THE 24TH IAVE WORLD VOLUNTEERING CONFERENCE STARTS IN MEXICO CITY TODAY

https://www.iave.org/convening/

“Creating the moment and stimulating the dialogue” – that is IAVE’s goal for its convenings. We bring together diverse groups of leaders of volunteering in settings that encourage discussion, reflection and learning. Participants are invited to focus on specific issues challenging volunteering and on how to increase the impact of volunteering on the world’s most pressing problems.

Since the very first conference in 1970, the IAVE World Volunteer Conference has been the premier gathering point for volunteer leaders from throughout the world, for people who share a commitment to volunteering as a means to build understanding across borders through the active engagement of people in service to their communities, to their societies and to the world.

This year, IAVE is pleased to announce the 24th IAVE World Volunteer Conference, hosted by Cemefi (Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía). Our theme – Volunteering for Social Change – recognizes that volunteering is a powerful way in which individual and collective actions can bring needed change to our communities, our countries and our rapidly globalizing world. At the same time, we know that volunteering contributes to our own personal development – building knowledge of the realities of the world, reinforcing our instinct to care and to respond and reminding us of our ability to make a real difference in the lives of others.

Together these two strands – social change and human development – form the framework for our program and accent our goal: to value volunteering as a strategic, high impact action for development.

The importance of the conference was reflected in its role as the kick-off event, held in Amsterdam, of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers in January 2001 and, in Singapore, of IYV+10 in 2011. Attendance has grown to almost 1,000 global, national and local leaders of volunteering from civil society organizations (NGOs), grassroots community initiatives, business, religion, education and government.

Everyone is welcome to share their experiences, expertise and enthusiasm as we meet, learn and recommit together.

Since 1998 the conference has been complemented by the World Youth Volunteer Conference Typically scheduled in the few days prior to the world conference, these are special opportunities for young volunteers, up to age 25, to meet together, volunteer together, learn and reflect together, and begin relationships that can last for many years.

This year, the youth conference will be held November 3-5 in Puebla, Mexico, one of the most important Spanish Colonial cities in Mexico and home to a myriad of world renowned universities.

This year, Cemefi, the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, is the host organization for the conference. For 28 years, Cemefi has been globally known and respected as an effective voice for “philanthropic, committed and socially responsible participation of citizens and their organizations to achieve a fair, supportive and developed society.”

This year, Cemefi is combining with the conference their own 20th national conference. This adds strength to both events, broadening focus and ensuring significant participation by leaders from throughout Mexico.

Together, Cemefi and IAVE share a commitment to volunteering as a powerful force for problem-solving and citizen engagement in shaping the futures of communities, countries and the world.

Founded in 1970, IAVE exists to promote, strengthen and celebrate volunteering in the myriad ways it happens throughout the world. It is a global network of NGOs, businesses, national volunteer centers and grassroots leaders of volunteering, with members in 70 countries across all the regions of the world.

Find here the schedules of the conference:

http://www.cemefi.org/iave2016/schedule.php

Find here why you should attend:

http://www.cemefi.org/iave2016/whoshould.php