Teenage Programme

The VSI Teenage Programme is open to young people aged 16-25. The Programme aims to involve young people, regardless of social, economic or educational background, physical or mental ability, religious or ethnic origins, or gender, to grow, prosper, learn and develop through volunteering projects that will connect them to their local, national and European communities.

Voluntary work can be an important means for personal and community development and that the possibility of doing voluntary work is often limited to those who have more opportunities in society, thus excluding those who have personal, social or financial difficulties in life.

The Teenage Programme has provided hundreds of young Irish people with the opportunity to engage with other young people from a range of cultural backgrounds in short term voluntary work experiences, in Ireland and abroad.

These short term experiences often lead to a greater community awareness and involvement on the part of the young person, and in many cases make it possible to have a longer term experience later on. Most importantly, it often allows the young person to develop a sense of responsibility, confidence and other social and personal skills.

Youth Exchange Programme 2011

During the summer 2011 VSI Teenage Programme will be involved in a number of different youth exchanges here in Ireland, and across Europe.

An Clochán, Ireland 2nd- 13th July, 2011 Young people from Ireland, Italy, UK, France and Slovenia will spend 10 days in Co. Clare, exploring identity, culture and sustainable development, through non formal learning workshops and practical projects.

Lunalpina,Italy 8th - 19th July, 2011 The project will take place in Lunalpina, a little farm situated in a village in the North of Italy and will involve participants from Ireland, France, Italy and Spain. The project will focus on the environment as well as on social theatre.

Expect the Unexpected, Belgium 22nd July - 1st August 2011 The theme of the project is "building self confidence" and will take place in Bruges, a city situated in the beautiful region of the Ardennes.

Analog Magic Project, Spain 21st-30th July 2011 Young people from 7 different countries will spend 10 days in Terrassa, Spain, reflecting about anti-discrimination and marginalisation through art and creativity. Read more

Short-term EVS Programme

Young people who may need financial or personal support to take part in independent volunteering positions can also apply for short-term EVS projects. It allows volunteers aged 18 - 30 years old, to take part in funded individual or group volunteering projects aroundEurope and beyond. Funding covers flights, food and accommodation, insurance, pocket money and training. There will be several projects where the young people could take part on it in 2011. Read more

Sheltered Placement Programme (SPP)

Young people who have experience of group projects with the Teenage Programme and are looking for more independent projects can find placements through our Sheltered Placement Programme. This allows for the independence and responsibility of an International Volunteer Programme (IVP) project, but with some financial and personal support for those who need it. IVP projects take place all over Ireland and involve a number of independent international adult volunteers spending a number of weeks together on a shared community project. Read more

"Living in Dependence" Youth Initiative Project

The "Living in Dependence" project is a youth-led project which involves a group of young people aged 17 - 21, producing a short film about the experiences of young asylum seekers in Ireland. The participants are a combination of some Irish young people, and a larger number of asylum seekers and refugees. Read more

Development Education in the Teenage Programme

The Teenage Programme aims to promote the values of our international organisation, Service Civil International, through all the activities we organise with young people. These include volunteering, non-violence, human rights, solidarity, respect for the environment, Inclusion, empowerment and co-operation. Read more

Messages of Peace Book launched by Senator David Norris and Jon Mc Court Sat 27 November Dublin

The Messages of Peace Book recently launched by VSI came out of our work with young people over the past few years and especially an international youth exchange ' Understanding Conflict' which took place in Donegal in 2009. We hope it will be a useful tool in peace education and to those who are working with young people.

All these youth exchanges were co-funded by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission. A big thank to the following organisations for the financial and in-kind donations and support;

LEARGAS (http://www.leargas.ie/)