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These terms and conditions apply for volunteers participating in a workcamp in Germany through ijgd. You accept these terms and conditions of participation with your signature (or the signature of the parent/guardian) on your registration. Different terms and conditions apply for camps in Europe, the USA, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Place of residence
At the time of registration, your official residence is in Germany or you live in a country where we are not represented by any partner organisations.
Age
Age limits are indicated in the workcamp descriptions and apply accordingly. Your age on the day the workcamp starts is applicable.
Once you have found a workcamp in our database you can register for it. Please use our online registration form to register for our workcamps. A typed signature is legally valid. Only if you are under 18 do we require an original copy with the signature of your parent/guardian to be sent by post. Your registration is accepted for one of the workcamps you specify. If your first choice workcamp is full, then we will assign you to your second, third, etc. choice camp without further notice. As soon as you have been assigned to a workcamp, you will receive a confirmation of registration by email. Once you have received this confirmation of registration and the payment details, please pay the participation fee.
Workcamps in Germany
Members receive a 20 euro discount.
ESC projects: There is no participation fee for projects marked as ESC projects.
Some camps (e.g. our teenage camps) are subject to additional costs that we are unable to cover with the participation fee. In these cases an extra charge is payable. This will be indicated in the workcamp description. Accommodation, catering and a small programme of free time activities are included free of charge. If no space is available on your chosen camp, we will suggest any possible alternatives. If you would prefer not to participate, you will receive your participation fee back in full.
If you are unable to participate in a workcamp for any reason whatsoever, then please let us know as soon as possible. This will give another volunteer the opportunity to take your place. If you withdraw up to four weeks before the start of the workcamp (based on the date we receive notice of your withdrawal), then we will refund half of the fees paid. After this time, we are unable to refund any money paid. We require your withdrawal in writing (email, by post).
You can change to a different workcamp if your alternative camp still has free places. We charge an administrative fee of 30 euros for changing to a different camp.
In reasonable cases (e.g. illness confirmed by a medical note), then you can change to a different workcamp that takes place within the same calendar year.
You will need to organise and finance travel to the camp yourself. As soon as you’ve received your confirmation of registration you can start planning your journey (to the nearest larger airport or train station). No later than three weeks before the start of your workcamp, usually sooner, we will send you an email containing a detailed description of the workcamp (the Infosheet) along with detailed arrival information and the address of the accommodation.
For ESC projects, you organise and pay for the travel to the camp yourself, but will receive financial help towards these costs. The maximum amount you get depends on the distance travelled and cost. You will need to show your original tickets.
Work
When participating in a workcamp, you must actively work on the described project (approx. 20 to 30 hours per week). Your active participation is the only way to keep the fee so low. Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances mean it is necessary to make changes to the planned work tasks (e.g. due to bad weather, etc.) This does not release you from the obligation to work on the project.
Commitment
The success of the assigned work tasks and the success of the project as a whole depends on your involvement. You are expected to be present at the camp from the first until the last day (exceptions must be discussed), to help out with any household tasks (communal cooking, cleaning, etc.) and to actively participate in the group’s social life. If a participant is unable to meet these expectations and, despite warnings, continues to disrupt the life of the workcamp, then they are considered to be in breach of contract and will be excluded from the camp with immediate effect.
The ijgd organises workcamps in Germany and acts as both agent and official organiser for these projects. If a workcamp cannot take place, e.g. due to not enough people registering for it, then the camp can be cancelled up to 30 days before the scheduled start. You will be informed as soon as possible in this case. If you do not agree with the replacement offer, then we will refund any fees paid and any travel expenses upon presentation of payment receipts. No further claims may be made against the ijgd.
Health insurance
If you become ill, your own health insurance will cover your costs. If you are not privately insured, then you must make sure to bring your health insurance card with you.
Participants from countries that have a social security agreement with Germany (EU countries, Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunesia, and others) must bring evidence of this in order to receive cover from German health insurance. Participants without their own health insurance must immediately tell the ijgd about this, otherwise we cannot accept any claims. Participants from countries not listed above will be provided with health insurance by the ijgd. Existing illnesses at the start of your journey and chronic conditions are not covered, however.
Accident insurance
In the event of an accident, you are covered by your own health insurance or the health insurance provided by the ijgd for certain groups of participants. During working hours and in your free time, you are also covered by the ijgd’s accident insurance. This provides cover up to 80,000 euros in the event of full disability.
Liability insurance
The ijgd provides liability insurance for damages to persons and property (up to 5 million euros) as well as financial losses (up to 300,000 euros). The insurance does not cover intentional damage.
Other insurances
We strongly recommend travel cancellation and baggage insurance.
Insolvency insurance
Participants are protected against insolvency of the ijgd as per Paragraph 651k of the German Civil Code.