OPINION of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing "Erasmus for all" – The Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport COM(2011) 788 final – 2011/0371 (COD)

European Economic and Social Committee SOC/438 Erasmus for all Brussels, 29 March 2012

OPINION of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Communication on EU Policies and Volunteering: Recognising and Promoting Cross-border Voluntary Activities in the EU, COM(2011) 568 final.

European Economic and Social Committee SOC/431 EU Policies and Volunteering Brussels, 28 March 2012

The 27th issue of the ICYE Federation's Newsletter is a special issue on volunteering:

"Volunteers Addressing the Challenges of Globalization in Rural and Urban Development" (February 2012)

United Nations A/RES/60/134 adopted by the General Assembly in 2006 - 60/134. Follow-up to the implementation of the International Year of Volunteers

Read more about the UN Resolutions leading to IYV and IYV+10 here.

United Nations Resolution A/Res/63/153 adopted by the General Assembly in 2009 - 63/153. Follow-up to the implementation of the International Year of Volunteers

Read more about the UN Resolutions leading to IYV and IYV+10 here.

United Nations Resolution A/RES/66/67 adopted by the General Assembly - 66/67 Tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, February 2012 (73rd plenary meeting, 5 December 2011)

Read more

Long-term International Volunteer Statement

From 28th of November 2011 until 1st of December 2011 Silesian Diaconia, a non governmental organization, organized the international seminar called „Privilege – yes or
no?“ in the Czech Republic, in Malenovice. The aim of the international seminar called „Privilege – yes or no?" was to promote equal opportunity and mobility of young people to participate in long-term international voluntarism, particularly between EU and non- EU countries. The participants of the seminar were coordinators, volunteers, former volunteers, supervisors, and mentors active in the international voluntary service field from ten different countries (Denmark, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Palestine). Participants shared their different authentic experiences within the context of international volunteering which resulted in the unanimous support of the attached statement.

Volunteers are active ambassadors of acceptance and solidarity in Athens

One of the largest and most inspiring volunteering event of 2011 took place in the framework of Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 from June 20 to July 4 hosting 7,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities and 25,000 volunteers from all over the world. Special Olympics is based upon the idea of volunteerism as volunteers have been the cornerstone to develop the movement in 180 countries and regions worldwide. Special Olympics serve as an effective catalyst for a social change towards understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disability.

From June 10 until July 10, 100 young European citizens, aged 18-30 years old offered volunteer service to Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011. Their participation was supported by the European Commission within the framework of Action 2 of Youth in Action Programme (EVS, European Voluntary Service).

The young volunteers came mainly from member organizations of the "Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations" from Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom. They contributed to the success of the event and supported the Special Olympics athletes in the sport venues as well as in the non-sport sites. On every occasion they promoted the goals of IYV+10 and the European Year of Volunteering 2011. Above all, volunteers were active ambassadors of hope, acceptance, solidarity and of the transforming effect volunteerism can have in society.

Final Report of the Research Seminar "Mobility of young people – Opportunities and obstacles for cross-border volunteering for young people, particularly with fewer opportunities" (European Youth Centre, Strasbourg 11-13 December 2011), a report produced for the EU-CoE youth partnership and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the partner institutions

Final Report, 64th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference ""Sustainable Societies; Responsive Citizens", Bonn, Germany, 3-5 September 2011