 kilometres from the lighthouse. There will be a lot of possibilities for activities in the nature, e.g. swimming in the sea, kayaking. TERMINAL: Lemvig, Jytland. NEAREST AIRPORT: Billund or Copenhagen. ACCOMODATION: Participants will be accommodated at the lighthouse or at a former school near to it. LANGUAGE: English. AGE: 18 – 30. SPECIAL REMARKS: Motivation letter needed MS05 – HEALTHY FOOD AND FUNNY SPORT - 25.07.08-08.08.08 – 15 vol - KIDS The workcamp will take place in an area in Copenhagen inhabited with many different ethnic groups. In the area called “Mjølnerparken” there is a general lack of sport-facilities and furthermore there is a tendency that the understanding of and interest in healthy diet is very little. The idea with the workcamp is to strengthen the identity in the area, encourages the local people to take an active part in the local society that offers different sport facilities, and moreover to increase an attention to the importance of healthy diet. It is gradually known that an active life combined with a healthy diet in our daily life plays an important factor in our learning capacity. However it is not all who are concerned about this. This can be due to the parents’ ignorance, the lack of information etc. Some, both children and adults, can be in doubt about what healthy and nutritious food is and how to make it. Same lack of knowledge concerns the supply of sport-facilities in “Mjølnerparken”. “Where can I go if I want to play football, how much is the subscription, etc.”? WORK: The workcamp should inform about the sport-facilities nearby and what a healthy diet consist of. The relation between nutritious diets, motion, learning capacity and life quality in general will therefore be the main focus during the two weeks. For that reason the participant have to arrange funny and health promotion activities. The main target group is children from 6-18 years who are connected to a club run by “Sjakket” - social pedagogic institution with many years of experience and expertise. LOCATION: ”Mjølnerparken” is a social housing area where approximately 98% of the 65.000 residents hold a non-danish background. TERMINAL: The nearest airport is Kastrup airport. From there the volunteers can take a train in 30 minutes to Nørreport station which is nearby. NEAREST AIRPORT: ACCOMODATION: The accommodation will take place in a public school not far away from the workcamp LANGUAGE: English AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REMARKS: A motivation letter in which the volunteer describes his ideas for health promotion activities for children. It will be an advantage if the volunteers have an interest in the relation between diet, learning capacity and physical training. MS06 – SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY- LIVING AND LOCAL DEMOCRACY – 03.08.08 - 17.08.08 – 18 vol - STUDY/RENO What is the good society and how can we reach a sustainable development? A part of the answer to these questions could be democracy, environmental awareness and inclusion. In the outskirts of Roskilde, more than 200 people have made an attempt to create a sustainable community - living together in an Eco-village called Munksøgaard. Munksøgaard is a co-housing community with 100 households. It was build in 2000, with a common vision of a society with community spirit, democracy, ecological and environmental consciousness. For more information check out: www.munkesoegaard.dk WORK: The camp will consist of presentations, debates, workshops and excursions. A big part of the work camp will be to discuss and reflect upon how to reach a sustainable society in a democratic way and how one can or maybe should contribute to the process. It is important that the participants are motivated to participate actively in debates, workshops etc. Furthermore most days there will be a few hours of practical work to restore the original buildings or do some garden work. LOCATION: In the outskirts of Roskilde, 35 km from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark TERMINAL: Trekroner (Roskilde) about 30 minutes by train from Copenhagen Airport NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: Sleeping on mattresses on the floor. And if wanted: in tents! LANGUAGE: English. It is important that participants speak good English in order to participate in debates and discussions. AGE: 21+ SPECIAL REMARKS: MOTIVATION LETTER NEEDED. Work and residence permit is required for this workcamp. Residents from the following countries need a work- and residence permit to participate: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungaria and from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Jordan) MS07 - CHRISTIANIA DEMOCRACY- COPENHAGEN 04.08.08- 24.08.08 15 vol RENO/CONS/STUDY Christiania is an autonomous community that started 33 years ago. It is an unparalleled example of human entrepreneurship and innovative spirit. The story of Christiania is colourful, long, and filled with battles, victories and defeats. Many of the people who began the experiment do not live here anymore, but the dream of a life of freedom and the idea of a place ruled by its inhabitants endures. Still today, people from near and far still feel attracted to the magical mixture of anarchy and love of this community. It all began in 1970 when a group of citizens knocked down the fence around an extensive area previously used by the Ministry of Defence. They wanted a playground for their kids and something green to look at. Since its birth, Christiania has been associated with rebellion against the prevailing system, and for just as long, it has experimented with new forms of democracy and ways of self-government. The last few years, Christiania has been under great pressure from the government to have its communally owned land privatised. The camp is an attempt to support and learn from Christiania. WORK: To assist the people at Christiania with various renovation and construction work tasks. The study part is to learn from Christiania’s democratic models and the life philosophies at Christiania. LOCATION:In Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. TERMINAL: Airport: Copenhagen. Train and bus: Copenhagen. ACCOMODATION: In “The Factory”, a disused factory building. Sleeping on mattresses. Kitchen facilities available. Showers in a communal bathhouse next door. LANGUAGE: English. AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REMARKS: MOTIVATION LETTER NEEDED, in which the volunteer describes his thoughts about how he/she can contribute to the project. Creative souls are welcome! MS08 – INTERNATIONAL INTERACTION AND UNDERSTANDING- 07.08.08-21.08.08 13 vol - KIDS WORK: The prime focus in this workcamp will be international interaction. In august 2008 four small village schools becomes one. Lihme School, Roedding School, Ramsing School and Lem School become Vestsalling School and kindergardens (VSD). We would like to create a “once in a lifetime experience” for the oldest pupils in this school (180 children in the age of 12 – 16), at the very first day they enter their new school. An international interaction of movement, music, drama, practical work, art, intercultural lectures etc. between young people from all over the world, and this group of pupils. The main purpose of this camp is to inspire our pupils to an open-minded international approach generated by an international people to people experience. We will invite our local cultural organisations to participate in this project, and do our best to make this camp a “once in a lifetime experience” for the campers as well. It will be possible for the campers to meet leaders and workers form public and private sector, to implement an experience of the Danish society. Of course this project is part of schoolwork too, and 15 teaches from VSD will do their very best to make the project successful for all participants. LOCATION: VSD is located in the western part of Skive Commune (Jutland) (app. 50.000 inhabitants). Skive is the main city (30.000 inhabitants.). The local nature surrounded by the ford offers a lot possibilities for out-door experiences for the campers during the stay. TERMINAL: Train – Skive. Local leaders will pick up the campers at the train station NEAREST AIRPORT: - ACCOMODATION: At Lem school. LANGUAGE: English. English at a conversational level is required. AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Individuals interested in personal interaction with young Danish students at the age of 12 – 16 years. Participants from many different countries are wish able! MOTIVATION LETTER NEEDED MS09 – THE WORLD IN A MOVING GARDEN - 09.08.08-30.08.08 - 18 vol STUDY WORK: Brenderup Folk High School is working as a boarding school with an international approach. We enrol both Danish and foreign students. Last year we had a work camp that helped us in the building process of our environmental friendly straw bale house. This year we would like to further develop the idea of sustainability into different ways of constructing activity equipments in our garden. The garden is consisting of some very spectacular old trees and together with the imposing structure of the straw bale house we would like to link the building to other parts of the garden. We need to construct different kind of activity apparatus by using environmental friendly materials – also considering a nice aestetic look. Mainly we’ll work with wood in the constructing process. The use of this “playground” meant for grown up people is essential in our understanding of physical welfare including artistic and mental awareness. We are looking forward to have our ideas mixed with a variety of ideas from you so that we at the end of the work camp will see the possibilities for some moving, challenging and funny activities in our garden. LOCATION: Brenderup is located on the island Funen (Fyn) in Denmark. The village Brenderup (2000 inhabitants) is close to the beach, forests and idyllic countryside TERMINAL: Nearest train station: Odense or Middelfart – from there by bus to Brenderup Folk High School. Search timetables and ticket reservations at www.dsb.dk - journey planner. NEAREST AIRPORT: Billund or Copenhagen (main airport of Denmark) ACCOMODATION: During the first week in dormatories at the school. During the last two weeks in twin rooms at the school. In all 3 weeks access to showers and toilets in the school buildings. Food is served 3 times a day – after the evening meal and in weekends volunteers will assist in doing the dishes. Access to gym, computers with internet and other facilities LANGUAGE: English AGE: 18+ SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: People who are used to work with their hands in combination with artistic skills will be preferred to the workcamp. Motivation letter required SPECIAL REMARKS: English at a conversational level is required For more information about Brenderup Folk High School: http://www.brenderuphojskole.dk/filer/english.htm MS10 – BUILDING UP GLOBAL CONTACT CAFE - 15.08.2008-03.08.08 - 17 vol - CULT WORK: Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke wants to open up a café. The café will be a center of projects, events, presentations, cultural arrangements, parties etc. The workcamps purpose is therefore: 1. To arrange the opening ceremony, invite guests, organize a party, make a program etc. 2. Practical work: Paint, find second-hand furniture, decorate the café etc. The café will benefit all inhabitants in Copenhagen. The café will be a place where people can meet and share their experience from the great world. Especially the café should make a space where people who have traveled with Global Contact could come, meet and exchange experiences. LOCATION: Somewhere in Copenhagen TERMINAL: - NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: - LANGUAGE: English AGE: 18 + SPECIAL REMARKS:Motivation letter needed. Work and residence permit is required for this workcamp. Residents from the following countries need a work- and residence permit to participate: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungaria and from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Jordan) MS11 - IN SEARCH FOR DEMOCRACY - 23.08 – 07.09 2008 – 15 vol – CULT/STUDY WORK: The aim of the camp is to identify in which ways the Danish democracy differ or is similar to other democracies in the world and how democracy in Denmark works. We will explore different ways of practising democracy as well as different attitudes towards democracy. This is hoped to increase the awareness of the importance of democracy to the participants and to the Danish population in general. This will be done by inviting people from abroad to Denmark to describe what they identify as democracy and to discuss active citizenship. Hereby we will identify perceptions of democracy that we share across different parts of the world. The identification of common values regarding democracy/active citizenship is to be based on intense interaction with the Danish society. This implies that the participants are to live and eat with Danish people carrying out their daily life. Transportation around Denmark will be done qua hitchhiking since this is a good way to get to talk with local people. The participants will throughout the project work intensively with the press, communicating (oral and in writing) their experiences. The conclusion of the project will be presented on a conference at the MS Office in the end of the workcamp. The workcamp is supported by a team of experienced Danish Volunteers. This project is the sequel to last year’s successful travelling study camp, “The Search for the Danish Mentality”. LOCATION: Wherever in Denmark that democracy can be found. The camp will start and end in Copenhagen. NEAREST AIRPORT: Copenhagen ACCOMODATION: The volunteers will not have a permanent base, since they will constantly be on the search for hospitality providing them with lodging, meals and opportunities for exploring the Danish democracy. This even means sleeping in tents when necessary. The camp will have a backup budget, but the idea is that the main consumption of food should be given from Danes who have an interest in inviting the camp to dinner and exchanging points of view regarding Danish democracy and active citizenship. It is important that the participants understand that the fact of not having any mean is seen as a method to get as close interaction with the Danish population as possible; – do not worry, the volunteers will never starve! LANGUAGE: English. Participants must speak good English as communication with the Danes is very important. AGE: AGE LIMIT: 21+. SPECIAL REMARKS: MOTIVATION LETTER NEEDED. In order to make the project a success, it is important that the participants: a) speak very good English. b) are very open-minded and not afraid of knocking on the door of people whom they do not know c) are capable of acting on their own and d) are ready for basic conditions which might include sleeping in tents. The project will be hard work since you each day are on the move. This requires that the participants have a positive attitude and show interest in talking to many different people while exploring the Danish democracy. Please watch the documentary made last summer about the workcamp “In search for Danish mentality”. GR-MS1 – GRENLAND WORKCAMP MANERMIUT - 27-30.06- 25-28.07.08 - 10 vol RENO/KIDS EXTRA FEE: 250 EURO Due to the limited possibilities of transport, arrival and departure dates are flexible. This means that volunteers should arrive between the 27th to the 30th of June and should leave between the 25th to the 28th of July. The project consists in preparing for summer camps for children/youngsters and thereafter participating in these summer camps. The camps will take place in the abandoned settlement of Manermiut. The idea is to give the youngsters who go to Manermiut and meet with the workcamp participants an active summer holiday. The activities will be arranged in collaboration between workcamp participants, different associations/clubs in Aasiaat and employees from Aasiaat Municipality. The weeks you will spend with the children/youngsters will have different themes. The youngsters will be from around 9 to 18 years old. *Week one* will be used to establish the camp in Manermiut: To clean and fix the houses to be used by the children. WORK: You will work with things like putting up shelves in the kitchen, mending doors, setting up tables for washing in the entrance hall, grinding the floor and painting it afterwards. *On week two* the children/youngsters will arrive. Activities will be such as: orienting race, school about nature, and the building of a turf house and will continue during week three. *Week four* will also be with the children/youngsters. The activities will be cultural: Music, theatre, magic tricks and the like. Suggested spare time activities include: Hiking and fishing on the Island of Manermiut named Saqqaliup Nunaa which is around 35 by 10 km. It will probably also be possible to arrange kayak rental or kayak trips in Aasiaat. The previous years, the Manermiut camps have also visited Ilulissat on a several day trip. Ilulissat is situated in the middle of a big glacier where the icebergs break from the inland ice cap and sail out to sea. Experiencing the big ice glacier of Ilulissat is like taking part in scenery so beautiful that it is almost impossible to describe. The trip from Manermiut/Aasiaat to Ilulissat is also a very beautiful 10-hour journey where you cross the big Disko Bay by boat or coastal ferry. ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will live in an already renovated building in Manermiut. It will be quite basic, as there will only be primitive "bag toilets" and no electricity. But, at the same time, there will be a stove to keep the house warm at night, bunk beds with mattresses and a basic kitchen with both gas burners and a gas oven. You won’t miss electric light, as artificial light is only needed for a few hours each night because of the midnight sun. LANGUAGE: English. NEAREST AIRPORT : Assiat - Please note that you have to arrange the travel by yourself all the way to Assiaat. Only possible way is to go by flight to Kangerlussuaq and from there you can take a domestic flight to Assiaat. The domestic flight are operated by Air Greenland http://www.airgreenland.dk/ other flight companies operates to Kangerlussuaq, eg www.sas.dk LOCATION: The abandoned settlement of Manermiut, 25 kilometres south-west of the town of Aasiaat in the Disko Bay on the West Coast of Greenland. Aasiaat is known as "Town of the Whales". This is due to the many whales you can experience when sailing in the sheltered waters of the archipelago around Aasiaat. The most frequent visitors are fin whales, the lesser rorquale and humpbacks, and sometimes it is possible to spot killer whales. It is also often possible to spot seals in the waters around Manermiut, and cod fishing from open boat is an activity well rewarded at the same time as it is suited to supplement the daily diet in the camp. On the big island, Saqqaliup Nunaa, where Manermiut is situated, you find snow hare, foxes and musk oxen. Because of the sheltered waters of the archipelago, Aasiaat is a region of Greenland where kayaking in recent years has become a big thing. Placed at the mouth of the Disco Bay, according to the prevailing currents, you have big icebergs from the Ilulissat glacier passing Aasiaat and Manermiut – a truly beautiful sight. The town of Aasiaat has around 3100 inhabitants, settlements of the municipality not included. This makes Aasiaat the second largest town in the Disco Bay. It is a modern town with all modern facilities and - as for all cities in Greenland - fishing plays a big part in the economy. Aasiaat has a shrimp and crab factory and also a shipbuilding yard plus a number of service institutions. The town is the education centre of Northern Greenland with institutions such as high school and a school for handicapped. Links: Municipality of Aasiaat: www.aasiaat.gl/english/defaultUK.htm. Aasiaat Tourist Service: www.greenland-guide.gl/aasiaat-tourist/default.php. Greenland-guide: www.greenland-guide.gl. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Motivation letter required. Participants must be 20 years or above. Work and residence permit is required for this workcamp. Residents from the following countries need a work- and residence permit to participate: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungaria and from non-EU countries (e.g. USA, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Jordan) EXTRA FEE: 250 EURO