VSI at 60: Volunteering, Activism & Global Solidarity (1965–2025) 

This year, VSI is celebrating 60 years of volunteering, activism, and global solidarity!Spike Milligan planting trees with VSI members at Glencree 1974

Since 1965, thousands of people have been part of VSI’s story – taking part in international volunteer projects, development education projects, youth exchanges, European Voluntary Service and Solidarity Corps volunteering, campaigns, trainings, and global citizenship education. Together, we've worked for peace, social justice, inclusion and a fairer world. 

Share your VSI story:

We’d love to hear about your time with VSI — a memory, a project, a moment, or just what VSI has meant to you. You can send us a full story or even just a short quote.

We’ve put some questions together (here) if you want a bit of inspiration, but no pressure — answer what you like, or just write whatever comes to mind!

Feel free to include any photos too. Send your story over to info@vsi.ie — we can’t wait to read it!

Send us your photos 📸:

Do you have old (or not-so-old!) photos from your time volunteering or activism with VSI? We'd love to have them so we can share them online or at our events! 

If you have old or recent photos from your time with VSI, we’d love to include them on our website and at events. You can send photos via SwissTransfer or any file-sharing tool, and email them info@vsi.ie

Photo Disclaimer: We ask for photos via SwissTransfer to ensure the best possible quality for use on our website and at events.

160 Years of Solidarity: VSI, Afri & Comhlamh

To mark 60 years of VSI and 50 years of both Afri and Comhlámh, we gathered in the Pillar Room for a shared celebration of 160 Years of Solidarity. The evening brought together friends, volunteers and supporters to honour decades of collective work for peace, justice and global community.

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed with traditional live music and time to explore the space. The evening was led by MC Nessa Ní Chasaide with reflections from all three organisations, including poetry readings and spoken word. This was followed by a moving performance from Gráinnemir and Sorcha Fox of Cairde Amharclann na Saoirse in Éirinn / Friends of the Freedom Theatre (Jenin) in Ireland. A shared toast brought this segment to a close before the celebrations continued into the evening. Food and drink from Shaku Maku was served.

Throughout the evening, guests engaged with creative installations including Objects of Solidarity, Threads of Solidarity, the Story Booth, and a Quiet Reflection Room, each offering ways to reflect on our shared history and hopes for the future.

It was a warm, participatory and memorable gathering, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone.

A 60-Year Celebration: Tree Planting Weekend

To celebrate 60 years of VSI, we planted one tree for every year of our organisation To celebrate 60 years of VSI, we planted one tree for every year of our organisation! Volunteers gathered in Killarney National Park (KNP) over the weekend, with activities running from Friday afternoon 

to Sunday lunchtime. Friday arrivals settled in and traveled to the park, followed by a welcome dinner in the evening. Saturday featured the main tree-planting day from late morning to late afternoon. Sunday offered an optional deer rutting walk with KNP Ranger Tim Cahalane, with a chance to plant more trees.

This weekend was made possible in collaboration with our long-term partner, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who generously donated 60 native Irish trees, helped with planting, and provided accommodation in the heart of the national park at Arthur Vincent House.

Thank you for being part of the story. 

Here's to 60 years of volunteering for a better world and to all the people who made it possible. 

Keep an eye out for upcoming events! 👀