IANYS Global Council

Agnes Uhereczky is currently the director of the Association of Voluntary Service Organizations (AVSO). In this capacity she is responsible for project management, lobbying, networking with various organizers and organizations which are part of the AVSO network and monitoring policy efforts across a number of European states. The AVSO website contains more detailed information about projects and strategies which can be found at http://www.avso.org. Ms. Uhereczky also spent several years working for the European Union as a manager of the Leonardo da Vinci program in Hungary which promotes study abroad as a method of improving students competences, knowledge and skills. A further resource of interest to NYS practitioners and those interested in Ms. Uhereczkys work is a study titled Social Inclusion and Volunteering/Civic Engagement.

NYS Region Overview: Europe

The Youth in Action program is the main European youth program and aims at mobilizing the potential of young Europeans. The program is engaging young people aged 13-30 (depending on the action component described below) and intends to promote active citizenship, tolerance and solidarity among young people in Europe. Furthermore the program seeks to stimulate intercultural dialogue, bring forward inclusion for young people from various social and ethnic backgrounds and actively promote mobility beyond national borders. From 2007 – 2013 the program will support a large variety of activities for youths through five Actions: (1) “Youth for Europe”, (2) “The European Voluntary Service, (3) “Youth in the World”, (4) “Youth Support Systems”, and (5) “Support for European co-operation in the youth field”.

“The European Voluntary Service” (EVS) was established under the European Union after World War II to promote international understanding and to promote peaceful conflict resolution. EVS enables young Europeans to be engaged in voluntary activities within or outside Europe for up to one year. The EVS offers a unique learning opportunity as volunteers can gain new skills that contribute to their professional and social development. The service experience also intends to develop mutual understanding, solidarity and tolerance that will have a positive impact on social cohesion in Europe. The service-learning experience is recognized through a “Youthpass”. This document provides an official validation for non-formal learning experiences on the European level and intends to support employability, the reflection of the personal non-formal learning process and social recognition of youth work. Read more in-depth information on the Youth Action program and the European Voluntary Service (EVS)