Building on the discussions of the first day, breakout sessions on Day 2 will invite delegates to explore the different ways we can think about solidarity. We will provide time and space to reflect together on what we mean by solidarity, where it might already be present in our relationships and how the process of asking questions might help us to strengthen it further.

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: Jean Tan (SBF Foundation)

• Speaker: Ryutaro Kobayashi and Yuko Sasaki (JICA)
• Title: "Good practices for ‘volunteering for solidarity’ approach: A new attempt called Glocal Programme in Japan"

This presentation will explore JICA's innovative approach to volunteering through the Glocal Programme, which complements its 60-year history of sending over 40,000 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) worldwide. The Glocal Programme focuses on addressing challenges in rural areas of Japan before volunteers are sent abroad, allowing young participants to engage in problem-solving without the pressure of specific results or quotas. This flexible approach encourages trial and error, fostering resilience and creativity. Aligned with the theme of "volunteering for solidarity", the presentation will highlight how the experience gained through this programme inspires many volunteers to return to the communities they were based, after their two-year volunteering abroad, bringing back valuable knowledge and skills from their overseas assignments. The speakers will highlight how this evolving model of sustainable volunteering demonstrates how a cycle of learning and giving back can create lasting impacts, both locally and globally.

• Speaker: Associate Professor Dr Kedkun Srakawee (Puey Ungphakorn School of Development Studies, Thammasat University, Thailand)
• Title: "Solidarity in volunteering - How do we know if we are making progress in an ever changing world?"

Solidarity in volunteering is more complex than volunteers working as a team. It involves ensuring that community partners, volunteers and community members have a shared understanding of what volunteering for development is trying to achieve. In theory, volunteering for solidarity will be successful if everyone has a shared vision. In practice, volunteering for development and working successfully with key actors to achieve change is more complex. This highlights the value of knowledge partnerships between organisations implementing volunteering for development and academic institutions generating knowledge about how solidarity in volunteering emerges at the community level. This presentation reflects on the practice of engaging volunteers as researchers to deepen understanding of what is needed to ensure that solidarity can be achieved. Using case studies from Thailand and Zimbabwe, it considers the strengths and limitations of using standardised metrics at the community level. It also explores the possibility of combining information collected by community volunteers with academic rigour to understand what is needed to ensure that volunteering is responsible, creates the conditions for positive connections and overcomes barriers to empowering primary actors.

• Speaker: Meshack Odede Owino (VIO Society Kenya)
• Title: "The future of volunteering and development in a world faced by crises"

The presentation will draw on the work of volunteers in Kenya against the backdrop of global crises such as climate change affecting communities through disasters (e.g. floods and droughts) experienced in the country. It will begin by looking at the status of global crises and analysing how this has impacted volunteering and development over the years, as well as looking at lessons learned that can be used to shape future volunteering for development. The presentation will share evidence from the work of volunteers from VIO Society Kenya, giving a picture of the impact of volunteering on development and empowerment of communities, what best practices can be drawn from this and what challenges exist. The presentation will conclude with recommendations on how volunteering can shape the future of development in impactful ways.

*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.