Versailles, France – April 7–11, 2025
The Voices for Change consortium came together at L’Ermitage in Versailles for the Global Reflection Meeting (GRM) — five powerful days of collective visioning, strategic debate, and solidarity-building within the International Voluntary Service (IVS) movement.
Hosted by CCIVS and co-financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, the GRM brought together 28 participants from across the network: member organisations, youth activists, the CCIVS Secretariat and Executive Committee, and expert partners from the International Music Council (IMC).
“This meeting was about reclaiming the future of volunteering as a political, community-driven force—not just a programmatic tool,” shared a participant from Palestine.
Reflecting on the Past, Reimagining the Future
The GRM opened with a deep dive into the history of IVS, mapping the movement’s journey from post-war reconstruction in the 1920s to its current engagement with decolonisation, climate justice, and digital challenges. A timeline exercise helped participants place their own stories within the broader legacy of CCIVS, prompting intergenerational dialogue on values, changes, and turning points.
Key themes emerged:
- Shrinking civic space and growing visa barriers
- Shifts from physical to digital volunteering
- The erosion—and revival—of collective action among youth
Futures & Foresight for IVS
Using strategic foresight tools, participants explored potential futures for IVS in response to emerging global drivers: AI, natural disasters, voluntourism, and funding barriers. In a world marked by systemic inequality, climate breakdown, and rising authoritarianism, how can IVS evolve without compromising its principles?
Collaborative scenario-building exercises revealed the need to:
- Ground future advocacy in local knowledge and ancestral wisdom
- Integrate ethical uses of AI without losing the human connection
- Position IVS as a community-based alternative to commercial voluntourism
Sharpening the Advocacy Vision
The GRM strengthened alignment around the Five Advocacy Asks from the IVS Movement, with updated proposals to be finalised ahead of the 2025 General Assembly. Participants identified key next steps:
- Refine policy messages based on lived realities
- Improve recognition of IVS in education and mobility frameworks
- Amplify stories through inclusive communication and digital tools
- Secure equitable, long-term funding—especially for Global South partners
The IMC also shared its music-based advocacy approach, inspiring reflections on how IVS can creatively engage institutions like UNESCO, the AU, and EU policymaking spaces.
From Strategy to Action
The meeting concluded with an evaluation of what’s working and what needs to shift. Strong feedback highlighted the value of participatory methods, the strategic clarity gained, and the collective energy to bring forward a new phase of IVS grounded in justice, reciprocity, and care.
Stay tuned as we transform the voices, visions, and commitments of this gathering into concrete outcomes—through music, volunteering, and advocacy for a more just world.
Learn more about the project: Voices for Change – Project Overview
Download the GRM Full Report (coming soon)