About the 18th IAVE World Volunteer Conference

The 18th IAVE World Volunteer Conference is the biannial conference of the International Association for Volunteer Effort, at this occasion organized by FCVS (Federació Catalana de Voluntariat Social) and held in Barcelona from August 17 -21 2004 within the framework of the FORUM de las Culturas 2004.

The aims of the Conference are:

• To use this occasion to make the world aware of what volunteer work represents;
  
  
• To carry out an in-depth discussion of the ethical framework under which the IAVE will move forward, and the nature of volunteer commitments in the defense of values such as justice and human rights.

It will likewise aim to formulate proposals to make this task easier, turning it into a real opportunity to make an impact, a true engine for change toward a better world.

In short, this Conference aspires to give meaning to the words of Kenn Allen: "The volunteer is the fundamental building block for constructing a civil society. Without people who wish to commit themselves to their community, neither NGO's, nor philanthropy, nor responsible governments, nor democracy are possible."

True to the spirit of volunteerism, the World Volunteer Conference is a non-political, non-delegational gathering. Representatives from around the world have come to share their experiences and their local knowledge to help make this world a better place.