VOLUNTARIA

VOLUNTARIA AT A GLANCE

Bringing together YFU volunteers from Europe and beyond, Voluntaria 

is a training event that celebrates volunteering and further develops and connects the vibrant international YFU movement with individuals who are committed to develop and live the YFU mission.

Voluntaria aims to: 

• provide space for volunteers to have fun and be creative together; 

• create value-based activities to motivate and inspire volunteers and celebrate volunteering; 

• create a YFU community by connecting volunteers; and 

• create a self-directed space for learning, creation, fun and fostering new emergent projects. 

Voluntaria is organized by and for YFU volunteers. It aims to foster connection across national and organisational boundaries, while building crucial capacities within the volunteer base. 


At Voluntaria, participants are able to engage in meaningful sessions that will follow a variety of formats: facilitated, open, reflective, and recreational. The goal is to allow volunteers to both learn, and recharge, while strengthening interpersonal and interorganisational bonds. The method of programme setting deliberately uses a bottom-up approach, to empower the community members themselves, while catering to their specific needs. 

Past and Present Editions

The idea for Voluntaria originated among YFU volunteers in early 2014. The need for a European get-to-gether and capacity building event for experienced YFU volunteers was identified.  
The first edition of Voluntaria was organized in August 2016, an amazing event that gathered over 70 YFU volunteers in Czech Republic. 

The second edition of Voluntaria was held one year later in France, with the topic of “Global citizenship”. 

After several years of hiatus, the event returns in 2024 in Switzerland, with a focus on mental wellbeing and resilience; key aspects of keeping our community strong and active in the long run.

To find more information on this year's edition of Voluntaria, head over to the volunteer run page here.