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 aim of the video project was to promote rural youth work and the benefits of volunteering for rural young people. The videos were filmed at Rural Youth Europe events in 2011 including "Spice Up Your Potential!" in Strasbourg, France, "Be active – get better opportunities in life through volunteering!" in Ruse, Slovenia, and "Spice Up Your Community!" in Mollina, Spain. Interviews were also filmed in Jäneda, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland.

The videos feature young people aged 18-30 years who are active members of their national rural youth organisation, 4H club or young farmer club. These young people did a fantastic job as the project was filmed and co-ordinated entirely by volunteers on a very limited budget. Equipment hire and travel were supported by a grant from the European Youth Foundation (EYF).

The longer video (9:55) is about volunteering and what it means for young people living in rural areas. Four people were interviewed about doing voluntary work in their local community and their international volunteering experiences with Rural http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndk-peCsvk4

The short video (2:43) is about Rural Youth Europe – who we are, what we do and who it's for!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUFBPTL3zU

"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

EYV 2011 Alliance: Key moments of 2011 Photo Gallery (View more photos here)

European Commission Media Launch of EYV 2011, December 2010

EYV 2011 Alliance Working Group Kick Off Conference, Budapest, January 2011



EYV 2011 Alliance Working Group Meeting, Brussels, March 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance Meeting, Brussels, EESC, March 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance Working Group Meeting, Brussels, May 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance participating in the 2nd EC thematic conference for EYV 2011, May 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance EP Citizen's Prize ceremony, Brussels, September 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance Working Group Meeting, Brussels, September 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance at the EC 3rd Thematic Confererence for EYV 2011, Athens October 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance Working Group Closing Conference, Warsaw, December 2011

EYV 2011 Alliance presented P.A.V.E at the EYV 2011 Closing Conference, Warsaw, December 2011

Johanniter International organised the opening ceremony of the JOIN exhibition "Volunteeer without borders, a tribute to the European Year of Volunteering" on 8 November 6:30 pm at the European Parliament. The exhibition took place between 7-11 November 2011 and was hosted by Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, MEP. The opening ceremony will be followed by a reception and the opportunity to exchange views with JOIN volunteers and board members. With this exhibition the Johanniter organisations concluded their contributions to the European Year of Volunteering 2011. Read Johanniter press release.

Caritas Policy Statement on the European Year of Volunteering 2011, Caritas Europa, 2011

A Picture of Volunteering in Diaconia. A publication by Eurodiaconia, May 2011.

Description: This publication is one of Eurodiaconia's activities carried out on the occasion of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 as a means to celebrate volunteering in diaconia and to promote the sharing of best practice in volunteering among Eurodiaconia's members. This publication is aimed at volunteer managers in diaconal organisations and churches and volunteering policy makers in diaconia. It is also targeted at anyone who would like to learn more about diaconia and in particular what volunteers do in diaconal organisations. The publication is also available on Eurodiaconia's website: http://www.eurodiaconia.org/publications-and-resources