Non-Governmental Organization

Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is a non profit voluntary service organisation that organises and co-ordinates long-term (6-12 months) voluntary service programmes with partners in more than 40 countries all over the world. Our programmes are reciprocal: besides organising opportunities for Finnish young people to join voluntary service programmes abroad, we receive foreign volunteers in our programme in Finland.  Maailmanvaihto ry – ICYE Finland  sends and receives 30-40 young people each year. Maailmanvaihto is a member of the ICYE (International Cultural Youth Exchange) International Federation. ICYE is one of the oldest youth exchange organisations in the world. ICYE Finland was founded in 1958.

People involved for many years in promoting "democracy with children" and children's rights came together to found the association "Macht Kinder stark für Demokratie" (prepare children for democracy!). They work in many domains such as the media, industry and commerce, educational institutions, public administration, and children's rights organizations. Makista wants to ensure that children are respected from day one and that they adopt democratic values. In this way, they can learn to respect others and take responsibility for the community at large. Many institutions and private sponsors are committed to the rights of children and youths. Makista aims to provide basic information concerning children's rights. We support opportunities to share ideas and experiences. We organize symposia and workshops, and we develop web-based information services for pupils, parents and teachers. We are a network of people who, for many years, have been committed to supporting the rights of children as laid down in the 1989 UN Convention on Children's Rights. A main concern of the Convention is to give children and youths a voice in all matters that affect them. Our many years of experience with the involvement of children and youths of all ages show that when young people are taken seriously, they can do much more than we normally expect. This assumes that adults provide them with a supportive environment. We would very much like to provide you with information on our experience in this domain, as well as addresses, links, literature, practical tips and suggestions for valuable projects. Makista is not associated with any political party and it is recognized as a non-profit organization.

We are a development Educatin Centre providing resources and support to teachers in bringing a global dimension to classroom practice and school policies.

The Swedish Cooperative Centre is the channel that the Swedish cooperative moment use for its activities in development cooperation. We are a non-governmental organisation which support cooperative development and popular movements in order to improve living conditions for poor people and give them more power in society. Our vision is a world without poverty and injustice.

Pianeta Possibile promotes intercultural education, educational cooperation and exchange among associations, schools, universities and local organizations of North and South, especially in Euro-mediterranean area. It focuses on current social and cultural changes, on building Europe and migration.as a service agency for organizations, associations and companies, Pianeta Possibile plans and carries out cultural events, training and citizenship programs. It draws up material aimed to teaching, information and sensibilization towards intercultural relationship.

The Royal Norwegian Society for Development is an independent, non-profit organisation, presently consisting of 40 organisational and 1100 individual members. The Society's mission is to develop viable local communities with a wide range of business activities, good social services and a thriving cultural life.

National Centre of Expertise

The Society has a staff of 35, covering a wide range of professional training and experience. Most of the Society's employees work at the main office on the Hellerud farm north-east of Oslo, but some of the staff are also located in towns throughout Norway. The Society is most known for its efforts to develop viable rural communities, by helping to facilitate the growth of a wide range of local business, social and cultural services, often with a cooperative approach. The Society is also known for its contribution to develop
Norwegian agriculture. In addition, the society honours individuals that have shown extraordinary social commitment and regularly awards prizes for ‘long and faithful service' to employees having worked for the same employer for at least 30 years.

International development

The Society is also an active cooperating partner in international development projects, particularly in Eastern and Southern Africa, but also elsewhere in the South. As in the national activities, significant emphasis is placed on business development, e.g., by helping local
(often co-operative ...) initiatives to become competitive enterprises. In these projects, the Society uses its own professional expertise as well as relevant know-how and experience found among cooperating persons and organisations throughout the world.