At the moment, Overseas Development Volunteers from France and Germany come to work in Auroville-based NGOs in the framework of their National Service.

The German government allows a maximum of 6 civil servicemen per year to come to work in AV-based NGOs for a duration of 12 months.

The applicants' information and selection process is handled by AVI Germany.

Contact:

Marianne Sorensen
Heidhofweg 29
27711 Osterholz-Scharmbeck
Tel. 04795 - 95 33 34
e-mail: marianne.soerensen@t-online.de

The French CSN ONG scheme implies a volunteering contract of 24 months - extendable. The selection process is handled by the 'Service de Cooperation et Developpement', a Lyon-based volunteering NGO accredited by the BCSN.

The whole procedure takes on average one year, and involves two training sessions with SCD: a motivation cum selection session about volunteering in development work (one-week), and a preparation session before leaving (2 weeks).

French Civil Servicemen on posting here get from the French Foreign Affairs the plane ticket, social security, complementary insurance coverage, vaccinations, passport and visa expenses covered.

The Serviceman receives a reinsertion lump sum at the end of the 2-year contract (this lump sum is today 24.000 FF). But no salary or stipend is provided under this scheme in the course of work: all local expenses are to be met by the host NGO.