The International Association for National Youth Service (IANYS)
This is a report on the 8th Global Conference of the International Association for National Youth Service (IANYS), held in Paris in November 2008. Attracting more than 120 participants from 43 countries, the conference participants discussed NYS policy and program design in terms of service-learning, program models, and tools to start or develop a NYS policy or program for professionals new to the field.
Evaluation methods and the importance of evaluating an NYS program’s impact on the community were emphasized. Conference participants also studied examples of funding strategies for NYS and learned that public funding is not enough to support the cause. Other conference sessions included discussions on the importance of private-sector investments, how NYS can be used for social inclusion of disadvantaged groups such as the mentally disabled, the importance and challenges of regional youth service networks, peace-building through NYS and identifying specific needs and challenges of the field as well as suggestions for improvement.
Along with the print report, a film produced by CSV Productions: North West, Community Service Volunteers, included participant interviews, special segments by key officials of IANYS and information on conference sessions. The 9th Global Conference on National Youth Service is scheduled for October in Alexandria, Egypt.
Free, 55 pages. http://www.icicp.org/ht/d/sp/i/1915/pid/1915.
