What Are CCIVS and the CCIVS Youth Committee?
CCIVS (the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) is an international network that brings together International Voluntary Service (IVS) organizations from around the world. It supports its members’ development, fosters cross-border collaboration, and advocates at the international level for voluntary service as a vital force for peace, sustainable development, and intercultural understanding.
Because young people have always been central to international voluntary service, CCIVS established the Youth Committee (YC) to support its youth-focused work and to help carry out the organization’s long-term strategic direction. VolTra, as a CCIVS member organization, actively participates in and supports the YC’s work, connecting local youth to the broader international voluntary service network and to youth dialogue and action at the global level.
The Role and Responsibilities of the CCIVS Youth Committee
The CCIVS Youth Committee is a youth-led international platform. Its members come from different countries and cultural backgrounds and collaborate across regions on issues such as international voluntary service, youth participation, and sustainable development.
YC members are not simply participants. They take part in the organization’s internal discussions, planning, and some decision-making processes, bringing youth voices into CCIVS’s governance and strategic direction through concrete action. This model means young people are not merely “consulted.” They become advocates, collaborators, and co-creators of both policy and action.
The responsibilities of a YC member go well beyond attending regular online meetings. They include long-term cross-regional collaboration, ongoing follow-through within thematic working groups, and communication and coordination with the Executive Committee. The current Youth Committee has members from every continent, who must work across time zones, cultures, and working styles, staying connected through regular meetings and thematic working groups. Members also represent CCIVS at international conferences and youth platforms, bringing a youth perspective into wider global conversations. This work demands a great deal in terms of time management, accountability, and cross-cultural understanding.
My Working Group Highlight
During my time on the CCIVS Youth Committee, one of the most meaningful highlights was my work with the ICON Working Group.
ICON is one of CCIVS’s working groups. It aims to improve the quality, impact, and reach of international voluntary service activities, with particular attention to inclusion, environmental sustainability, and organizations’ capacity in impact assessment, external communication, and community building. Just as importantly, ICON is committed to empowering young people by giving them the skills and resources they need to make a real difference in international voluntary service and social action. For the Youth Committee, ICON is more than a project or a series of meetings. It is a platform where young people can take an active part in shaping the future of international voluntary service.
In my work with ICON, I joined other YC members in exploring and advancing a core question: how can young people move from being “invited to participate” to being active participants who co-create content and direction?
My main contributions to ICON included:
- Co-planning and hosting ICON online talks and discussions focused on how international voluntary service extends from the local to the global level, while encouraging the exchange of experiences among young people.
- Helping design and deliver the “ICONic Youth” and “ICONic Global Class” series, which invited young people and practitioners from different IVS organizations and regions to share their volunteering journeys and experiences of cross-sector collaboration.
- Working with fellow YC members to ensure these events went beyond sharing information and fostered real dialogue, connection, and reflection.
These activities not only raised the international visibility of CCIVS and IVS, but also gave young people and organizations in different regions a platform to learn from one another, build networks, and make an impact.
Reflections and Impact: What This Experience Gave Me
My two years on the YC were more than a title. They were a hands-on opportunity to learn how to collaborate at the international level and across many stakeholders.
On a personal level, I learned how to express my views effectively in a multicultural environment while respecting the backgrounds and perspectives of others. I strengthened my skills in project coordination, critical thinking, and youth advocacy, and I became even more convinced that young people should not be treated as passive recipients of consultation, but as partners.
On an organizational and community level, the YC provides a stable platform for sustained youth engagement rather than one-off activities. Through education and dialogue, it shares the value of international voluntary service with more young people. It also deepens CCIVS’s and VolTra’s understanding of what meaningful youth participation looks like, and lays the groundwork for young people to take part in major international forums.
If you are passionate about international voluntary service, youth participation, or global issues, and you are willing to invest your time and energy, the YC is a platform worth joining. It is not a short-term or superficial commitment. It is a role that carries real responsibility and offers deep learning. For young people who want to challenge themselves, put their ideals into practice, and build experience in international voluntary service, youth engagement, or global affairs, the YC is an invaluable opportunity.
