The Basque Government’s Office for Youth organizes yearly the “youth workcamps” programme, along with public local administrations and Basque private non-profit organizations. For that purpose, the Office for Youth gathers workcamp proposals, provides human resources and different services, and coordinates and supervises the development of the workcamp. The Office for Youth has 30 years of experience.

The main objective of this programme lies in enabling young people from different origins and social backgrounds to live together and get to know each other, by sharing a volunteer experience. Secondly, the aim is to contribute to work on a task with a social outreach which benefits the community.

Besides, it enables young people from all over the world to approach Basque society, culture and geography, by becoming part of the life of small interesting Basque towns of very diverse cultural, artistic and landscape heritage for some days.

Period: our workcamps are usually developed in July and August, and last between 14 and 18 days.

Starting and ending time of the workcamp: usually, participants must arrive at the workcamp on the first day indicated in the programme by 6.00 pm (sometimes 6.30 pm). The workcamp ends on the last day indicated in the programme, after breakfast, between 9.00-9.30 am.

Working hours: usually, 4-5 hours in the morning on weekdays (neither Saturdays nor holidays).

Number of participants: around 20.

Ages: usually between 18 and 26, but each camp has its own age range.

Daily organization: a team leaded by a Workcamp Director and two coaches will coordinate the daily life in the workcamp. The work is usually developed in the mornings. Afternoons, Saturdays and holidays are used for socio-cultural activities aimed to know of the reality of the setting, recreational activities, including visits to places full of historical and artistic heritage and leisure activities. Volunteers clean and arrange the workcamp in shiftwork.

Accommodation and maintenance: depending on the availability of the town that holds the workcamp. Normally, the schools are prepared with bunk beds and mattresses. Sometimes, the town has a hostel. Anyway, it is essential to bring sleeping bag and, if the participant needs it, a pillow too. Usually there is no washing machine.

There is usually a cook who prepares the meals in the workcamp facilities. In case the kitchen does not meet certain minimum conditions, meals will by provided by a catering service. Sometimes meals are offered in a bar or restaurant closed to the workcamp.

Working language: English.

Insurance: All volunteers will be covered for accidents and civil responsibilities before third parties, over the workcamp dates and within the activities of the programme. However, should the person suffer from any particular illness or disability, you must state this information on the application form or inform the organization so that it can include any cover that person needs in the insurance policy.

Volunteers from EU countries must bring the European Health Insurance Card (E-111).

However, Euskadi-Gazteria will contract, as a complement, a travel assistance insurance for everyone travelling from another country to the workcamps in the Basque Country.

Required personal data for registration: ESSENTIAL NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD number or PASSPORT number, as well as name, surname, gender, address…