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History

The birth of the Alliance dates back to 1982. Since then, many new friends joined the family and many new activities and encounters enriched the present identity of the network.

For the 30th anniversary celebration of November 2012, the External Relations Committee of the Alliance prepared a presentation of the Alliance history since 1982. Enjoy it!

Year What happened?
1982 The Alliance of Western European Voluntary Service Organisations is founded by the following members: MS Denmark, Concordia France, IJGD Germany, SIW Netherlands, SVI Spain, QISP United Kingdom, UNA Exchange United Kingdom
1987 The General Conference takes place in Issoire (France) hosted by Jeunesse & Reconstruction on the topic: “Is the voluntary movement relevant to Youth today?”
1988 The General Conference takes place in Svendborg (Denmark) hosted by MS on the topic: “Educational Aspects of International Youth Exchange”.
1989
  • The General Conference takes place in in Ayvalik (Turkey) hosted by Genctur had the topic: “The contribution of International Voluntary Service”.
  • General Assembly takes place in Ayvalik (Turkey) hosted by Genctur. Katja Leszinski (ijgd) was elected as Alliance President. The name of the network is changed into “Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations”. It was decided to apply for membership at the Youth Forum of European Communities (future European Youth Forum). CIEE (USA) was welcomed as new Alliance member.
    		•
    1990
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Heiningen (Germany) hosted by IJGD with the topic: “The tower of Babel and the consequences”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Miranda hosted by SVI.
  • General Assembly takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany) hosted by IBG.
  • The General Conference takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany) hosted by IBG with the topic: “International Workcamps & Their Future”.
  • The Alliance was accepted as new full member in the Youth Forum.
    		•
    1991
  • An East-West Alliance Seminar takes place in Berlin (Germany) hosted by VJF.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany) hosted by IBG. Helle Sehested (MS) was elected as Alliance President.
  • The General Conference takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany) hosted by IBG with the topic: “Europe 1992 – Changes in East and West”.
  • INEX SDA (Czech Republic), INEX Slovakia, Elix (CVG) Greece are welcomed as new Alliance members.
    		•
    1992
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Issoire (France) hosted by Jeunesse & Reconstruction with the topic: “How to stay pacifist in times of war”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Abergavenny (UK) hosted by UNA.
  • The General Conference takes place in Strasbourg (France) hosted by UNAREC with the topic “Solidarity Work”.
  • FIYE Poland, GSM Turkey, KMC Czech Republic and VJF Germany are welcomed as new Alliance members.
    		•
    1993
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Driebergen (Netherlands) hosted by SIW on the topic: “Cultural Differences – how to handle them in workcamps”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Bonn (Germany) hosted by iJGD together with SCI Germany as a common TM with SCI International.
  • The General Conference takes place in Durham (UK) hosted by QISP had the topic “Tolerance”.
  • VFP USA is welcomed as new Alliance member.
    		•
    1994
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Marly-le-Roi (France) hosted by Concordia
  • TThe Post Camp Event takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany) hosted by IBG.
  • The General Conference takes place in Askov (Denmark) hosted by MS with the topic “Why is voluntary work important”. The General Assembly also takes place in Askov.
  • The Alliance Visa Initiative was run throughout the year.
    		•
    1995
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Arnhem (Netherlands) hosted by SIW.
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Manobier (UK) with the topic “To facilitate the fuller involvement of under-represented groups on the European level using voluntary service as a model”.
  • The General Conference takes place in Prague (Czech Republic) on the topic “Perspectives of international volunteer projects on community level – or how to combat Xenophobia all over Europe”
  • General Assembly takes place in Prague (Czech Republic) hosted by INEX SDA. QISP was elected as Alliance president. CBB Belgium and Chantiers Jeunesse Canada are welcomed as new Alliance members.
    		•
    1996
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Istanbul (Turkey) hosted by Genctur.
  • The Alliance organizes a Seminar on Associative Commitment in Issoire (France).
  • The General Conference takes place in Mollina (Spain) hosted by SVI and co-organized by Concordia France and IBG and had the topic “How to combat Youth Exclusion and Unemployment through Voluntary Service projects”.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Mollina (Spain) hosted by SVI. LYVS Belarus and NICE Japan are welcomed as new Alliance members
    		•
    1997
  • The Post Camp Event is hosted by MS Denmark in Holmstrup with the title “What do we require from today’s workcamp leaders”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Sheringham (UK).
  • The Alliance “Training for Trainers of multinational Voluntary Service and Community projects” is organized in Weil der Stadt (Germany), hosted by IBG.
  • FIYE hosts in Poland the “East West seminar: International exchanges with independent organisations in CEE countries”.
  • The General Conference hosted by UNAREC in Chantily had the topic “Volunteering in the 21st century – changes on structures, people and projects”.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Marly-le-Roi (France) hosted by Concordia. Estyes (Estonia) and Legambiente (Italy) are welcomed as new members.
    		•
    1998
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Weil der Stadt (Germany), hosted by IBG, with the title “Being a young European citizen – launching a web campaign and presentation”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Belarus hosted by LYVS.
    		•
    1999 The Alliance launches its first EVS Short Term Workcamp project as follow-up of the “EVS Mobility Maximising Inclusion” project.
    2000
  • The General Assembly takes place in Paestum (Italy), hosted by Legambiente. HUJ Armenia and RAI (later COCAT) become members of the Alliance.
  • Alliance members celebrate together the coming of the new millennium at the Post Camp Event hosted by EstYES in Estonia on December 28th 2000 -January3rd 2001. The topic is “Short Term Voluntary Service as a Form of Non-Formal Education”.
    		•
    2001
  • In cooperation with Strasbourg European Youth Centre, the Alliance organizes the 2nd Training for Trainers on January 2001.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Berlin (Germany) hosted by VJF.
  • The Alliance joins the International Year of Volunteering (IYV) Campaign 2001 together with AVSO, CCIVS, ICYE, SCI and YAP networks.
  • The second edition of the EVS Short term in Workcamps for inclusion starts with the participation of 16 Alliance members. 32 exchanges are realized since June 2001.
  • The General Conference is also hosted by INEX-SDA in Litomysl and has the title “Accessibility of Voluntary Service – Volunteers in Local and Social Communities”.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Litomysl (Czech Republic) hosted by INEX-SDA. Aleksandr Kurushev (EstYes) was elected as Alliance President.
  • The Post Camp Event is hosted by Concordia in Merlieux-Fouquerolles (France) with the title “International Lifestyle of Workcamp Associations”.
    		•
    2002
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by Alternative-V in Kiev (Ukraine).
  • The Training for Trainers Seminar – Part I, takes place at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg with focus on “Objectives and Structure of training”.
  • The Alliance EVS in Workcamps continues from 2001 with about 40 new exchanges of disadvantaged volunteers.
  • The General Assembly and the General Conference take place in Roenshoved (Denmark) hosted by MS. During the GA, the Access4All Working Group is created. The GC has the title “Breakdown of stereotypes”.
    		•
    2003
  • The Post Camp Event is hosted by Alternative-V in Ukraine, on the topic “From Workcamps to Active Youth Representation in International or European Institution”.
  • The Training for Trainers – Part II, takes place in Strasbourg EYC on February with focus on Metholodogy of training.
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by INEX Slovakia in Piestany.
  • On September, the first Staff Evaluation-Training Seminar takes place in South Wales (UK) hosted by UNA Exchange with the help of the Staff Platform of the network.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Soest (Netherlands) hosted by SIW. The Alliance redefines itself as a cooperative network instead of a technical platform. The three current types of membership are decided.
  • The General Conference is also hosted by SIW in Netherlands and focuses on the topic “The Balance of Personal Growth and Social Development”. It sees the participation of 78 people from 41 organisations.
  • The Alliance launches a new round of the EVS Short term in Workcamps project for young people from disadvantaged background.
    		•
    2004
  • The Post Camp Event takes place on January 2004 in Czech Republic, hosted by INEX-SDA, on the topic “Exchange of Project Leaders within the Alliance”.
  • The Training for Trainers takes place in Strasbourg European Youth Centre on the topic “Basic skills of running a training course with an international focus”.
  • The Technical Meeting, on March, is hosted by UNA Exchange and Concordia UK in Manchester (UK).
  • The General Conference takes place in Yerevan (Armenia), hosted by HUJ, on the topic “International Voluntary Service as means of effective cooperation of youth of the post Soviet countries and the countries of the European Union”
  • The General Assembly takes place in Yerevan (Armenia) hosted by HUJ.
  • The Alliance participates in the first year of “Still Active”, a project about the establishment of a toolkit and training scheme to prepare adult volunteers before their voluntary experience abroad.
    		•
    2005
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Antalya (Turkey) hosted by GSM.
  • The Training for Trainers is hosted in Berlin (Germany) by VJF on September 2005.
  • General Assembly takes place in Athens (Greece) hosted by CVG. EstYes is reelected as Alliance President. ADP-Zid (Montenegro) and Citizens in Action (Greece) are welcomed as new members. The Assembly decides to register the network as an official organisation in Denmark. Four categories of Working Groups are decided (permanent committee, regular and occasional working groups, steering committees to support specific projects). The first Alliance Secretariat is established, comprising Administrative, Financial, Publications and Web Assistants.
    		•
    2006
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Belgium hosted by CBB.
  • The first Euro-Asia Training for Trainers take place in Seoul (South-Korea) hosted by IWO and supported by ASEF.
  • The General Conference is hosted by J&R with the topic “Youth and citizenship – Impact of voluntary service projects on youth citizenship education”.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Marly-le-Roi (France) hosted by Jeunesse & Reconstruction. The status of Committee is established for Alliance Development Committee and External Relations Committee. CIEE Japan and Veraldarvinir Iceland are welcomed as new Alliance members.
    		•
    2007
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Turkey hosted by Genctur.
  • The second Euro-Asia Training for trainers takes place in Tallinn (Estonia), hosted by EstYes.
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Athens (Greece), hosted by CiA with the topic: “How to improve and to support the active participation of young people with less opportunities in international projects”
  • The General Assembly takes place in Marino (Italy) hosted by Legambiente. Workcamp Switzerland is welcomed as new Alliance member. The Alliance also celebrates its 25th anniversary. The GA 2007 is only closed after 5 months, in Sete (France), on March 2008 during an Extraordinary Session.
  • The Alliance launches a new edition of the Collective EVS-Project with the title “Rainbow”.
    		•
    2008
  • The Alliance Study Session takes place in Strasbourg EYC with the title “Participation through Preparation”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Sete (France) hosted by CBF. During the TM, an extraordinary General Assembly 2007 is organised, where Roman Kühn (VJF) is elected as the new Alliance President.
  • The General Assembly 2008 takes place in Lviv (Ukraine) hosted by Alternative-V. KMC Czech Republic rejects from membership.
  • The General Conference takes place in Lviv just after the GA on the topic “From preparation through evaluation and follow-up: enhancing quality of international voluntary workcamps as a practical tool for intercultural education”.
    • 2009
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted in Venice (Italy) by Lunaria.
  • The Post Camp Event takes place in Santorini (Greece), hosted by CiA with the topic “Towards a united strategy: from international volunteering to democratic participation”.
  • The General Assembly 2009 takes place in Jambville (France) hosted by Concordia. The network adopts the Membership policy and the Accessing policy papers, as well as the first version of the Alliance Quality Charter in IVS. SFERA (Russia) is welcomed as a new Alliance member.
    		•
    2010
  • The Study Session is organized in Strasbourg EYC on Alliance Access 4 All policy.
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted in Berlin (Germany) by VJF.
  • The General Conference takes place in Ankara (Turkey) hosted by GSM with the theme of “New trends in the Voluntary World”.
  • The General Assembly 2010 takes place in Ankara (Turkey) hosted by GSM. World 4 You, SJ France and JAVVA are welcomed as new Alliance members.
    		•
    2011
  • The Study Session is organized in Budapest EYC on the topic “Exploring Key Concepts and Empowering Participation and Inclusion of Young People through International Voluntary Service”.
  • The Technical Meeting takes place in Yerevan (Armenia) hosted by HUJ. The Flag Tour 2011 is launched during the TM: Alliance members and partners from all over the world host the flag of volunteering for few days. The journey of the flag ends with Thomas’ ride by bike from Berlin to the GA in Southampton, carrying the flag to the closing ceremony.
  • The Volunteer Messenger training is successfully implemented.
  • The PCE takes place in Saint-Petersburg (Russia) hosted by Sfera, on the topic “New volunteering in XXI century”.
  • The General Assembly 2011 takes place in Southampton (UK), hosted by Concordia UK. Grenzenlos (Austria) and YAP Italy become new members. Chrysafo Arvaniti (CiA) is elected as Alliance President.
    		•
    2012
  • The Study Session is organized on February, on the intercultural learning impact of workcamps on local communities.
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by Unarec in Parent (France). The External Relations Committee launches the 30th Anniversary CAMPaign on the occasion of the Alliance 30 years of existence.
  • Training for Trainers and General Conference in 2012 focus on the inclusion of socially disadvantaged young people and young volunteers with disabilities. They are hosted respectively by Lunaria in Italy and by CBB in Belgium.
  • The General Assembly takes place in Mozet (Belgium) hosted by CBB. The Wish Tree resulting from the CAMPaign, with wishes of hundreds of volunteers from all over the world for Alliance birthday, is presented to the members and the invited guests from YFJ, CCIVS, SEEYN and Belgium authorities. The a new Working Group on Environmental Sustainability is created.
  • The project Learning Bridges on the cooperation between European and Latin American voluntary organisations, starts on December with the Kick-off meeting hosted by Vimex in Tepoztlan (Mexico).
    		•
    2013
  • The Training “Young people building peace and intercultural dialogue through advocacy and cooperation” takes place on February in Tallinn hosted by Estyes and organized by the External Relations Committee.
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by INEX in Piestany (Slovakia).
  • The first Long Term Training Course takes places. It starts with the Study Session on the topic “Changing youth projects from multinational to intercultural – Towards a united strategy for intercultural learning and youth participation” (Budapest EYC), and continues with the Training for Trainers “Domino Effect: Training for Change Triggers” hosted by J&R on May.
  • The General Assembly is hosted by IBG in Weil der Stadt. Two new members enter the network: Xchange Scotland and De Amicitia (Spain). Members adopt an amended version of the Alliance Quality Charter and a new Training and Educational Policy paper.
  • Along the year, the Alliance implements two long term projects: the latest edition of EVS for inclusion entitles “Go for the NEETs”, and the “Learning Bridges” project in cooperation with Latin American IVS organisations.
    		•
    2014
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by GSM in Antalya (Turkey). The Environmental Sustainability Working Group launches the Energy Free Day initiative for 26th July in workcamps. The video “Volunteering with the Alliance” is launched to promote IVS and specifically workcamps among young people and communities across Europe.
  • Alliance delegation takes part in the European Youth Event 2014 in Strasbourg on May.
  • The Alliance workplan 2014 kicks off with the Capacity Building training course “Begin anywhere” (Serbia, June) and the Study Visit “Mapping social activism of a European Youth capital” (Greece, September), with the support of EYF.
  • In the framework of the workplan, the first Alliance Congress “Values and role of IVS in the current political, social, economic situation” takes place on 2-7 November in Rispescia (Italy), hosted by Legambiente and YAP Italy. The final resolution set a milestone in Alliance IVS and networking actions for the following 10 years.
  • The GA takes place in Rispescia right after the congress. A historical number of proposals resulting from the Congress and an ambitious Plan of Action are adopted for 2015 and new members enter the Executive and Management Committees.
    		•
    2015
  • I’VE project for the development of assessment and recognition tools of competences gained by young people during workcamps, starts with the kick-off meeting in Rome on January and continues along all 2015. It is coordinated by Lunaria with the participation of the Alliance and 13 member organisations.
  • The first Long Term Training Course “Workcamp studies – Quality education for trainers of youth leaders in the field of IVS”, supported by EYF, starts with the Induction seminar “How to learn” hosted by Unarec in Clermont-Ferrand on 21-26 February.
  • The Technical Meeting is hosted by HUJ in Yerevan (Armenia). The ESWG launches the common action 2015 in workcamps, Cook4Climate.
  • The Training of Trainers – 2nd event of the LTTC is hosted by Legambiente in the beautiful venue of Monte Barro (Italy) on April with the title “How to teach”
  • The Post Critical Evaluation meeting – 3rd event of LTTC takes place in Vienna hosted by Grenzenlos on 29 August-3 September. It is followed by the Joint Meeting of all Working Groups and Committees.
  • The Staff evaluation meeting is hosted by VJF in Ueckermunde (Germany) on 3-6 November, with 50 participants from almost all the Alliance membership. The seminar is funded by the German National agency of Erasmus+.
  • The GA takes place in Ueckermunde (Germany) on 7-8 November. Mattia Lolli (Legambiente) is elected President. Two new members are welcomed: Egyesek from Hungary and Open Houses from Germany.
  • The Alliance participates actively to the Conference of Youth (COY) in Paris at the end of November, right before the CoP on Climate Change.
    		•

    • Alliance is supported by:

      The European Union and the Council of Europe

    • Erasmus+
    • Council Of Europe