AUS (Alþjóðleg Ungmennaskipti, the Icelandic branch of ICYE), UST (Umhverfisstofnun, The Environment and Food Agency of Iceland) and SEEDS (SEE beyonD borderS) started cooperation this year 2007 as three of the most important hosts of volunteers in Iceland!

The 3 organisations would like to cooperate, work on and develop different activities as:

* Promotion and development of voluntary service in Iceland

* Information sharing about our activities and projects

* Coordination of possible working groups

* Joint organisation or coordination of events as seminars or meetings

* Joining efforts to increase the quality level of voluntary service in Iceland

* Work together for the recognition of voluntary work

* Possible production of material and publications on our field of work

Our first event took place on May 6th, during the on-arrival training and introduction seminar for our EVS volunteers in Reykjavík and was a good opportunity to give time and space to all of our EVS volunteers to get to know each other and share their experiences, expectations and fears!

Brief presentations on the organisations were held; a workshop on "being an EVS volunteer in Iceland" was facilitated by "expert volunteers" and the newcomers had the chance to learn from them; and to close we had a great Barbecue were more than 45 people had the chance to taste and share typical Icelandic lamb and salmon!!

Representatives from AUS, UST, SEEDS and EUF (the National Agency for the Youth in Action programme) attended the meeting and we are very satisfied with the outcome of the event!

For more information:

On AUS, Alþjóðleg Ungmennaskipti, visit http://www.aus.is

On EUF, Evrópa unga fólksins, http://www.euf.is

On UST, Umhverfisstofnun, go to http://www.ust.is

To see pictures of the event, please visit our galleries section.