The History of International Workcamps
Did you ever wonder where international Workcamps come from from and since when they exist? The idea goes back to the engineer and pacifist Pierre Cérésole who, in 1920, organised the very first international project on the doorsteps of Verdun with volunteers from France, Switzerland, England and Germany.
With the first World War having ended only a couple of months before, this idea and effort can be considered a brave step towards reconciliation and reconstruction at that time. And still today, Workcamps carry those roots in their spirit. They are a very special tool to work towards mutual understanding, peace and solidarity beyond borders.
100 years – that is 10 decades marked by very different political, societal and economic developments and changes, technical evolution, fears and opportunities, new peace treaties and new wars over the globe. 100 years of Workcamps also means 100 years of bringing together people from all over the world and with different backgrounds. It means enabling exchange and dialogue, affecting volunters from abroad and those of the local project place, creating friendships and even families. 100 years of Workcamps means millions of individual stories of discovering, understanding and learning, and of dedicating one's free time to work together on making the world a little bit better.
What do workcamps mean to you?
No Workcamp could take place without motivated volunteers, engaged campleaders and trainers, dedicated local hosts, and many more involved in making this happen.
The anniversary of 100 years of Workcamps was therefore above all an occasion to celebrate you.
Together with other international Workcamp organizations, we have collected a wide variety of Workcamp stories that make the commitment of volunteers from all over the world to peace and solidarity through international Workcamps even more visible.
Tell us your Workcamp story!
It doesn't matter whether you were in your first Workcamp last year or helped out in the very first IBG camps 50 years ago - tell us why you volunteer and what the Workcamp did for you. We look forward to your personal story and/or meet you for an interview! Simply contact us.