1. VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FUTURE
A Key Action 2 (adult education) Strategic Partnership

2. What is the project about?
“The project aims to develop high quality learning opportunities that are tailored to volunteers returning from placements in the global south, to upskill them as active citizens on international development issues. Utilising innovative outreach and delivery methodologies, it aims to nurture the transformative potential of these people’s overseas experience and translate it into a deepened sense of identity as active global citizens.”

3. Who & what does it involve?
Comhlámh is lead, with partners in Czech Rep (INEX- SDA), Germany (finep), and UK (Volunteering Matters);
32-month project, to support international volunteers into active citizenship;
Aims to generate resources on active citizenship, including research and training manuals, as well as training opportunities for volunteers and volunteer sending agencies, and shared learning events

4. Engaging Returned Volunteers In Active Citizenship
Research conducted in all four partner countries, with respondents from 75 organisations;
Identified active citizenship as encompassing political engagement, social participation, and individual participation;
Also championed a critical approach to active citizenship, involving critical, deeper, more structural engagement;
Identified 12 recommendations to foster active citizenship in returning international volunteers; these have underpinned the development of subsequent resources.

5. Pan-EU Training manual for supporting volunteers after an international placement
Four-staged approach to supporting continuous engagement that utilises a development education approach and methodologies;
Informed by the findings of the research; piloted with international participants over 5 days, and revised with their input and evaluations;
Forms the basis for the localised training manuals developed by each partner, and translated as required (German, Czech).

6. What Next? A training resource for working with returned volunteers in ireland
‘Wake Up call’: What happens between the ‘wake-up call’ and the bit where people start doing things differently?
STORYTELLING: Reflecting on the experience
BIGGER PICTURE: Examining why global development issues exist, and how they’re connected
CREATING AN ACTION PROJECT: a how-to guide to establishing a strong social action project
CONSOLIDATING THE LEARNING: inspiring & challenging participants to stay involved in development

7. What Next? TRAINING COURSE
Throughout the 3-year project cycle, participants from across Europe will be facilitated to come together and draw on each others’ expertise and experiences. The main target group are people who are returning from a voluntary service in the global south. During their deployment they achieve personal growth and experience life in a very different environment, helping to uncover new perspectives on global issues like poverty, inequality and climate change. Volunteering for the Future aims to encourage these volunteers who have returned to their home country to nurture this critical literacy stimulated while overseas and enable them to raise awareness through development education and become active, questioning and engaged global citizens.

9. OUTCOMES
“It was amazing to be part of such an inspirational experience. Together we learnt from each other, and the facilitation ensured we were able to turn our motivation into real plans to make tangible differences to people’s lives. We are incredibly lucky to be part of this international network and we’re looking forward to supporting each other’s Action Plans over the next few months!” – UK participant
“The week also allowed for the group to network and share an assortment of ideas, campaigns, interesting books and documentaries and opportunities available. I gained not only many like-minded friends, but also a renewed sense of drive for an issue that has always bugged me. I have now turned a motivation into real plans to make tangible differences to communities. Since the trip we have set up various platforms to keep connected and to continuously support others action projects” – participant from Ireland

10. Action projects
A social justice week in a university including an ethical breakfast morning, sale of ethical fashion and Rebottle workshop. It also featured a workshop on transforming used plastic into useful objects, with no input of energy;
Introducing global education topics to pre-school education;
Pre-departure training with potential international volunteers to help them get involved in active citizenship;
A series of workshops in schools about political topics like extremism, political system in Germany, elections, etc;
Working with refugees and organising activities with them based on their ideas and needs;
Various awareness raising workshops on gender equality were organised in the UK;
Several UK young people took the initiative to ensure the voice of UK young people is being heard during the Brexit negotiations process.

11. Thank you!
Dervla King: Gareth Conlon: