Volunteer work has four characteristics: voluntary basis, no financial compensation, organized context and social purpose. Volunteer work is taking on an increasingly important role in society. It is not only older people who are involved in volunteer work, but also enthusiastic young people increasingly finding a challenge in volunteer work. In many cases it also provides benefits for your later career. An organization that organizes volunteer work for young people is the SIW.
International Volunteer Projects Foundation
The letters SIW originally stood for the name Stichting Internationale Werkkampen. That term has now become outdated and has been changed to International Volunteer Projects Foundation, where the abbreviation SIW has remained. The SIW is a non-profit exchange organization that has been active for more than sixty years and organizes both national and international volunteer work. The organization sends volunteers to projects all over the world and receives volunteers from other countries for Dutch projects.
Young people participate selflessly in the SIW project
Young people who participate in a SIW project can broaden their horizons by coming into contact with other cultures. Selfless efforts can also contribute positively to their personal development. Naturally, participating provides a unique experience through a new adventure.
Organization
The SIW is an organization that works on a non-profit basis. The Dutch projects that are organized sometimes involve collaboration with partner organizations that do have a budget. Every year, approximately 200 Dutch young people can be sent and approximately 150 foreign young people come to projects in the Netherlands. Internationally, the SIW has a large number of partner organizations in more than seventy countries and in the Netherlands the organization works together with Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer, among others.
Duties of paid employees
Three paid employees perform a number of tasks from their own premises in the city center of Utrecht, such as:
- Guidance of volunteers.
- Evaluating projects.
- Help in finding the right project.
- Maintaining contacts with partner organizations.
- Taking care of acquisition.
- Answering questions from interested parties.
- Ensure good organization.
The three employees are assisted in their work by an unpaid board and approximately seventy volunteer employees. External communication and publicity is largely provided by volunteers and there is a group that provides training for volunteers and employees.
Project offer
The SIW’s project offering is very extensive with work in various areas. The types of work concern:
- Archaeology
- Culture
- Construction
- Animals
- Disabled people
- Children
- Agriculture/farm
- Nature
- Education/education
- Restoration
- Sport
- Language course
- Yoga
Volunteer work in groups or tailor-made
There is a distinction between group volunteer work and tailor-made volunteer work. When volunteering with a group, work is carried out somewhere in the world for two to three weeks and the date and project duration are fixed. With tailor-made volunteer work, one’s own preferences can be taken into account and work is often done on an individual basis.
Recommendations
According to the SIW website, there are five reasons for participating in a project:
1. International
In the international projects there are never more than two Dutch volunteers, which means that
many interesting cultural and personal experiences can be gained.
2. Wide choice
There are more than 2,000 projects to choose from, organized in many countries worldwide and lasting from two weeks to up to twelve months.
3. Non-profit
SIW’s projects are affordable and accessible to everyone because the organization is not a profit-making organization.
4. Good name
SIW has been chosen as Best Volunteer Travel Organization three times in a row.
5. Good guidance for the participants
Due to the extensive experience of the SIW, the participants are well prepared. Each participant also receives a personal supervisor.
Contribution to nature conservation
Many Dutch projects are organized in collaboration with Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer. Many volunteers make an important contribution to the conservation of forests, national parks and nature reserves.