International Responsibility Seminar (IRS)

The IRS is a weeklong training session for young volunteers and alumni attended by 30 to 40 participants. Its aim is to guarantee ongoing training in internationalism. It gives European returnees a chance to meet and exchange ideas while approaching a subject that is not directly concerned with YFU operations. The topics at the IRS address more general issues of international/intercultural relations, communication, cooperation or comparison. The individual IRS participant is expected to bring the IRS theme into the YFU activities of their home countries. Some of the IRS have been carried out in the form of study sessions, which means that they are hosted in one of the European Youth Centres. The European Youth Centres provide the infrastructure as well as educational back up and guidance.