Project description

Background of the project

The White Paper for International Voluntary Service (2011-2021) outlines the strategic objectives for Cultural Heritage and Diversity with the vision of ‘Preserving, protecting, and promoting cultural heritage and diversity through International Voluntary Service activities in order to foster mutual understanding and respect within the global community’.

Heritage is an important element of local communities where IVS organisations have set up projects since 1920 (1st workcamp). Throughout the years organisations, mainly in Europe, have forged cooperation with various stakeholders, incorporating youth and adult volunteers in the protection, preservation and valorisation of tangible and intangible heritage. This topic has been taken until recent years in other regions of the world demonstrating the value of non-formal learning as the IVS educational approach to disseminate the values and expertise developed at the inter-governmental level to a large public and in particular to young people, based on a dynamic dialogue between the different stakeholders.

Project objectives

The aim of this project was to work towards the strategic objectives of the White Paper and to promote the work of IVS organisations and NFL, whilst valorising local customs and the diversity of these.

The world is under an increasing threat from globalisation and extremism; these two factors contribute to the decomposition of cultural norms, traditions and the destruction and loss of heritage sites.

This project commended both tangible and intangible heritage and revelled in the diversity of this heritage. The applicant organisations proposed actions which focused on food, culture, language, cultural and natural sites indigenous traditions etc. The aim was to be as diverse as possible and to present the richness of this diversity and to include local people as educators, emphasizing the bottom up approach of IVS and the work in local communities and with young people with fewer opportunities.

Project structure

This project lasted 24-months, our partners are grassroots IVS organisations from Africa, Asia and Europe. The project consisted of four actions that all use different methods for reaching the objectives set by the White Paper:

1. A global community where mutual understanding and respect are brought by active citizens that preserve protect and promote cultural heritage and diversity
2. Develop and expand cooperation between organisations, institutions and government bodies in the field of Cultural Heritage and Diversity
3. Raise awareness about the impact of IVS in cultural heritage and diversity issues

The different actions included:

• Stakeholders Forum (6-11th October 2016)
• Capacity building trainings on Volunteer and Heritage Management in France and Uganda (April/May 2017)
• Local Awareness Raising Actions (June 2017 – December 2017)
• Global Communication Campaign (January 2017 – March 2018)

Impact measurement  was conducted throughout this project and partners were given the necessary training and tools to implement actions in the field.