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: Rahim Hassanali (Habitat for Humanity International)

• Speaker: Tariku Negash Deneke (Serve Global)
• Title: "Enhancing youth involvement in climate adaptation practices and good governance through volunteering in Africa"

This presentation will discuss the challenges of climate change and good governance in Africa, with a particular focus on the transformative potential of youth volunteering. The speaker will highlight the continent's urgent need to tackle climate change while prioritising its large youth population. The presentation will also acknowledge the persistent challenges of instability, poverty and slow industrial growth in the African context, often rooted in poor governance. The presentation will then explore how youth volunteerism is an untapped resource for addressing these pressing challenges. By engaging young people in innovative adaptation practices, volunteering can enhance their skills and empower them to contribute meaningfully to community development and climate action. In addition, the speaker will discuss how promoting youth volunteering can strengthen democratic practices, increase transparency and enhance accountability, all of which are essential for good governance. By integrating climate action, youth empowerment and good governance, this presentation will provide high-level insights into the role of volunteering in addressing the complex challenges facing Africa today.

• Speakers: Pie Hong and Angela Wang (Waker Welfare Action Association)
• Title: "Eastern insights for cross-cultural volunteer engagement and crisis response"

In the broad context of East and West, 'individualism' and 'collectivism' highlight significant cultural and behavioural differences. In the face of increasing global challenges, Eastern experience offers valuable insights into promoting solidarity. By applying Eastern management principles, the presentation will explore the possibilities of creating autonomy within group volunteer structures. This approach promotes flexibility and fluent communication, crucial for responding to different cultural environments and crises. Through the concept of the 'Volunteer Journey', organisations can empower volunteers with autonomy, clear development paths and a sense of achievement. The journey includes different stages of challenges and growth opportunities, allowing volunteers to evolve into roles such as facilitators, donors and advocates. This multi-faceted involvement increases volunteer engagement and builds strong internal networks, ensuring sustainable volunteer services. Flexibility within the journey empowers volunteers and promotes effective crisis response through clear communication channels. The speakers will share their views on how these principles can strengthen volunteer management and organisational cohesion across Asia.

• Speaker: Philippe Dongier (CECI)
• Title: "Volunteering for solidarity: The power of women’s reciprocal mentorship to trigger transformative change"

In today's world, entrenched unequal power dynamics persist, often exacerbated by traditional top-down approaches to international development and one-sided collaborations between perceived 'donors' and 'recipients', unidirectional aid flows, and government policies that support North-South volunteerism. This presentation will discuss a paradigm shift towards volunteering for solidarity, promoting collaborative partnerships that empower NGOs, businesses and leaders through shared purpose, design thinking and co-creation to address today's challenges. The speaker will explore how IVCOs can harness corporate and volunteer resources to drive community development and business growth, thereby contributing to poverty alleviation. One example is an initiative by CECI's Volunteer Cooperation Programme to match volunteer Canadian women entrepreneurs with women entrepreneurs in the global South for mutual mentorship. To date, this has been successful in Bolivia and Senegal. The initiative has been facilitating peer learning, sharing of expertise and best practices to promote the adoption of sustainable and equitable business practices that significantly improve the economic and social well-being of women and their communities. In this context, the speaker will discuss how volunteering for solidarity through private sector collaborations can play a powerful role in catalysing transformative change towards equality, empowerment and social justice for the benefit of all stakeholders. This presentation will draw upon CECI's Think Piece published as part of the IVCO 2024 Think Piece series, which can be accessed here.

*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.