ABOUT IAVE

IAVE exists to promote, strengthen and celebrate volunteering in all of the myriad ways it happens throughout the world. With members in 70+ countries, we are the connective tissue of a global network of leaders of volunteering, NGOs, businesses and national volunteer centers that share our belief in the power of volunteers to make a significant strategic contribution to resolving the world’s most pressing problems.

IAVE’s work is concentrated in four core functions:advocacy for recognition of the importance of volunteering and creation of an enabling environment that supports it; knowledge development and dissemination through research and organized learning activities; network development such as through our Global Corporate Volunteer Council (GCVC) and our Global Network of National Volunteers Centers and, convening through our world and regional conferences and virtually through webinars. Learn more.

ABOUT VOLUNTEER CENTER AUGSBURG

Nearly twenty years ago the Freiwilligen-Zentrum Augsburg (VC – Volunteer Center of Augsburg) was founded under the slogan “Live together, grow together!”, symbolized by their mascots Freya and Willi living together symbiotically.

Volunteer Center Augsburg’s mission is to foster volunteering in Augsburg by informing and consulting its citizens, enhancing the communication between volunteers, and by supporting organizations and citizens’ initiatives for more volunteer commitment and sense of social responsibility. With these objectives, Volunteer Center Augsburg works closely with the various partners in the Alliance for Augsburg (Bündnis für Augsburg). Since 2012 the Bavarian Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has funded the organization as a the official Center for Volunteer Coordination. Today more than 900 volunteers are engaged in projects through the Volunteer Center Augsburg. They are coordinated by 12 part-time employees. Learn more.

Freya and Willi

Rhino Willi and cattle egret Freya are our mascots who have been with us from the beginning. In Africa, these two animals live together in symbiosis for mutual benefit. Thus, for us, they are a symbol of the goals of our work: living together and growing together with engaged citizens who are making their lives together for themselves and others.