EstYES in Estland

INTRODUCTION TO ESTYES INTERNATIONAL WORKCAMPS

Although there were few attempts to organize workcamps in Estonia in the very beginning of EstYES existence in 1991-1992 the first real workcamps took place in 1994. There were only 2 of them. In 2012 EstYES plans to host around 35 adult projects + 9 teenage camps, offering places to 400 international volunteers and hoping to send same number of Estonian volunteers abroad.

Work
Usually our workcamps last about 2 weeks and take place from June to September. The number of international volunteers in the camp varies from 3 to 30. We try to avoid having more than two people of the same nationality in the camp. Usually English is a camp language, but there some (linguistic) camps where common language is French. As a rule volunteers have to work 5-7 hours a day 5-6 days a week for the benefit of local community. Hosts provide food and accommodation as well as social and cultural activities in return.

Conditions for participation
Volunteers should be over 18 years old, except teenage camps where participants are 14-17 years old and pre-teen camp with the age pf participants 10-13. For the work with kids the minimum age of volunteers is usually 20. There is no maximum age limit. Usually there are no special skills required from volunteers, except camps dealing with kids. Participants should be motivated to do voluntary work, be ready to meet realities of local life and have enough flexibility to accept it, be tolerant and open for the new experiences. In some camps (usually work with kids) a motivation letter is required from the volunteer.

Camp leaders
As a rule in the camp there is one leader, whose task is to be a coordinator and the link between participants and the host. Leader participates in daily life equally with volunteers. EstYES does invite camp leaders from abroad. In some of the camps the local host takes the leader's role and there is no other formal leader.

Insurance
In Estonian camps insurance is not provided, so volunteers have to bring their own insurance against illness, accident and third party risk. Participants from EU countries should bring EU health insurance form (former E111).

Some practical matters
For the majority of camps volunteers have to bring sleeping bag, work clothes and gloves, summer clothes and swimming suit, but also warm clothes and rain-gear as weather in Estonia is very changeable and unpredictable. It is vital to have a mosquito cream on project taking place in the country side! Volunteers are also asked to bring information about their country, photos, music, songbooks, games, musical instruments, etc.
On request EstYES is happy to help to book inexpensive hotel to spend some days in Tallinn before/ after the camp.

Meeting point
Usually EstYES collects volunteers either at the bus terminal in Tallinn or in the office the day camp begins. Here they meet camp leader and travel together to the camp site. Tallinn Bus Terminal address: Bussijaam, Lastekodu 46, Tallinn. Office address: Wiedemanni 3 Tallinn. Tel: +372 601 3098, 601 3309.

Useful links:
www.visitestonia.com
www.ilm.ee
www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/en
www.ibs.ee/dict
www.tallinn.ee

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