From 4–6 May 2026, CCIVS was represented by Katalin Miklós, a member of the Youth Committee, at the Building Impact through Volunteering and Non-Formal Education event in Prague, Czech Republic. The gathering also marked the 35th anniversary of INEX, bringing together partners to exchange ideas on strengthening volunteering and youth engagement.
The first day focused on the challenges facing NGOs and the International Voluntary Service (IVS) movement. Participants explored the problem tree method and the Theory of Change approach before working in groups to develop project ideas that addressed the root causes of common challenges.
On the second day, discussions centered on the recognition of volunteering. Participants shared successful practices from their organizations and countries that encourage young people to volunteer. INEX also introduced a practical tool designed to help volunteers identify the skills they have gained through volunteering and present them effectively in their CVs and future job applications.
The final day celebrated INEX’s 35-year journey, highlighting its history, mission, and future plans. The event concluded with an informal networking session, creating opportunities to strengthen cooperation among local and international partners.
Several discussions were particularly relevant to CCIVS’s strategic priorities. Participants emphasized the importance of introducing volunteering to children from primary school so that community engagement becomes a natural part of growing up. Stronger partnerships with universities were also highlighted, especially to ensure that competencies gained through volunteering are recognized within formal education. Another recurring theme was the need for greater visibility of the NGO sector. Despite existing alliances and networks, many organizations still struggle to make the impact of volunteering widely recognized. Developing a common competency recognition tool that is accepted by governments, employers, and educational institutions was identified as a promising way to increase both the recognition of volunteers’ skills and the visibility of volunteering itself.
Recommendation by Katalin: One idea that could be explored is organizing local or online workshops for former volunteers using INEX’s competency recognition tool. The workshops could guide participants in identifying the skills they have gained through volunteering and translating those experiences into strong CVs and professional portfolios. This would help former volunteers make better use of their volunteer experience in their career development while also demonstrating the value of volunteering to employers and the wider community.
