General Information

Since the establishment of VolTra in April 2009, we have organized 7 international workcamps in Hong Kong.  Some general information about our workcamps are set out as below:

Age limit: Anyone who is at least 18 years old can apply for VolTra’s international workcamps. There is no age upper limit.

Language: English is usually the common language in most workcamps.  You do not need to speak fluent English, but more importantly you should try to communicate with others.  You are also welcome to try to learn and speak some Cantonese/Mandarin.

Physical Fitness: There is no requirement on physical fitness. However, you need to consider your physical limitation when choosing the Long Valley Rice Harvesting Workcamp as it requires intensive manual and labour work.

Extra/Participation Fee: There is no additional fee for VolTra’s international workcamps.

Insurance: The local organizers of VolTra’s international workcamps will only provide very basic and limited insurance to compensate losses in case of accidents or injuries at the workcamp sites during the workcamp period.  Workcampers are therefore highly recommended to buy travel and medical insurance of enough coverage before joining the workcamps.

Visa: Before submission of your application, you are advised to check the Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements on the website of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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Application Procedure

All workcamps are now open for application by overseas applicants.  According to global practice, you must apply for our international workcamps through the workcamp organizations in your home country and cannot apply through VolTra directly.

You can check the information of the workcamp organizations in your home country in the Workcamp Organization List.  For enquiry, please contact the workcamp organizations in your home country or send email to VolTra at hkw@voltra.org.

If you are Hong Kong residents or citizens, you can apply for the Hong Kong workcamps as a local workcamper through VolTra.  The application details will be announced later.

 

 

New Projects

Code
Name
Location
Date
Type
Local Vols
Int Vols
Age
HKVT02-12 Long Valley Rice Harvesting Long Valley 18/07-31/07/2012 (14 days) ENVI/AGRI/RENO 2 4 18+
HKVT03-12 Warehouse Renovation Aberdeen 22/08-01/09/2012 (11 days) CULT/AGRI/RENO 5 15 18+
HKVT01-13 Long Valley Harvest Festival Long Valley 01/01-15/01/2013 (15 days) FEST/ENVI/AGRI 2 4 18+
HKVT02-13 Warehouse Festival Aberdeen 29/01-11/02/2013 (14 days) FEST/CULT 5 15 18+

 

HKVT02-12  Long Valley Rice Harvesting  Long Valley  18/07-31/07/2012 (14 days)  ENVI /AGRI/RENO  2 local & 4 int vols (18+)

Work The project is co-organized by VolTra and The Conservancy Association (CA).  CA, founded in 1968, is the non-government environmental organization with the longest history in Hong Kong.  A nature conservation management project for Long Valley has been organized since 2005, which aims to conserve Long Valley’s landscape and biodiversity through a series of active habitat and species management measures.  Long Valley is a historical site of paddy rice production in Hong Kong with hundreds of years of history and its ecological value is closely related to its agriculture. However, many farmlands have been abandoned due to aging farming population, insufficient labour and low financial return.  Sustaining the local agriculture has a vital role to conserve local biodiversity and farming tradition.  In this connection, CA has initiated to engage the local stakeholders to resume freshwater habitats and sustain wet farmlands, such as reintroducing paddy rice, Chinese arrowheads, water chestnut and lotus cultivation.

Aim:

  1. Sustain eco-paddy rice farming and other types of wet farming in Long Valley to support wildlife and local farmers’ living
  2. Participate in harvesting and ecological monitoring work to support the environment and farmers’ living
  3. Learn and appreciate the importance of local agriculture and its relationship with ecology

Voluntary work:

  1. Rice and crop harvesting work
  2. Weed and apple snail removal work
  3. Wildlife monitoring work
Accommodation Workcampers are accommodated in the farming hut located in the farmlands of Long Valley.  The living environment is very simple and basic but in a peaceful rural living style.  Male and female workcampers will share the same living area and there is no partition in the accommodation space.  Workcampers are required to sleep on the wooden floor and carry their sleeping bags.  Toilet, tap water, electricity, refrigerator, and fans will be provided at the farming hut.
Location Long Valley is located at the northern urban edge of Hong Kong.  With a total area of 150 hectares, it is the largest agricultural freshwater wetland in Hong Kong.  It is composed of more than 400 linking farmlands with wetland farms, fish ponds, swamps, streams and Fung Shui Wood which provide ideal habitats for local wildlife.  More than 200 bird species, including a range of international conservation concern species, have been recorded at this tiny piece of land.  The high ecological value of Long Valley is well-recognized in both local and global scales.
Terminal Hong Kong International Airport
Remark
  1. Workcampers are responsible for carrying out cooking and cleaning duties by turns.  Budget for food will be provided and food materials will be shopped by workcampers.  Workcampers can collect fresh vegetables and fish from different farms in Long Valley or buy food from local market for cooking.  All meals during the workcamp will be “low carbon meals”.  “Dark meat” will not be served.
  2. A primitive but clean squat toilet cum bathroom is available at the farming hut.  Workcampers are required to scoop and boil hot water for bathing.  No cleaning chemicals, including toothpaste, artificial cleaning detergent or soap, are allowed to be used in the camp site in order to prevent pollution.  Natural or biodegradable detergent, like tea seed powder and sea salt (natural toothpaste), will be provided.
  3. July to August is the hottest and wettest period in Hong Kong.  The average temperature ranges from 27°C to 32°C and can even reach 35°C in Long Valley during day time.  The average humidity is around 80%.  Typhoon and thunderstorm are sometimes frequent, which may cause heavy rainfall.  Workcampers may need to work under hot and rainy weather with due consideration of personal safety.  Workcampers are therefore advised to drink enough water to prevent heat stroke during their work, and should keep a close eye on health condition as well as avoid working outdoor under extreme weather without instruction. 
  4. Mosquitoes are unavoidable in rural area.  Mosquito net and coil incense will be provided.  Please remember to bring mosquito repellent.  Organic or natural one is recommended.
  5. No Smoking and alcohol are allowed within the farming area of Long Valley, including both indoor and outdoor space.

 

Local Organizer The Conservancy Association (CA), founded in 1968, is the non-government environmental organisation with the longest history in Hong Kong.  CA is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. CA’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of both this and future generations, and to ensure that Hong Kong shoulders her regional and global environmental responsibilities. We achieve this by advocating appropriate policies, monitoring government action, promoting environmental education and taking a lead in community participation.  Since the establishment of the Association, we have been devoted to monitoring government environmental policies and promoting environmental education.  [Official Website: http://www.cahk.org.hk]

Long Valley
Long Valley overview Long Valley and nearby town, Sheung Shui

Aerial Photo-LV-KM Yeung

 P1000115
Surrounding Area
Farming hut Farmland
DSC_2148 塱原_5526
Accommodation
Sleeping area Dining area
Eco-paddy Work
Eco-paddy and farmer Eco-paddy field and workcampers
Rice threshing Eco-brown rice
Wildlife in Long Valley
Black-winged Stilt Marbled pigmy frog
Himantopus_himantopus_5583

HKVT03-12  Warehouse Renovation  Aberdeen  22/08-01/09/2012 (11 days)  CULT/AGRI/RENO  5 local & 15 int vols (18+)

Work The project is co-organized by VolTra and The Warehouse Teenage Club Warehouse is a registered charitable non-profit making youth centre for youngsters between the ages of 13 and 25.  Workcampers will mainly work in the Warehouse, which was once the Aberdeen Police Station first established in 19th mid-century and carried out a full-scale renovation in 1995.  To reflect the significant historical value of the building, the Hong Kong Government has classified Warehouse as a historical building.  Workcampers will help beautify the living environment and conserve the historical building through renovation and gardening work. 

Aim:

  1. Beautify the living environment and conserve the historical building of the Warehouse Teenage Club by global and local voluntary power
  2. Promote the friendship, understanding and solidarity among local people and cross-national workcampers through voluntary work and cultural exchange

Voluntary work:

  1. Carry out site formation and weed removal work in the gardening area to facilitate organic farming for educational purpose
  2. Re-paint and renovate the deteriorated facilities in the historical building, like handrails of staircases and facilities in the dormitory, etc.
  3. Clean up and tidy up the messy and worn-out areas in the historical building
Accommodation Workcampers are accommodated in the dormitory of the Warehouse. The living environment is simple and basic.  Bed, pillow and mattress will be provided.  Except community visits or group shopping, workcampers are expected to stay inside the camp site during working days.  The entrance of the Warehouse closes at 22:00 every day.  Workcampers should return to the camp site before 22:00 during free days.
Location Aberdeen is located at the south shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Population is approximately 60,000.  It is famous to tourists for its floating village and the floating seafood restaurants such as the Jumbo Floating Restaurant.  Many of the Tanka people, associated with the fishing industry, still live on fishing boats.
Terminal Hong Kong International Airport
Remark
  1. Workcampers are responsible for carrying out cooking and cleaning duties by turns.  Budget for food will be provided and food materials will be shopped by workcampers. 
  2. August is the hottest and wettest period in Hong Kong.  The average temperature ranges from 27°C to 32°C.  The average humidity is around 80%.  Typhoon and thunderstorm are sometimes frequent, which may cause heavy rainfall.  Workcampers are therefore advised to drink enough water to prevent heat stroke during their work, and should keep a close eye on health condition as well as avoid working outdoor under extreme weather without instruction.
  3. Please remember to bring mosquito repellent.  Organic or natural one is recommended.
  4. You will need to take some stairs before getting to the camp site, so backpack may be the best choice for your luggage.
  5. There is only dim lighting along the walkway to the camp site at night time.  Please bring your torch!
  6. No Smoking and alcohol are allowed within the camp site area, including both indoor and outdoor space.

 

Local Organizer The Warehouse Teenage Club (Warehouse) is a registered charitable non- profit making youth centre for youngster between the ages of 13 and 25.  The Warehouse was founded in 1992 by the late Professor Frank White, who observed many Hong Kong's youngsters lacked a purpose in life and space to develop healthy hobbies, and loitered in the streets after school.  Some even became addicted to alcohol and abused drugs. Determined to find a safe place for youth to develop healthily and holistically, Professor White and his like-minded associates championed the need for the Warehouse.  Warehouse strives to remain the Second Home for youngsters to develop their creativity and multiple talents through meaningful, innovative, and effectual activities. Warehouse hopes to broaden their horizons, enhance their learning, and cultivate youngsters who not only treasure life, but also respect others, and be confident and reliable to contribute actively to the society.
[Official Website: http://www.warehouse.org.hk]

Warehouse Teenage Club
Historical building Historical building
Accommodation
Dormitory Dining room
Gardening work
Weed removal Site formation
Renovation work
Handrail re-painting Wall re-painting
Dormitory renovation Facility cleaning

HKVT01-13  Long Valley Harvest Festival  Long Valley  01/01-15/01/2013 (15 days)  FEST/ENVI/AGRI  2 local & 4 int vols (18+)

Work The project is co-organized by VolTra and The Conservancy Association (CA).  CA, founded in 1968, is the non-government environmental organization with the longest history in Hong Kong.  A nature conservation management project for Long Valley has been organized since 2005, which aims to conserve Long Valley’s landscape and biodiversity through a series of active habitat and species management measures.  Long Valley is a historical site of paddy rice production in Hong Kong with hundreds of years of history and its ecological value is closely related to its agriculture. However, many farmlands have been abandoned due to aging farming population, insufficient labour and low financial return.  Sustaining the local agriculture has a vital role to conserve local biodiversity and farming tradition.  In this connection, CA has initiated to engage the local stakeholders to resume freshwater habitats and sustain wet farmlands, such as reintroducing paddy rice, Chinese arrowheads, water chestnut and lotus cultivation.

Aim:

  1. Promote the ecological, cultural and educational values of Long Valley to general public
  2. Participate in harvesting and ecological monitoring work to support the environment and farmers’ living
  3. Learn and appreciate the importance of local agriculture and its relationship with ecology

Voluntary work:

  1. Set up, decorate and operate the booths for traditional kiln, straw art, food making and crop harvesting in the Long Valley Harvest Fest
  2. Prepare, build and transport the facilities and materials for the Long Valley Harvest Fest
  3. Eco-crop packaging work
Accommodation Workcampers are accommodated in the farming hut located in the farmlands of Long Valley.  The living environment is very simple and basic but in a peaceful rural living style.  Male and female workcampers will share the same living area and there is no partition in the accommodation space.  Workcampers are required to sleep on the wooden floor and carry their sleeping bags.  Toilet, tap water, electricity, refrigerator, and fans will be provided at the farming hut.
Location Long Valley is located at the northern urban edge of Hong Kong.  With a total area of 150 hectares, it is the largest agricultural freshwater wetland in Hong Kong.  It is composed of more than 400 linking farmlands with wetland farms, fish ponds, swamps, streams and Fung Shui Wood which provide ideal habitats for local wildlife.  More than 200 bird species, including a range of international conservation concern species, have been recorded at this tiny piece of land.  The high ecological value of Long Valley is well-recognized in both local and global scales.
Terminal Hong Kong International Airport
Remark
  1. Workcampers are responsible for carrying out cooking and cleaning duties by turns.  Budget for food will be provided and food materials will be shopped by workcampers.  Workcampers can collect fresh vegetables and fish from different farms in Long Valley or buy food from local market for cooking.  All meals during the workcamp will be “low carbon meals”.  “Dark meat” will not be served.
  2. A primitive but clean squat toilet cum bathroom is available at the farming hut.  Workcampers are required to scoop and boil hot water for bathing.  No cleaning chemicals, including toothpaste, artificial cleaning detergent or soap, are allowed to be used in the camp site in order to prevent pollution.  Natural or biodegradable detergent, like tea seed powder and sea salt (natural toothpaste), will be provided.
  3. December to January is the coldest and driest period in Hong Kong.  The average temperature ranges from 14°C to 20°C but lower temperature is expected in Long Valley.  Below 10°C is expected under cold front period.  Workcampers should carry suitable clothing for the cold weather.    
  4. Mosquitoes are unavoidable in rural area.  Mosquito net and coil incense will be provided.  Please remember to bring mosquito repellent.  Organic or natural one is recommended.
  5. No Smoking and alcohol are allowed within the farming area of Long Valley, including both indoor and outdoor space.

 

Local Organizer The Conservancy Association (CA), founded in 1968, is the non-government environmental organisation with the longest history in Hong Kong.  CA is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. CA’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of both this and future generations, and to ensure that Hong Kong shoulders her regional and global environmental responsibilities. We achieve this by advocating appropriate policies, monitoring government action, promoting environmental education and taking a lead in community participation.  Since the establishment of the Association, we have been devoted to monitoring government environmental policies and promoting environmental education.  [Official Website: http://www.cahk.org.hk]

Harvest Fest Activities
Booth for photo exhibition Traditional kiln
Straw art Crop harvesting

HKVT02-13  Warehouse Festival  Aberdeen  29/01-11/02/2013 (14 days)  FEST/CULT  5 local & 15 int vols (18+)

Work The project is co-organized by VolTra and The Warehouse Teenage Club Warehouse is a registered charitable non-profit making youth centre for youngsters between the ages of 13 and 25.  Workcampers will mainly work in the Warehouse, which was once the Aberdeen Police Station first established in 19th mid-century and carried out a full-scale renovation in 1995.  To reflect the significant historical value of the building, the Hong Kong Government has classified Warehouse as a historical building.  Workcampers will carry out the flea market preparation work in the Warehouse camp site and operate the flea market booth in the Aberdeen Promenade.  The flea market preparation and operation work may last until late night.  Workcampers can learn the history and meaning behind the Lunar New Year, one of the most important festivals of the Chinese, get involved with the preparation and operation of the flea market booth, and experience the unique culture of this traditional Chinese festival.

Aim:

  1. Promote and appreciate the culture and tradition of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important festivals of the Chinese
  2. Promote the friendship, understanding and solidarity among local people and cross-national workcampers through voluntary work and cultural exchange

Voluntary work:

  1. Set up, decorate and operate the flea market booth in the Aberdeen Winter Fiesta to celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year
  2. Prepare, produce and pack up the products and materials for sale at the flea market in the Aberdeen Winter Fiesta (All profits will be donated to the Warehouse Teenage Club.)
Accommodation Workcampers are accommodated in the dormitory of the Warehouse. The living environment is simple and basic.  Bed, pillow and mattress will be provided.  Except booth operation duty, community visits or group shopping, workcampers are expected to stay inside the camp site during working days.  The entrance of the Warehouse closes at 22:00 every day.  Workcampers should return to the camp site before 22:00 during free days.
Location Aberdeen is located at the south shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Population is approximately 60,000.  It is famous to tourists for its floating village and the floating seafood restaurants such as the Jumbo Floating Restaurant.  Many of the Tanka people, associated with the fishing industry, still live on fishing boats.
Terminal Hong Kong International Airport
Remark
  1. Workcampers are responsible for carrying out cooking and cleaning duties by turns.  Budget for food will be provided and food materials will be shopped by workcampers. 
  2. January to February is the coldest and driest period in Hong Kong.  The average temperature ranges from 14°C to 20°C but below 10°C is expected under cold front period.  Workcampers are therefore advised to carry suitable clothing for the cold weather.
  3. Please remember to bring mosquito repellent.  Organic or natural one is recommended.
  4. You will need to take some stairs before getting to the camp site, so backpack may be the best choice for your luggage.
  5. There is only dim lighting along the walkway to the camp site at night time.  Please bring your torch!
  6. No Smoking and alcohol are allowed within the camp site area, including both indoor and outdoor space.

 

Local Organizer The Warehouse Teenage Club (Warehouse) is a registered charitable non- profit making youth centre for youngster between the ages of 13 and 25.  The Warehouse was founded in 1992 by the late Professor Frank White, who observed many Hong Kong's youngsters lacked a purpose in life and space to develop healthy hobbies, and loitered in the streets after school.  Some even became addicted to alcohol and abused drugs. Determined to find a safe place for youth to develop healthily and holistically, Professor White and his like-minded associates championed the need for the Warehouse.  Warehouse strives to remain the Second Home for youngsters to develop their creativity and multiple talents through meaningful, innovative, and effectual activities. Warehouse hopes to broaden their horizons, enhance their learning, and cultivate youngsters who not only treasure life, but also respect others, and be confident and reliable to contribute actively to the society.
[Official Website: http://www.warehouse.org.hk]

Preparation for Flea Market
Scarf making Scarf drying
Operation of Flea Market Booth
Booth promotion Scarf selling

 

Previous Projects


(1) Fresh Fish Traders’ School Workcamp

(2) Peng Chau Festival Workcamp


(3)  Warehouse Festival Workcamp

(4) Long Valley Rice Harvesting Workcamp

(5) Warehouse Renovation Workcamp

(6) Long Valley Harvest Festival Workcamp

 

(7) Warehouse Cultural Workcamp