The international voluntary workcamps were brought to the life after the 1.world war. The people needed to

Europe needed to be rebuilt and people needed to co-operate again peacefully. An international group of young people under the supervision of Swiss Pierre Ceresole united and began to repair village Esnes-en-Argonne near to Verdun on the French-German borders. The village was destroyed during the war. This cooperate work in the spirit of friendship was an expression of international solidarity and a rejection of hostility between France and Germany. This act became a symbol of understanding of two originally warring nations.

The idea of volunteering inspired many young people and their numbers were rising.  Their effort was supported by local community living closely and by governments of European countries. This first action started a beginning of the wave of international voluntary Workcamps and a beginning of the international voluntary networks. The women took care for cooking and man for work and music.

The educational and intercultural aspect of the Workcamps became as important as the work itself. International voluntary Workcamps became a common tool for a development of the international understanding and solidarity between people.

The volunteering did not lose the idea of peace but expanded its action from rebuilding of Europe to its enhancement. The volunteers all around the world are trying to save world nature, cultural and national heritage of the world for the next generations by common work and power no matter of a religion, ethnicity, nationality or political opinions.

General overview of history of international volunteering

1920 – first international voluntary workcamp in the village Esnes-en-Argonne close to Verdun

1920 – the origin of the international network Service Civil International

1924 - Ceresole organized the second workcamp in Les Ormonts (Switzerland),

1982 – the largest workcamp were organized in the Rhine valley plain after a heavy flood in 1927 in Lichtenstein by 700 volunteers from 28 countries

1931 – the concept of Work camps with international volunteers was applied in other areas of social commitment: Community development, Developmental aid & Humanitarian help

1931 – the volunteering under the patronage of SCI came to India

1937 – humanitarian help for the children of refugees during the Spanish Civil War

1947 – 46 workcamps in 9 countries

1968 – 298 workcamps in 24 countries

1950 – the beginning of the organisation of workcamps in India, Pakistan and other countries in Asia

1955 – the beginning of the organisation of workcamps in the socialistic countries: Poland (1955), GDR (1956), USSR (1958), Hungary (1964), Czechoslovakia (1964), and Bulgaria (1981)

1982 – the origin of the international network Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations

1991 – the origin of the nonprofit organisations SMVTM INEX in Czechoslovakia and beginning of the workcamps in our country

1993 – the origin of  INEX Slovakia

More information about the history of volunteering and first international voluntary workcamps can be found on the web site of organisations Service Civil International and Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations.