The breakout sessions on Day 1 will focus on who ‘we’ are as diverse actors in the volunteering sector, understanding the nature of crises and acknowledging their depth and what they mean to us. The sessions will also aim to connect the local to the global by inviting delegates to talk about the challenges they face at different levels and to brainstorm together on current and potential coping strategies.

In this Strategy Conversation, speakers will provide high-level insights and real-world examples to inspire delegates to consider how intersecting global crises impact volunteering and development in different ways.

Moderator: Katy Jenkins (Northumbria University)

• Speaker: Yann Delaunay (France Volontaires)
• Title: "Volunteering for solidarity, an essential lever for meaningful, effective and partnership-based action in times of crises"

This presentation will explore the central role of solidarity in volunteering, focusing on how the Volunteering for International Exchange and Solidarity (VIES) framework fosters deeper connections among individuals, organisations, and communities. Through decentralised projects, VIES enhances community impact, advances equity, social justice, and sustainability, and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embodying the principle of “Leaving no one behind”. The speaker will discuss initiatives like EUAV Forests and V-GMV that empower citizens and civil society to address climate change. Diverse volunteer schemes, such as Ambassador programmes, offer pathways for social and professional integration while fostering intercultural dialogue and advocating for inclusive societies. Despite challenges from growing global security concerns and shrinking civil society space, France Volontaires and its partners develop reciprocal, multi-stakeholder programmes that prioritise blended volunteering and local partnerships, challenging power imbalances and promoting a more decentralised, equitable model of international cooperation.

• Speaker: Cynthia Gukuta (Southern Africa Workcamps Cooperation)
• Title: "International voluntary services: yet another form of lip services?"

Critics argue that many international volunteer programmes often prioritise short-term projects that provide only superficial benefits to host communities. These programmes may focus more on giving volunteers a sense of accomplishment than on addressing the deep-rooted issues faced by the communities. As a result, many initiatives lack sustainability and fail to provide long-term solutions. Once volunteers leave, communities frequently revert to their previous state due to insufficient ongoing support and resources. Additionally, these programmes can be more volunteer-centred than community-centred, placing greater emphasis on the experiences and benefits for volunteers rather than on the needs and voices of the local populations. This misalignment can lead to initiatives that do not truly address or reflect the actual priorities of the communities they aim to serve. This presentation aims to provide a critical examination of these issues and strategies from the experience of Southern Africa Workcamps Cooperation for developing more sustainable, community-focused volunteer programmes.

• Speaker: Jan Olav Baarøy (Norec)
• Title: "To build a bridge that unites us, and withstands the storm"

This presentation will share the experiences of Norec, a unit within the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has supported over 12,000 young people to travel and work abroad in Norway and the global South. Norec is increasingly concerned with growing global instability and geopolitical tensions, particularly in Palestine, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Colombia. In response to these challenges, Norec is aligning its efforts with SDG 16, which aims to reduce instability by promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, with one in four of its projects contributing to this goal. The speaker will highlight Norec's partnerships, which focus on intercultural communication and collaborative problem-solving based on dialogue, trust and respect. The discussion will illustrate how enduring relationships, tested by challenges such as COVID-19, are crucial to developing resilient partnerships that foster global unity.

• Speaker: Nichole Cirillo (IAVE)
• Title: "Exploring the impacts of volunteering in a divided world"

This presentation will provide an overview of key global trends currently shaping the landscape of volunteering. These trends include volunteering for systems change, promoting equity, embracing digital transformation, and seeking personal benefit. By unpacking these trends, the presentation will explore how they are influencing volunteerism today and how they can be leveraged to drive innovation in an increasingly dynamic world. The speaker will highlight the growing focus on using volunteering as a tool for broader societal change, the role of technology in expanding volunteer opportunities, and the evolving motivations behind volunteer participation in a divided world.

*Four different modalities of breakout sessions have been designed to amplify diverse voices and promote opportunities for delegates to share their experiences in engaging ways during IVCO 2024.
Click here to find out more about what to expect from each type of breakout session.