SIW

SIW Internationale Vrijwilligersprojecten (SIW International Volunteer Projects) is a Dutch non-governmental, non-profit voluntary service organisation that was founded in 1953. Every year, SIW sends approximately 250 volunteers to foreign sister-organisations in Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America and Africa; in total about 120 organisations in more than 70 countries. These volunteers can choose between workcamp projects (2 to 3 weeks) in international groups and MLTV projects which last 3 weeks to 12 months. Besides that, SIW organises around 10 international work camps in the Netherlands every year. Most of them take place in July and August and last two weeks. We organise these work camps in cooperation with Dutch social organisations like the Dutch State Forestry, Emmaus (international charitable movement to combat poverty and homelessness) and cultural festival organisations. Every year, SIW welcomes about 150 volunteers from all over the world.

The mission of SIW is to stimulate people to broaden their horizon. This is achieved by bringing volunteers into contact with different cultures. This way, SIW wants to facilitate international contact and understanding, contribute to the personal growth and development of young people and encourage them to carry out social, cultural and environmental work. That work is offered on our projects in the Netherlands and on the projects organised by partners from our network abroad. Thanks to our volunteers, SIW is able to serve volunteers!

The vast majority of SIW consists of about 60 volunteers who help with heart and soul to achieve our goals. We have an office in the centre of Utrecht, a city in the centre of the Netherlands. Three paid employees work in our office, who are strongly supported by three volunteers who work at the office regularly and sometimes by interns from various educational backgrounds. Next to that, SIW has a very active and involved unpaid board, consisting of 7 members.

SIW's income largely consists of contributions and subscription fees from the project participants, and funds for projects in the Netherlands. These grants come from different sources. The organisation does not receive any regular grants.