Climate change, ethnic wars, religious conflicts, energy crisis, wealth disparity…
Our world is facing various crucial issues that transcend borders. These issues influence everyone on the planet, but unfortunately none of us can resolve them on our own. Especially in Hong Kong, we seem to shut ourselves off from global issues beyond economic discussions. Some feel unconcerned and do not bother to get involved, while some think individual power is so limited that their efforts are in vain. Consequently, we become indifferent and apathetic towards our surroundings and gradually respond to our problems with either sarcasm or despair. Sometimes, we just wish to leave those big issues to other, more powerful entities, and isolate ourselves from such a chaotic world.
Isolating ourselves is the crux of the problem.
VolTra believes that real changes are not brought about by great things done by a few, but by all the small things done persistently by every one of us towards a common goal. This requires a change of mentality from ‘me’ to ‘we’ from global citizens who are willing to stir changes from the bottom and work their way up step by step. VolTra cares about local issues as well as global trends because we believe that in order to have a better world for ourselves, we have to make the world better for others. There is only one world for us which is a world shared by us.
What is VolTra
Founded in 2009, VolTra is a non-governmental organization that aims to envourage everyone to take part in global and local action. We curate journeys that enrich glocal vision and cultivate impactful actions. VolTra believes that our perspectives continuously shape our worldview, which in turn directs our actions.
VolTra is dedicated to cultivate a voluntary culture fuelled with passion. We encourage participants to build friendship, diversified teams and communities through our programmes. We wish to promote co-creating and co-owning in a fun way.
VolTra is incorporated under the Companies Ordinance as a company limited by guarantee. We are a registered charitable institution, which is exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. (Reference No.: 91/11726)
Youtube — This is VolTra
Vision
Everyone takes part in glocal action.
Mission
We curate journeys that enrich glocal vision and cultivate impactful actions.
Value
- The world changes with our worldview
- We are voluntary, we work for passion
- Diversity makes a better us
- Build friendship, teamwork and community
- Co-create and co-own
- Do good well
- Have fun
Our Work
Coordinating Overseas Workcamp
Providing international workcamps and voluntary service projects in connection with international workcamp organizations all over the world
Organizing Local Workcamp
Organizing Hong Kong workcamps for both local and overseas volunteers in cooperation with non-governmental voluntary organizations in Hong Kong
Training
Holding regular seminars, briefings and training programmes
Promoting International Voluntary Services
Promoting charitable and voluntary services in Hong Kong and overseas countries
Educational events
Organizing educational events in Hong Kong
Research
Conducting research work on social and international issues
Information Services
Providing up-to-date information and consultation service on international workcamps through electronic newsletter, website and publications
Our Team
The Annual General Meeting of VolTra is where Members are entitled to nominate and vote for the Members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is the voluntary governance body of VolTra. It appoints the Committees and salaried staff to execute and implement the decisions of the Board of Directors and maintain the daily operation of VolTra. All members of the Board of Directors and Committees serve on a voluntary basis.
Please visit here to know us more.
International Network
VolTra connects to an enormous network of international workcamp organisations all over the world to provide various international workcamps and voluntary service projects to volunteers.
VolTra is…
Member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS)
Member of the Network for Voluntary Development in Asia (NVDA)
Partner of the Alliance of European Voluntary Organisations (Alliance)
Local Partner Organisations
突破
Breakthrough
長春社
The Conservancy Association
鮮魚行學校
Fresh Fish Traders’ School
香港社區發展網絡
Hong Kong Community Development Network
土地正義聯盟
Land Justice League
馬寶寶社區農場
Mapopo Community Farm
嶺南大學
Lingnan University
蒲窩青少年中心
Warehouse Teenage Club
和富社會企業
Wofoo Social Entreprises
Our Operation Model
Resources Sharing
In general, anyone who wants to join the workcamp has to apply for the vacancy through a workcamp organization in his/her home country. The application fee involved is one of the main sources of income for the workcamp organization.
In the advanced regions, e.g. Europe, Japan and Hong Kong, etc. more people are able to support themselves to go abroad for overseas workcamps. So, the sum of application fees received by the workcamp organization may be sufficient to cover the daily operations expenses and finance their local workcamp projects. Extra workcamp fees are thus usually not required from overseas participants, no matter where they are from.
On the contrary, in economically disadvantaged countries, e.g. Africa, South East Asia and South America, the number of placement of workcamp participants abroad is very limited, which makes it impossible to operate projects with just the application fee received. In many cases, the extra fee is usually used to cover the hosting workcamp organizations’ expenses on accommodation and meals for workcamp participants when they organize workcamps in their countries. Extra fees are also the only form of financial support for these organizations, where there is little or even no alternative funding source.
*VolTra is a non-profit organization financed by the application fees received from workcamp participants. The income will cover VolTra’s daily operation and administration expenses as well as the costs of organizing international workcamps and voluntary service projects in Hong Kong.[email protected]
Thanks to the assistance of volunteers, VolTra can fully utilize and allocate the resources in the development of various aspects, and help widespread the values of international voluntary services and workcamps in Hong Kong. We would like to share with more Hongkonger our inspiration, passion and joy gained from workcamps.
If you are interested in volunteering for VolTra, please contact us and we will get back to you shortly.
Work with VolTra
VolTra is looking for every opportunity to work with local organizations in promoting volunteer service.
For further information and inquiry, please contact us freely. ([email protected])