Our Mission
To enable individuals to discover their own strenghts and potential through volunteer projects involving Canadian and international participants. Through these projects, the volunteers' exposure to diverse peoples and cultures will introduce them to the possibility of peace through deeds, as well as give them exposure to cultural diversity and the tools for tolerance. The projects are developed in cooperation with local community groups as well as other local, national and international organizations. All our projects aim to foster understanding of people of different social, cultural, political and religious backgrounds by working, learning and living together.
History
Work projects such as the ones we offer have been in existence for over 80 years bringing diverse people and cultures together to experience life in different communities. In Canada, the concept of promoting peace and volunteerism through short-term, non-denominational work projects or workcamps, drawn from international groups, while growing every year, has still remained somewhat of a new concept.
In 2003, following the close of International Volunteer Service Canada, Ottawa resident and previous board member, Shirley de Souza, along with support from SCI USA, and previous IVS Canada workcamp volunteers, developed and incorporated NOCONA Canada in order to continue giving Canadians as well as the international community the opportunity to participate in volunteer workcamps and to see the seeds of change worldwide. Nocona Canada is the Canadian office within the Service Civil International network, allowing easy exchanges between Canadian volunteers and those from overseas.
Previous SCI Camps in Canada
Prince Edward and Hastings Counties , Ontario (2001) International Volunteer Service ( Canada ) hosted a group of international volunteers from August 24 until September 1, 2001 , in celebration of the United Nations' International Year of Volunteers. The small group ranged in age from 12 - 57, and consisted of some volunteers from Canada as well as people from the United Kingdom , the United States and Russia .
The group lived and worked together for nine days visiting three homes for the aged and spending time with the residents and performing some gardening chores and minor repairs.
Merritt , British Columbia (2002-2003) The Interior Salish Indians of the Lower Nicola Valley of British Columbia hosted two 14 days camps involving 24 volunteers from around the globe. Volunteers worked and lived among the native communities participating in traditional working and cultural lifestyles (attending Pow Wows and local native dances), including salmon fishing in the Fraser River Valley and food and berry gathering for distribution to the elderly.
Flores Island , British Columbia (2004-2005). The Ahousaht native community will hosted 20 volunteers during two 14 days camps. Volunteers continued their work from 2004 to help build the Youth Cultural Centre, clearing of the environment and learning the traditional ways of life including boat building and local culture.