FODERATION DER NATIONALKOMITEES IM INTERNATIONALEN KULTURELLEN JUGENDAUSTAUSCH - ICYE EV

The Federation of the International Cultural Youth Exchange comprises 35 National Committees and 4 regional bodies. It is a non-profit NGO registered in Germany with head office in Berlin. ICYE’s mission is: -to provide challenging intercultural learning experiences for young people -to promote their social and personal development through international volunteer programmes -to promote intercultural understanding, equality of opportunity and peace among people in the world Target Groups ICYE is a network of organisations for, by and with young people, who form the majority of youth workers, board of managers, staff and volunteers. ICYE and ESC volunteering programmes are open to youth between 18-30 years. No prior experience is required, and but it is desirable for them to be motivated to live in a different country and face the challenge of being confronted with something new, in order to learn more about themselves and the world they live in. Main Activities: Long-term Voluntary Service The mainstay of ICYE’s activities is the promotion and organisation of worldwide long-term voluntary service. Each year ICYE exchanges hundreds of volunteers between different countries for periods ranging between 6 and 12 months. These exchanges aim to provide youth with intercultural learning experiences, encouraging their social and occupational integration and supporting the development of local community projects. ICYE offers young people worldwide an experience based on international learning programme. The emphasis of this experience is on promoting international voluntary service as a meaningful alternative to addressing social and educational needs of today’s youth. It aims to heighten young people’s sensitivity towards social and cultural differences, their self-confidence and problem solving abilities. Short-term exchange activities Through its member organisations, ICYE organises short-term exchanges such as individual volunteer placements and work camps dealing with community development activities, projects to combat social exclusion, environmental protection, group study visits, language courses and cultural exposure activities. ICYE has established a short-term exchange programme called StePs, which lasts from 2-16 weeks and is designed to offer volunteers a combination of reliable and meaningful volunteer work with direct exposure to the rich cultures of the host countries. Short-term volunteer opportunities range from coaching sports for street children to doing outreach health education, helping in orphanages, and protecting wildlife. Seminars & training ICYE regularly organises issue seminars to discuss content and methodologies of existing programmes as well as to develop new strategies, projects, activities, and working styles. Subjects range from youth work, intercultural learning and human rights education to international volunteering, global education, sustainable development, activism and active citizenship, north-south relations and gender equality and inclusion. Training courses on planning, management and evaluation of youth exchange programmes are organised at the national and international level for ICYE staff, co-workers, and youth workers of partner organisations. Erasmus+ and European Voluntary Service Since 1996, ICYE has been directly involved, both at the international and national level, in implementing the EVS Programme, which has opened new possibilities and increased the number of long-term volunteer placements that ICYE can offer to young people. The EVS programme has enabled ICYE to reach and increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities (with economic, social-cultural and educational disadvantages or from rural areas), who do not have access to volunteering opportunities abroad. Within the framework of the Youth in Action Programme, EVS and more recently the Erasmus+, the ICYE IO and its members have developed mutually enriching partnerships with youth and volunteering organis