European Volunteer Meeting (EVM)  

EVM 2005                                 

In 2005 the European Volunteer Meeting (EVM)  took place as part of the University of Youth and Development in Mollina, Spain, from October 13-19 2005, it gathered 32 participants from 11 different countries in Mollina, Spain. The EVM provided experienced volunteers from different European YFU organisations with a platform for networking. Exchanging "best practices" and experiences as well as developing innovative transnational projects was part of this week-long intercultural encounter. Information on international YFU cooperation and European youth structures rounded off the event. Within the framework of the University on Youth and Development Joint Programme the participants further had the opportunity to interact with members of other youth organisations. As a result of the EVM, a number of projects have been initiated and the participants’ motivation and the work on these projects is ongoing, such as a Nordic Volunteer meeting that will be held in April 2006.

EVM 2004

The European Volunteer Meeting gathered 27 participants from 10 different countries in Mollina, Spain from 8-15 October 2004. The meeting took place as part of the 5th University on Youth and Development, a space for youth agents in the field of development to come together to exchange and to plan for the future.
The specific aim of the EVM was to establish a dynamic and sustainable network of European volunteers and had a seperate programme within the framework of the University on Youth and Development Joint Programme where participants had the opportunity to interact with members of other youth organisations.
Through a series of seminars and workshops, the EVM participants learnt about the structure and activities of EEE-YFU, other NGOs and the European youth movement in general and had the opportunity to share their own experiences as YFU volunteers and representatives on a National, European and International level. Once the basic aims of a European Volunteer Network had been discussed and accepted by the participants, we set about developing the network. The European Volunteer Network is currently comprised of the participants in the EVM. It aims, however, to be able to expand once a concrete communication platform or discussion forum has been established. In the meantime, a series of concrete projects have been devised by the members and their motivation and the work on these projects is ongoing. The EVN will also continue to create and put into action projects connected to EEE-YFU.
The group of volunteers who left Mollina on 15th October were certainly highly motivated and the European Volunteer Network that they represent looks set to become a sustainable platform for the development and implementation of new projects based on intercultural learning.