Concordia's International Networks

November has been a busy month for Concordia’s International Volunteer Manager, Tom Page. As a charity dedicated to international volunteering, we make it a priority to stay in touch with our partners around the world. Nowadays, that often happens online, but from time to time, it’s important to get out into the world and meet our partners face to face. Read on for Tom’s takeaways from two recent visits to Germany and South Africa, and get an inside look at how the international volunteering world works.

The delegates attending the CCIVS General Assembly, outside the Palace of Justice, Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela was tried and convicted for his role in the fight for freedom.

Concordia’s International Networks

Since Concordia’s founding in 1943, we’ve been a pioneer in the international volunteering movement. Central to our work is our membership in two global networks: the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations (the Alliance) and the Coordinating Committee of International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), of which Concordia was a founding member in 1948.

Through these organisations, we work with local communities to develop new volunteering projects and give volunteers the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.

Voices for Change is a CCIVS-led project to help young people speak out about social and environmental justice.

How does it work?

In brief, both the Alliance and CCIVS operate in similar ways. Member organisations collaborate with local communities in their region to develop and host volunteering projects. The details of these projects are then shared across the network, so volunteers from all over the world can get involved.

Through these two networks, we work with over a hundred host organisations and can offer more than a thousand different projects each year.

The CCIVS General Assembly, with representatives from organisations across the world.

A busy November

As Concordia’s International Volunteer Manager, I’m responsible for ensuring that our volunteer projects are safe, ethical, and impactful. Most of our projects run in the summer, with planning and preparation happening over the winter and spring. That makes autumn a slightly quieter period, perfect for sitting down with partner organisations, reflecting on the past season, and coordinating for the year ahead.

This November, I represented Concordia at two key events: the annual placement officer meeting for the Alliance and the biennial CCIVS General Assembly and Conference.

 

The placement officers from across the Alliance - these are the people that make international volunteering possible.

Placement Officer Meeting – The Alliance

The Alliance is a network of more than 50 youth and voluntary service organisations across Europe (with affiliate members from further afield), all committed to promoting intercultural learning, non-formal education, and ethical international volunteering.

Each year, placement officers from across the Alliance meet for a week of workshops and training. Staying in small wooden bungalows on the outskirts of Berlin, we worked on improving project quality and strengthening communication with our fellow placement officers.

When helping volunteers decide where to go, it’s vital to know exactly who you are sending them to, so building personal relationships with counterpart placement officers is essential. Of course, just like the volunteer projects we facilitate, the week-long meeting also included plenty of fun, games, and a cultural visit to the centre of Berlin.

 

Coming togther as a group to reflect on the past season, and improve operations for next year.

General Assembly and Conference – CCIVS

As a global network, CCIVS focuses on strategic planning and cross-continental collaboration. Its General Assemblies are held every two years and are designed to share knowledge and ensure organisations across the network work together to improve the lives of volunteers.

This year, the event was held in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, and was well attended by members and affiliate organisations from across Africa.

One of the key themes of the week was decolonising the international volunteering movement. This involves challenging old power imbalances and ensuring volunteering is led by the needs and voices of local communities. CCIVS and its members, including Concordia, are taking action to build fairer partnerships and support volunteering rooted in genuine solidarity.

The host organisation, SAVWA, also organised an afternoon of sightseeing, including a visit to the courtroom where Nelson Mandela and his fellow ANC members were tried and convicted during the anti-apartheid movement.

Voting at the CCIVS General Assembly - this is how the global movement coordinates and plans for the next two years ahead.

Why this matters for our volunteers

Our membership in these networks and our attendance at events ensure that volunteers are placed with trusted, vetted, and ethical host organisations. By standardising approaches to safety, safeguarding, and project quality, we can be confident that all our volunteers will have a great experience.

By tackling big issues together, we also keep the international volunteering movement evolving with the times, making sure volunteering remains as relevant today as it was when Concordia was first founded in 1943.

As well as formal voting, workshops and informal discussions are a vital way of working together,

Join the movement

Our involvement in the Alliance and CCIVS highlights Concordia’s commitment to transparent, ethical practice. We are stronger when we work together with other organisations, striving for a more connected and peaceful world.

This autumn, I’ve been both humbled and inspired to meet just a few of the amazing people and organisations Concordia works with. I’m excited to extend the invitation to you: check out our upcoming projects to find out how you can make a difference, or get in touch if you’d like to discuss a placement or partnership.