Dear Jimmy,
Unfortunately I can't say anything about Wales or Turkey but I also have some problems (or a least misunderstandings) with Servicio Voluntario Internacional, Instituto de la Juventud (SVI), Spain. My organization (Alternative-V, Ukraine) has sent two applications for placements in the workcamps 2007 organized by SVI. These applications were sent in the middle of March...yet we don't have any reply: neither "yes" or "no"...These two places are reserved by a sort of an agreement you were writing about. I've written an e-mail to them about a week ago (I was writing in Spanish so I doubt there could be any misunderstandings about that) and still no news. What I found out at their website is that each region of Spain (communidad) has its own branch of SVI and different dates of accepting placements...That's all I know by now. If you find out smth. new about SVI please write this information here.

Warm greetings,
Maria.

Well, OK, I like (my) idea I agree with that.

Also, I would like to ask for some help, since this is my first season as an outgoing PO. So ... I have a volunteers who was very insecure and sceptic when first came to our office and spoke to Ida (coleague O.PO, some of you probably know her). So she just took his VEF and left it in the office for me to consider what to do now. He came again right after the wekend (last weekend) with more questions. I tried to answer on every of them. During the conversation with him I think I managed to lower his scepticism and insecurity. So we had a normal conversation in the end. Then ... I got insecure Now he wants to go not on 1 camp, but 2 (Spain, Germany and other destinations like these). He filled his VEF by pen, because he don't know how to send it by an email I know that is not the point, but I tried to take a look at him and his motivations and expectations. And they wre simply as they can be. Thats not the point again, since many of our volunteers write short motivations (if its not declared otherwise). I am conserned of his choices like Germany, Spain and Italy. Also he picked one camp in Croatia he would like to attend, and then come back home, and to go to the other camp, since the dates are not matching. I have some clues what to do, but what would you do in a situation like this? Thanx!

@ LaPaloma:
As I said SVI SPain responded on my "please accept vol" mail, describing the situation they have with their partners. They have this kind of an agreement on reserved places or whatever. The point is that they can't accept our volnteers (by our, I mean from Serbia, probably from other countries as well). By the camp codes I suppose, just liek LaPaloma, that the organization is divided into regional offices.

And speaking of not responding ... I still have this problem with GSM Turkey. They responded me on one mail, but not on the other ... dunno what to do with'em I am just sorry of the volunteers applied for GSM, thats the main prob. wasting their (precious) time waiting for the answer, that can be used in arranging meetings at embassies, collecting dozens of documents from every institution we have Fun

PS A huge greeting to all Manchester United fans all over SCI

This sounds interesting!

We would love to hear more, email emily@summercampworldwide.com or goto our forum www.summercampworldwide.com/chat

Have a good week!

Jimmy & La Paloma et al:
   Did you ever get any response on the issue of "Placements" from Spain or Turkey--SCI branches or co-operating organisations concerned?

   Sometimes "silken threads" just strewn open & fly around and even after six months, one would like to know: What happened, then?

   Any takers?
Peace and regards...
dev chopra in India.
*** mid-day of 9 th Nov '07 which happens to be our Festival of Lights--overcoming Evil and enlarging the area of Peace and Happiness--to you all.
***