::AVSO::Association of Voluntary Service Organisations::

	what's new at avso
Ubuntu: Conference and Seminar take place in Brussels and the website launched As part of the Ubuntu International Youth Voluntary Service Award 2009, a partnership networking meeting, and a conference took place in Brussels in June. This was the first time that the 10 African and European Jury Members met to discuss applications for the award, and it was also the first opportunity for all of the project's partners to come together and discuss what constitutes quality in international youth voluntary service. The Ubuntu Awards website was also launched in May. For more information about the awards visit the website! The 8th Global IANYS Conference on National Youth Service The 8th Global Conference on National Youth Service took place in Paris from 19-22 November 2008. The conference was co-organised by the IANYS secretariat, Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP), in partnership with Unis-Cité and us, the Association of Voluntary Service Organizations (AVSO). The conference was a great success and was attended by over 120 participants from 43 countries (India, Barbados, Vietnam, Bosnia were among the many). The pre-conference session offered a great overview of existing old and new national youth service programmes, such as the FSJ in Germany, the new nascent programmes in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, as well as Israel, Italy, France. The first day thus gave participants the opportunity to have a global overview of different models for national service programmes for young people, the diverging approaches and philosophies behind the programmes. During the opening ceremony we had interventions from Bernard Laporte, the French Youth minister, Pascal Lejeune, Head of Unit at DG EAC and a special video message from Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia and Africa's first elected female head of state. The next 3 days were spent debating, listening and discussing about the many different aspects of “service by youth”, including a panel on private sector funding, a panel on research, another on social inclusion, peace building…and many more. We would like to thank profoundly to the financial supporters of the conference: The European Commission (Europe for Citizens and Youth in Action programmes), UNV, Shinnyo-en Foundation, Fondation des Etats Unis, the Benoit Foundation, the French Ministry for Youth and the University of Minnesota. AVSO on the radio AVSO President, Massimiliano Viatore gave an interview to Radio 1 (RadioRai) about the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the EVS programme. To listen to the interview, click here. AVSO Director, Agnes Uhereczky gave an interview to Radio France international about the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the EVS programme. To listen to the interview, click here.

what's new at avso

Ubuntu: Conference and Seminar take place in Brussels and the website launched

As part of the Ubuntu International Youth Voluntary Service Award 2009, a partnership networking meeting, and a conference took place in Brussels in June. This was the first time that the 10 African and European Jury Members met to discuss applications for the award, and it was also the first opportunity for all of the project's partners to come together and discuss what constitutes quality in international youth voluntary service.

The Ubuntu Awards website was also launched in May. For more information about the awards visit the website!

The 8th Global IANYS Conference on National Youth Service

The 8th Global Conference on National Youth Service took place in Paris from 19-22 November 2008. The conference was co-organised by the IANYS secretariat, Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP), in partnership with Unis-Cité and us, the Association of Voluntary Service Organizations (AVSO). The conference was a great success and was attended by over 120 participants from 43 countries (India, Barbados, Vietnam, Bosnia were among the many).

The pre-conference session offered a great overview of existing old and new national youth service programmes, such as the FSJ in Germany, the new nascent programmes in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, as well as Israel, Italy, France. The first day thus gave participants the opportunity to have a global overview of different models for national service programmes for young people, the diverging approaches and philosophies behind the programmes.

During the opening ceremony we had interventions from Bernard Laporte, the French Youth minister, Pascal Lejeune, Head of Unit at DG EAC and a special video message from Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia and Africa's first elected female head of state. The next 3 days were spent debating, listening and discussing about the many different aspects of “service by youth”, including a panel on private sector funding, a panel on research, another on social inclusion, peace building…and many more.

We would like to thank profoundly to the financial supporters of the conference: The European Commission (Europe for Citizens and Youth in Action programmes), UNV, Shinnyo-en Foundation, Fondation des Etats Unis, the Benoit Foundation, the French Ministry for Youth and the University of Minnesota.

AVSO on the radio

AVSO President, Massimiliano Viatore gave an interview to Radio 1 (RadioRai) about the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the EVS programme. To listen to the interview, click here.

AVSO Director, Agnes Uhereczky gave an interview to Radio France international about the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the EVS programme. To listen to the interview, click here.