CCIVS Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service

Founded in 1948 under the aegis of UNESCO Formal relations of association with UNESCO Initial idea: Physically reconstructing the World after the World Wars while concretely learning to live together

CCIVS as a network Coordination of members’ activities Regional seminars and networking Capacity building, seminars and training of member organisations (conflict prevention, ICT and voluntary service, cultural diversity, etc.) Campaigns (ESD, culture of peace, Freshwater, etc.) Pilot and joint projects Link to international and intergovernmental partners Publications and resources materials

CCIVS’ projects by members Non-formal education Active citizenship and participation Intercultural dialogue Reciprocity and exchange Complementarity with agencies Short term workcamps (2 – 4 weeks) Medium and long term placements (3 to 12 months) Durations? Methods?

Types of projects Agricultural work Awareness-raising campaigns Construction and improvement of community centres and public buildings Environment: reforestation, site cleaning, protection of natural reserves, etc. Protection of the cultural heritage Support to local communities and work with children Any type of project that can benefit the population, depending on local realities…

Voluntary service... … is an exchange between an individual, or a group of individuals and a local community. The volunteer or group of volunteers offers time, energy and effort to a project of benefit to a community, and via this project the community offers to the volunteer or group of volunteers an opportunity for experimentation, learning and personal and collective development (Cotravaux, France)

Voluntary service governance Local: during the project On the organisational level: As active volunteer or elected member On the international level: As representative towards international bodies

Volunteers as actors!

Voluntary service for local development

The key is complementarity

CCIVS