International Citizen Service (ICS) is a global volunteering experience

which supports young people from all backgrounds to make a real

difference to some of the world’s poorest people. It was launched by the Prime Minister in March 2011,

and is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID). The programme will give thousands of 18-25 year olds across the UK the

chance to join in the fight against global poverty.

What is ICS?

The International Citizen Service ran apilot year in starting in March 2011which was delivered by a consortiumof six agencies led by VSO, andincluding Restless Development,Skillshare International, Progressio,International Service and THET(Tropical Health Education Trust).Between them, these agenciesprovided 1250 volunteer placementsfor young people in 2011/12.

Each of the agencies shares a passionate belief in demonstrating the potential for young people to make a real difference in the world and to develop as active citizens in a stronger global society.

The ICS consortium members are: Volunteer Sending Agencies

UK Strategic Recruitment

Catch22 Islamic Relief

National Volunteering

Strategy

History

Similar youth volunteering programmes - under various titles such as International Volunteer Exchange (IVE), World Youth Millennium Awards (WYMA) and more recently World Youth (WY) – have been running since 1999.

In 2012, VSO launched its first Position on Youth, highlighting the importance of working with and through young people in all our programmes. ICS forms a significant part of this.

The full ICS programme builds on the success of its initial pilot year, which VSO lead.

ICS has been developed based on the achievements and lessons learned of Global Xchange, which VSO ran in partnership with the British Council between 2005 and 2012.

Who can take part?

• ICS is committed to including people from diverse backgrounds, in terms of geographical, social and ethnic background, disability and gender.

• No skills or qualification are required to take part.

• ICS is committed to increasing the number of disabled volunteers and is working to ensure that VSO is welcoming and inclusive of disabled people in this programme.

• Volunteers must be between 18 – 25 years old (they cannot start the programme until they have turned 18 and must be no older than 25 when they start the programme)

• Volunteers must be willing to undergo a medical examination and take vaccinations recommended by VSO

• Volunteers must be able to commit to a full time 3 monthprogramme away from home

• Volunteers must attend and be selected at a ICS Assessment Day

How does it work?General guidelines for all programmes are:

• Volunteers will live and work in a community for 3 months.• UK volunteers will work alongside national volunteers from the

host country. Sometimes these volunteers come from the local community.

• Volunteers will stay in host homes. • Volunteers will work with community-based

organisations or local government authorities• All volunteers are required to complete a UK-based

activity on their return to promote awareness of international development issues

What are the benefits of ICS to the volunteers?

Becoming an ICS volunteer provides young people with an opportunity to:

• Learn more about how other people live and about themselves• Gain experience and skills which will enhance their

employability• Do work which is of practical value to people in a developing

country• Develop skills, knowledge and attitudes, which will enable them

to play a positive role in their individual society.

What support is provided?

Training

Selected volunteers receive 3-6 days of training before the start of the programme and further training in-country at the start of the programme.

This provides an opportunity to understand the ICS programme and to for volunteers to begin developing the necessary skills to take part in the programme.

Volunteers also begin to look at cross cultural issues and team building.

Facilitation and Support

Two Project Supervisors will usually accompany the volunteers during the programme.

They also provide training, mentoring and medical support if needed.

Some countries may provide alternative support, for example through programme managers

Who pays?

The ICS Programme pays for:• Travel costs• Training• Accommodation, food and

basic allowance throughout the 3-month programme

• Medical cost and personal accident insurance

Programme Countries 2012-2015

Between 2012 and 2015, the ICS programme will work in a number of countries in both

Africa and Asia. Individual programmes will work around various different themes, but

these will be based on VSO programmatic goals.

Ethiopia

Kenya

NigeriaSierra Leone

TanzaniaZambia

Zimbabwe

BangladeshIndia

Indonesia

Nepal

Philippines

Tajikistan

THANK YOU!