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.

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.