In this page you can find summaries of the activities and events organised by ICYE in the past. Should you be interested in receiving the full activity report or further details please contact the organiser.

Exploring the potential of young volunteers in HIV / AIDS Education and Prevention in EU and SEE Countries - EU - SEE Multilateral EVS project - 11 long-term volunteer placements in EU and SEE countries - Estonia, Lithuania, Spain, UK, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro - From March 2007 - December 2007 / Duration 9 months - With the support of the Youth Programme of the European Community - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The general objective of this EU - SEE multilateral EVS project was to add an intercultural dimension to HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care work and to promote a more widespread responsibility of civil society in the fight against AIDS across all borders. The idea for this project came up during a Short Study Visit to Albania in September 2005 to a group of youth workers from EU and SEE countries (123966 – 5.1.2. – CE – 13 – 2005 –R1), who when visiting a HIV/AIDS prevention project felt that EVS volunteers could play a more active role in bringing across the message of HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly to young people in SEE countries. The reciprocal exchange project enabled 7 young people from EU countries to engage in voluntary service projects dealing with HIV/AIDS prevention in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro and 4 young people from these countries to acquire similar experiences in Estonia, Lithuania, Spain and UK. The volunteers provided an added value to the local communities and gained valuable experiences in dealing with HIV/AIDS prevention in a new and diverse environment. Before and after the voluntary service experience, the group of 11 volunteers had the opportunity to meet in joint Preparatory Training- and Final Evaluation meetings. These meetings apart from enriching the intercultural learning process and providing additional support are an opportunity to share experience and exchange opinions with regards to the approaches taken in HIV/AIDS prevention work in the participating EU and SEE countries.

Youth Dialogue and Local Development - Multilateral EVS project in EU and SEE countries - 14 long-term volunteer placements in EU and SEE countries - Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Albania, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia - From August 2006 - May 2007 / Duration 9 months - With the support of the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The main project aims were to enhance young people's participation, leadership skills and their engagement in civil society in European Union and South Eastern European countries as well as to facilitate dialogue and exchange between young volunteers and youth from minority groups. Volunteers were placed both in youth NGO's and public institutions running awareness-raising and civic education programmes with young people from multicultural, multiethnic and multi-faith backgrounds to empower their participation in local campaigns and local development. Before and after the Voluntary Service experience, the group of 14 volunteers had the opportunity to meet at joint Preparatory Training- and Final Evaluation meetings. These meetings apart from enriching the intercultural learning process and providing additional support were an opportunity to share experience and exchange opinions with regards to the situation of youth in EU and SEE countries. In addition, a joint mid-term evaluation of all volunteers and their project supervisors in SEE countries was held in Tirana, Albania, combined with a 1 day seminar on "the role of youth as agents of change in civil society".

Working with Youth and Children In Need in EU and EECA countries - EU - EECA Multilateral EVS project - 10 long-term volunteer placements in EU and EECA countries - Austria,Italy, Lithuania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,Georgia, Moldova - From March 2006 - November 2006 / Duration 9 months - With the support of the Youth Programme of the European Community - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The objective of this EU - EECA multilateral EVS project was to enhance youth mobility in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia, offering mobility and voluntary service opportunities in projects dealing with youth and children in need. The reciprocal exchange project enabled 6 young people from EU countries to engage in voluntary service projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova and 4 young people from these countries to acquire experience by living and working in Austria, Italy and Lithuania. The young volunteers engaged in local hosting projects dealing with youth and children, ranging from child care, migrant, refugee and IDP, to local youth centres, providing an added value to the local communities and gaining valuable experiences in working with children and youngsters in a new and diverse environment.

Youth and Social Inclusion - EU - EECA Multilateral EVS project - 9 long-term volunteer placements in EU and EECA countries - Austria, Finland, Italy, Armenia and Georgia - From October 2005 - June 2006 / Duration 8 months - With the support of the Youth Programme of the European Community - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The EU- CIS multilateral EVS project on Youth Volunteering and Social Exclusion was a reciprocal exchange project involving sending and receiving on both sides, EU and Partner Countries. It enabled 5 young people from EU countries to engage in voluntary service projects in Armenia and Georgia and 3 young people from these CIS countries to acquire experience by living and working in Austria, Finland and Italy. The objective of this multilateral EVS project was to enhance youth mobility between EU countries and Armenia and Georgia, offering voluntary service opportunities in projects dealing with young people with less opportunities. The young volunteers engaged in a range of quite different local hosting projects and activities dealing with disadvantaged youth and children, including SOS children villages, orphanages, communities of disabled youth and in after school activities. Their presence and work brought an added value to the local communities. The volunteers learned a lot about the situation and life of young people in the respective host countries. Before and after the voluntary service experience, the group of 9 volunteers met during joint Preparatory Training and Final Evaluation Meetings. This fostered an enhanced intercultural learning process and enabled the volunteers to share their expectations, fears and experiences regarding their participation in this project.

Youth in Action - EVS Multilateral Project in EU and Latin American Countries - 8 long-term volunteer placements in EU and LA countries - Lithuania, Spain, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico - From June 2005 - March 2006 / Duration 9 months - With the support of the Youth Programme of the European Community - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The main project aim was to enhance young people's participation, leadership skills and their engagement in civil society in European and Latin American countries by implementing an EU-LA multilateral long-term volunteering project involving as host and sending organisations both youth associations and public institutions running youth participation and civic education programmes. The EU - LA multilateral project was a reciprocal exchange project involving sending and receiving on both sides, EU and Latin American Countries. It enabled 6 young people from EU countries to engage in voluntary service projects in Colombia, Honduras and Mexico and 2 young people from these Latin American countries to acquire experience by living and working in Spain and Lithuania. The young volunteers engaged in a variety of local hosting projects dealing with youth civic education and active citizenship programmes, ranging from youth clubs and youth initiated networks to community development and social work projects, offering a rich sample of civil society where volunteerism definitely brought an added value to the respective local communities.

EVS Multilateral Project on Youth Volunteering and social inclusion - 14 long-term volunteer placements in EU, CIS and SEE countries - Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Armenia, Moldova, Russian Federation - From March 2005 - December 2005 / Duration 9 months - With the support of the Youth Programme of the European Community - Organisers: ICYE International Office in cooperation with partner organizations in above mentioned countries The objective of these multilateral EVS projects was to enhance youth mobility in CIS and SEE countries, offering mobility and voluntary service opportunities in projects dealing with young people of disadvantaged background / with less opportunities. In order to create synergies and enable cross-regional cooperation between EU, CIS and SEE countries two multilateral EVS third country projects were implemented simultaneously, one for EU - CIS and one for EU - SEE countries. Running these multilateral EVS projects simultaneously enabled volunteers from EU countries on one side and CIS and SEE countries on the other side to participate in joint Preparatory Training- and Final Evaluation meetings. In these meetings they had opportunities to share experience and exchange opinions with regards to the situation of youth in EU, CIS and SEE countries. In addition, including partners from both regions as well as partners from old and new EU member countries created synergies and stimulated the development of innovative partnerships.

EU CIS – Multilateral EVS Project - Long-term volunteering project in EU and CIS countries - Armenia, Russian Federation and Ukraine - Started on September 27, 2004 and ended on May 26, 2005 - With the support of the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office The objective of this multilateral EVS project was to enhance the participation of CIS countries, namely Armenia, Russian Federation and Ukraine, in long term voluntary service projects and further articulate the experience acquired by the ICYE partners. This reciprocal exchange project involved sending and receiving on both sides, EU and Third Countries, thus also giving young people coming from the latter countries the possibility to acquire experiences by living and working in Western European countries. Based on the successful outcomes of previous ICYE EVS multilateral projects, the 12 young volunteers engaged in a range of quite different local hosting projects dealing with disadvantaged youth and children, ranging from orphanages, disabled care centres and schools to youth centres and initiatives, offering a rich sample of civil society where volunteerism definitely brought an added value to the local communities.

Youth and European Solidarity - EU-SEE Multilateral EVS Project on Refugees, Human Rights and Reconciliation - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro - Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania and Spain - Started on June 17, 2004 and ended on March 19, 2005 - With the support of the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office This project was the third and final phase of a series of projects titled “YOUTH AND EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY” promoting voluntary service activities as a tool for young people to work for solidarity, respect of human rights and reconciliation in EU and Balkan countries and to contribute to the development of civil society. The theme “ Refugees, Human Rights and Reconciliation” was proposed by youth workers in Balkan Countries in view of their strong involvement in this topic and was encouraged by the implementation of the ICYE Eastlinks SEE YOUTH Information project. This reciprocal exchange project involved sending and receiving a total group of 15 EVS volunteers on both sides, EU and SEE Countries: Eight young EU volunteers were engaging in human rights education, refugee care, multiethnic youth work and other theme-related activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia as well as Serbia and Montenegro. Seven volunteers from South East Europe were doing a voluntary service in refugee centres, youth centres for migrants as well as anti-racism and human rights NGO’s in Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania and Spain. The project also aimed at enhancing direct bilateral cooperation between sending and hosting organisations. It empowered NGOs in EU and SEE countries to network and engage in multiple partnerships working on the theme Refugees, Human Rights and Reconciliation. In addition, linking pre-departure and on-arrival orientations for incoming and outgoing volunteers, as well as involving a growing number of returnees from SEE countries had a beneficial impact on the preparation and motivation of volunteers and host projects alike as well as contributed to European integration.

ICYE Europewide EVS Project on Refugees: "Youth and European Solidarity" - Austria, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania - 4 September 2003 through 6 June 2004 - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office and partner organizations in the above mentioned countries The project followed a europewide initiative of youth NGO's to promote European solidarity with marginalized and disadvantaged groups such as refugees and migrants. Through a a number of host organisations dealing with refugees and migrants' issues, the project provided the opportunity for 12 volunteers to learn about and get involved in working with refugess, migrants and defense of human rights. The European and intercultural dimension and the spirit of young persons willing to share and participate brought an added value to the projects. At the same time the volunteers through practicing active citizenship proved that Europe can be an open house where refugees from all parts of the world are welcome. Full support and learning from good practice were provided by the experienced host coordinating organisations to the respective hosting projects many of which received LTV's for the first time. The volunteers themselves while taking part in a Europewide project increased their knowledge about the situation of refugees and migrants throughout Europe, and a more group oriented intercultural learning process as they were able to meet before going to and right after returning from their voluntary service project. After completion of this project, depending on its result, a second phase/follow-up project is foreseen, which would build upon the experience gathered.

SEE II - ICYE Eastlinks - Longterm volunteering project in EU and SEE countries - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro - Started on 12 June 2003 and ended on 14 December 2003 - Approved and supported by the European Commission The International Cultural Youth Exchange, is currently engaging in a number of YOUTH programme multilateral EVS projects with the aim to foster long-term voluntary service exchanges with South East Europe, in particular with the former Republic of Yugoslavia The SEE II - ICYE Eastlinks longterm volunteering project in EU and SEE countries involved sending and receiving of a total of 10 volunteers for a duration of 6 months from June to December 2003. The project gave young people the possibility to acquire experiences and knowledge about voluntary service and civil society in general by living and working in EU and SEE countries - including for the first time also Macedonia and Montenegro. Two young volunteers from South East Europe volunteered in projects in EU countries: Zoran Misovski from Struga, Macedonia was hosted by a youth information institution in Murcia, Spain and Alen Murga from Livno, Bosnia lived and worked in a centre for disabled people in Berlin, Germany. At the same time eight young EU volunteers from Finland, Germany and the UK were hosted by Bosnian, Croatian, Macedonian and Yugoslavian non-governmental organisations and volunteered for conflict resolution, new media, environmental issues and youth projects, offering a rich sample of civil society where volunteerism definitely brought an added value to the respective local communities. A series of joint pre-departure and on-arrival training meetings organized in Berlin and Zagreb focussed on intercultural learning, overcoming culture shock, aims of EVS and the Youth Programme, as well as the situation of youth and the practice of voluntary service in the EU and in South East Europe. Due to the personal contacts and friendship established during these meetings, the volunteers also stayed in contact during the voluntary service - and maybe after? At least during the final evaluation meeting for volunteers which took place from December 11th to 14th 2003 in Berlin, Germany, the volunteers were glad to meet each other again and to have the opportunity to share and contrast the experiences in living abroad as well as working in distinct EU and SEE countries. During this meeting the volunteers proudly presented their host organisations and the concrete results of their work. The volunteers as well as the coordinators were impressed to see the multiple initiatives and concrete results which had been created in the considerably short time of 6 months. In view of the recent history of the former Yugoslav Republic, it was highly interesting to hear the reports and reflections on the situation of the different ethnic groups in the local host communities in Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia and how volunteers were affected by the still segregated societies on a personal level. In view of these experiences and the positive feedback received so far, we have published some reports and articles written by volunteers on the http://www.seeyouth.info website - we hope you will enjoy reading it and that some of these experiences can be useful for future generations of volunteers! On behalf of the coordinating organisation ICYE we would like to thank all, individuals and organisations, who have directly or indirectly contributed to this project for their idealism and hard work.

SEE I - ICYE-Eastlinks - South Eastern Europe multilateral EVS project - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Yugoslavia (Serbia) - Started on 1 February 2003 and ended on 1 August 2003 - Approved and supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office, Eastlinks Secretariat and the Volunteers Centre Zagreb In pursuance of one of the stated objectives the ICYE-EASTLINKS Large Scale project which aims to foster long-term voluntary service exchanges with South East Europe, this project gave an opportunity to young people in the European Union member countries and in South Eastern European to acquire experiences by living and working in a variety of voluntary service projects, contributing thus to building one European identity at grassroots level. Based on the successful outcomes of previous EVS multilateral projects implemented by ICYE in co-operation with Eastlinks, 5 young volunteers from South East Europe worked in EU non-governmental organisations, disabled care institutions, as well as projects working with refugees and homeless people. At the same time 7 Western Europeans got the chance to volunteer in Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian and Serbian non-governmental organisations in conflict resolution, new media, environmental issues and youth work, offering a rich sample of civil society where volunteerism definitely brought an added value to the development of local communities.

ICYE-Eastlinks pilot project - EVS multilateral Project on HIV/ AIDS Prevention in EU and CEEC - Started on 1 November 2002 and ended on 30 June 2003 - Approved and supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office and Partner Organisations in EU and CEE countries Documentation on the project's implementation and assessment of results [900 KB] The involvement of motivated young people in HIV/AIDS prevention projects aims at enhancing cooperation between themselves and the wider HIV/AIDS prevention sector. The volunteer's presence will add an intercultural dimension to preventative and care work, as well as an input in term of human resources and networking links, which eventually will become a source of inspiration for similar joint future projects. In more general terms, this project aims at advocating the cause and visibility of HIV/AIDS projects towards civil society, with a view to promoting a more widespread responsibility in the fight against AIDS accross all frontiers.

ICYE-Eastlinks VI - Long-term volunteering between EU and CEE countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia - Started on 15 October 2002 and ended on 15 April 2003 - Approved and supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office and Partner Organisations in the EU and CEE countries mentioned above In the framework of the ongoing two-year Large Scale project between ICYE and EASTLINKS, the objective of this multilateral EVS project is to enhance the participation of Central European Countries, namely the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia in long term voluntary services between the ICYE and Eastlinks partners. This is a reciprocal project which involves sending and receiving on both sides, European Union and Pre-Accession countries, thus also giving young people coming from the latter countries the possibility to acquire experiences by living and working in Western European countries and thus contributing to build one European identity at grassroots level. Based on the successful outcomes of previous EVS multilateral projects implemented by ICYE in co-operation with Eastlinks, the young volunteers will engage in a range of quite different local hosting projects, ranging from children care institutions, youth organisations to cultural heritage and environmental protection , offering a rich sample of civil society where volunteerism will definitely bring an added value to the local communities.The project also aims at enhancing direct bilateral cooperation between sending and hosting organisations. In addition, it is expected that linking pre-departure and on-arrival orientations for incoming and outgoing volunteers, as well as involving a growing number of returnees from CEE countries will have a beneficial impact on the preparation and motivation of volunteers and host projects alike.

ICYE-Eastlinks V - Long-term volunteering between CIS and EU countries - Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine - October 2001 - June 2002 - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office / Grenzenlos-ICYE Austria / ICYE and Eastlinks Member organisations Through this EVS multilateral project for the first time ICYE and EASTLINKS were able to offer voluntary service opportunities in EU member countries for young people from CIS countries. Volunteers worked in projects mainly dealing with orphans, and children and youth at risk in Belarus, Russian Federation and the Ukraine, as well as in similar projects (including alternative educational institutions) in Austria, Finland, Germany and the UK. Besides the participating volunteers, the project directly benefitted children and other socially disadvantaged groups catered for by the various hosting projects as well as their staff and local volunteers. The project also enhanced cooperation between sending and hosting organizations, and during its implementation a growing number of returnees from Central and Eastern European countries got involved in supporting volunteers and host projects alike.

EASTLINKS IV - Long-term volunteering in Eastern Europe - Estonia, Latvia, Poland and the Russian Federation - January - September, 2001 - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office / Eastlinks Member organisations Similar to the project Eastlinks III again 20 young Western Europeans participated in this 8 months European Voluntary Service involving host projects in four Eastern Central and Eastern European countries. ICYE’ s partners in this project were SWALLOWS and the Fund Social Initiative from the Russian Federation, the Estonian organisation EstYes, EJAM Latvia and SPPO Poland. The volunteers worked in a variety of fields, with children, elderly and socially disadvantaged persons as well as in environment protection organisations and youth clubs.

EVS Multilateral Euro - Latin America 2001 - Ecuador and Mexico - January - July, 2001 - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office / AVOS Mexico - EiL Ecuador Through this project, a number of voluntary service opportunities have been offered to young European volunteers such as working in an income generating project in underprivileged communities in Ecuador, assisting in a Contemporary Art association in Quito, supporting street children in Puebla, Mexico, working in a housing estate of low income families in Mexico City and work camp organisation in Mexico etc. SIIJUVE - ICYE Mexico and “The Experiment in International Living Ecuador” as our partners in this EVS project greatly contributed to make this a successful experience for both volunteers and local communities involved.

Euro - African Voluntary Service - Promoting development through inter-cultural exchange - Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo and Uganda - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office / African Partner Organisations mentioned above This EVS multilateral project aimed at providing opportunities of long-term voluntary service to young Europeans in five African countries. The project consisted of a variety of voluntary service organizations working with abandoned children, disabled children and youth, displaced people, and others carrying out programs of local development and was realized in cooperation with ICYE Nigeria, the Mpumalanga Youth Commission, AJUDE of Mozambique, Uganda Volunteers for Peace (UVP) and the Togo-based ATNU (Association Togolaise pour les Nations Unies).

EASTLINKS III - Long-term volunteering in Eastern Europe - Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine - September 2000 - May 2001 - Supported by the European Commission - Organisers: ICYE International Office / Eastlinks Member organisations Acknowledging the great need for East-West exchanges between Youth on a grassroots level and encouraged by two earlier EVS activities involving Eastern Central and Eastern Europe the ICYE Federation together with our partners DEINEITA and AUSTEIJA from Lithuania, LYVS from Belarus and the Ukrainian organisation ALTERNATIVE-V gave 20 young Western Europeans the opportunity to commit themselves to a long-term European Voluntary Service project in Eastern Europe.