Welcome to SpanThatWorld.com! The online home of the District Fellows Movement, the 16-20 age group of the cooperative children and young people's charity The Woodcraft Folk.
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International Opportunities
Woodcraft Folk have affiliated links with many similar organisations around the world and especially across Europe through a network called IFM:SEI which stands for International Falcon Movement – Socialist Educational International (catchy, I know). Through this movement young people have access to loads of exciting camps and seminars and exchanges that happen throughout the year. These change and are updated regularly but a standard few include;
THE BRIDGES PROJECT
Fancy getting really involved with engaging critically in perhaps the most influtential conflict of our time? Click here to take your first step to getting a real indepth insight into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS
International Seminars happen at the Kurt Lowenstein Education Centre in Berlin. On anything from sustainability to disability, non-violent action to action against racism the events bring together people from all over Europe and are opportunities to meet and network with like-minded interesting people.
More information on the International Seminars can be found here.
Information on who to contact about the seminars, and when to contact them by, can be found here
QUEER EASTER
Queer Easter is a a seminar a the Kurt Lowenstein centre that runs over the Easter holidays where a week is spent exploring issues of sexuality, gender, sex and identity. The event is open to all people whether gay, straight or anything inbetween! The week combines specialised workshop sessions, networking meetings and the opportunity to run your own forum with creative working groups.
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER/WINTER SCHOOL
Take a break from DF Winter Wonderland or DF camp one year and you could discover the wonders of the international alternatives that happen in Germany every year. There’s a great mix of nationalities and people coming together to discuss the theme and enjoy themselves.
INTERNATIONAL CAMPS
Some of you may have been to an International Camp in the UK before as they happen every five years (2001, 2006, 2011). They usually consist of thousands of people from all over the world coming together for a week to live collectively and learn about each other’s cultures and lives. They are overwhelming, fascinating and always take a lot of organising, so if your interested, your international Rep will always be able to offer information.
Similarly, but less well known, are the International Camps that happen every year in different countries, organised by partner organisations and open to any member of the Woodcraft Folk. There is often subsidized travel costs available for young people so keep your global eyes and ears open for information.
WWOOFING
A relatively new addition to the opportunities available, are group trips to work on organic farms in Europe with a DFs and young people. The week long events offer an insight into the joys of wwoofing without the scary committment of going it alone. Get your hands dirty, grow your own veg, build bridges and paint walls. Join us to create a cooperative atmosphere and learn about organic farming, or even a new language.
OTHER
There is so much potential within Woodcraft and DFs, Think Global, Act Local (Patrick Geddes). Put your thinking caps and pester your International Rep to do more and expand those horizons – think hitching to a different continent, group interail tickets, fundraising collectively so we can host our own international delegation, funding local asylum seekers or refugees to our own camps or creating grants to help people in the gap years…
If any of these things interest you, inspire you to travel and get involved, then get in touch!
E-mail Martha, DF international rep for more info: international@spanthatworld.com
You can also join the Facebook group, DFs ~ Global Gallivanting and International Opportunities or, if you don’t have Facebook, send an e-mail to the above address and we can send you updates that way. You can also be kept up to date on international opportunities by joining the Woodcraft discuss group: discuss@woodcraft.org.uk
ALSO
The International Working Group is one of the new ambitions to be added to the Woodcraft Folk big plan. If you want to be specifically involved in the working group – twinning/exchange projects, international seminars and international projects and campaigns – then give Martha a shout, again on the above e-mail address.
AND
From January 2011 there will be a Woodcraft International Newsletter. If you have anything to contribute – stories, announcements or general musings – then the deadlines for submitting are: December 31, March 31, June 30, September 30. E-mail Carly to contribute: carly@woodcraft.org.uk
