This training handbook aims to sensitize, provide resources, and strengthen the capacities and knowledge of ICYE staff and partners to be able to address sexual violence in international voluntary service. The manual wants to give inspiration on how to design seminars, trainings, campaigns, or other activities aimed at preventing, responding to and eradicating sexual violence within IVS.
The toolkit for young activists and the handbook for youth workers were developed in the EU funded LIVE Ex project to support young changemakers to become Earth Activist and implement climate actions in their community.
The practice guidance collected lessons learnt for a successful virtual exchange programme.
The Greener Together Toolkit assembles interactive and participatory activities along a journey of change for volunteers on the topic of climate justice and environmental regeneration.
The Global IVS Statistics Report 2023 has been developed by the networks and organisations dedicated to international volunteering service organised under the umbrella of CCIVS. It shows the contributions but also the challenges IVS organisations have been facing since 2016.
This project puts youth at the centre for 3 activities throughout the year. ICYE has worked directly alongside, with, and for youth on peacebuilding and social change for almost 75 years. Over the course of the past several years, however, we have faced increased challenges in reaching young people, and particularly in getting them to maintain their commitment, e.g., stay engaged as volunteers after they return. This project works towards empowering young people in ICYE to be more active, to feel confident speaking out about their needs and to engage more strongly in the Federation’s decision-making processes.
Main aim: To contribute to meaningful youth engagement, to enhance the respect for youth participation in decision making and to shape an inclusive and safe environment for them to engage.
Sub- objectives:
Members of the ICYE Youth Engagement Committee (YEC) met for their second in-person meeting. The meeting took form as a 5-day workshop on empowering young voices in decision making. Besides the YEC members, other young people from the ICYE Federation and CCIVS attended the meeting, which took place from 21th – 27th March 2025 in Aarhus, Denmark.
The main objectives were to train and develop strong communication skills and youth engagement strategies, with a strong emphasise on the themes that are important to the ICYE Youth Engagement Committee, such as democratic values, diversity & inclusion and decolonisation.
Furthermore, the participants worked on the three goals described in the YEC Action Plan:
1) Engaging more young people before, during and after their volunteering,
2) Ensuring the active participation and engagement of youth at different levels of the ICYE Federation and 3) Decolonising the narrative and language on volunteering in the ICYE Federation.
Continuing the path of several previous projects aimed at decolonising the International Voluntary Service (IVS) movement, this advocacy training brought together 20 participants from 18 different countries representing various IVS networks (CCIVS, ICYE, SCI) to refine and carry out a concrete advocacy plan.
The meeting took form as a 5-day workshop on building the skills needed to advocate for more equitable funding, power relations, and distribution of resources in the field of volunteering. The ICYE Youth Engagement Committee (YEC) took the lead on getting participants up to speed on the existing policy papers and advocacy work in two online preparation calls.
The group in the end sent suggested changes to the existing advocacy asks of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), which target the European Commission’s Multi-Annual Funding Framework 2028-2034. This tangible experience in advocacy work will be taken forward into future advocacy work within the framework of our strong coalition of young advocates for decolonising IVS.
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This project was made possible with the financial support of the Council of Europe
To strengthen Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our work, ICYE developed:
a) a DEI report on common concerns, barriers, and action ideas from across the Federation, the DEI Report and
b) a DEI planning, reflection and evaluation tool.
In our annual reports you can learn more about our work as a global Federation promoting international voluntary service
The XXXIII General Assembly of the ICYE Federation took place in Accra, Ghana, from the 13th to the 17th November 2023.
47 participants from 35 countries gathered together for an unforgettable experience and many important discussions. Thank you to everyone who was there, we appreciate your enthusiasm and active participation!
A special thank you to ICYE Ghana for hosting the General Assembly and making it possible!
Highlights:
A new Board of Managers was elected and the full members decided on the Sub-Committees that will work on our priorities for the next 2 years.
One of the decisions was also to establish a Youth Engagement Committee that will empower young people in the Federation to be more vocal about their views and be more active on different levels. The Youth Engagement Committee will encourage intergenerational collaboration and transmission of knowledge in all directions.
We left the GA inspired and motivated to continue our work together and we can’t wait to meet all of you again very soon!
The LIVE-EX project offers you the chance to gain essential digital and soft skills through engaging virtual dialogues and hands-on community actions. Focused on digital inclusion and climate justice, LIVE-EX empowers you to become a global advocate for change. Join us to fight climate crisis, enhance your employability by building your skills, engage in lasting friendships, and drive meaningful impact in your community.
LIVE-EX is an Erasmus+ funded Virtual Exchange project for the period 2024-2027, collaborating with 2 European and 8 partners from Sub-Saharan Africa. The project is a multi-network, transcontinental collaboration, which aims to foster youth engagement and global cooperation for social and climate justice by supporting digital inclusion among IVS organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa. This collaborative effort is designed to offer young people access to high-quality virtual intercultural exchanges, helping them build skills, gain critical thinking, and engage in environmental and social causes at a global level.
LIVE-EX is part of the Living Earth Campaign. If you would like to know more about Living Earth click here: https://ccivs.org/livingearth/
LIVE-EX stands for Living Earth Exchange, a project that strives to address the digital and environmental challenges faced by young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The primary aims and objectives of the project include:
By empowering young people, particularly from underrepresented and vulnerable communities, the Live-X Project strengthens the environmental movement with strong mentorship, diverse participation, and youth-led advocacy for climate justice.
The partners bring a wealth of experience in international voluntary service and community development. The consortium includes the following countries; if you are from one of these countries, please contact the organisations to find out about how you can become involved!
Kenya: International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE Kenya): Runs virtual exchange programs and places volunteers in community projects, fostering intercultural interactions.
Malawi: Community Forum (COFO): Actively involved in virtual exchanges and climate change advocacy, promoting youth engagement and education.
Mozambique: Associacao Juvenil Para o Desenvolvimento do Voluntariado em Moçambique (AJUDE): Works on digital access and intercultural exchange, promoting environmental awareness among local youth.
Nigeria: International Christian Youth Exchange (ICYE Nigeria): Engaged in virtual exchanges and Erasmus+ projects, focusing on diversity, equality, and sustainable development.
South Africa: South Africa Volunteer Work Camp Association (SAVWA): Focuses on the inclusion of disadvantaged communities and environmental actions, including managing community garden projects.
Tanzania: United Planet Tanzania (ICYE Tanzania): Introduced virtual exchange programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on various volunteer tasks, including marketing and social media.
Togo: Astovot : l’Asociation Togolaise des Volontaires au Travail: Promotes peace and improved living conditions through initiatives in education, environment, socioculture, and health.
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Workcamps Association (ZWA): A leading organization in the African volunteer network, with strong local youth engagement and virtual exchange experience.
This practical toolkit is primarily for volunteers and youth workers to kick-start their advocacy work starting from their inner circle of friends or the community where they live to address peace and environmental justice. It is also suitable for individuals, young activists, young leaders, and educators who desire to begin advocating the same causes.
