Interchange Programms

Svenska missionsrådet (SMR) is a forum for churches and Christian organisations. Through SMR, the 35 member organisations can meet, exchange experiences and strengthen their competence. One of our main tasks is to enable NGOs in Sweden and the South to engage in development work. As part of our work for human rights we work to promote freedom of religion or belief. Swedish Mission Council is the umbrella for 35 member organisations, who have partner organisations in more than 50 countries in the world. Apart from that, one of our main partner organisation is Sida, the Swedish international development agency. Other partner organisations: Christian Council of Sweden, PMU, Church of Sweden, Digni, Danish Mission Council Development Department.

The Lithuanian Green Movement (LGM) was established by national environmental clubs, groups and activists in 1988. LGM coordinates the activities and exchanges information between some 500 members all over Lithuania.

As the first post-Soviet environmental Non_Governmental Organization in Lithuania, LGM played a significant role in the democratization process and in raising public awareness and participation on environmental issues in Lithuania. Today, LGM is one of the country's most active environmental NGOs, with the main strategies of influencing public policy, increasing public participation and raising public awareness about environment protection and sustainable development.

LGM's main activities include:

• the protection of the Baltic Sea and its catchments;
• the conservation of protected territories and natural landscapes;
• environmental education and the raising of public awareness about environment and sustainable development;
• energy and environment;
• transport and environment;
• monitoring the activities of the International Financial Institutions in Lithuania;
• support for the development and strengthening of environmental NGOs and citizen's groups in Lithuania;
• environmental protection in general.

LGM publishes a bi-weekly newsletter called "Green Lithuania"

IJGD stands for International Youth Community Services. It is a non-profit organisation working in the field of international youth work and political education. Since 1949, IJGD has been active throughout Germany as an organisation independent from any religious or political party and recognised by the state authorities. The aim of IJGD is to forward young people's awareness of social conditions and to support the development of a feeling of social responsibility. The work of IJGD thus includes the promotion of international understanding and the reduction of prejudice between people of different nations, social backgrounds, religions and political ideas. We organise workcamps, international youth meetings, youth holiday periods in Germany, Europe and overseas as well as different trainings and seminars as further education.

In addition, IJGD is in charge of different long-term voluntary services such as the voluntary social service (FSJ), the voluntary ecological service (FÖJ) and the voluntary heritage service (FJD).

The Berlin part of IJGD, IJGD LV Berlin, has a specific focus on intercultural and inter-generation projects. In the field of the European Voluntary Service (EVS), IJGD Berlin is involved as a sending and hosting organisation. As part of our pilote project ‘voluntary services in socially deprived areas', ijgd Berlin has a growing number of EVS-placements in Berlin in socially deprived areas. This pilote project aims to further social inclusion, intercultural learning and to support small non-profit organisations and initiatives. As a sending organisation we send young German volunteers from Berlin and ist surroundings for longterm voluntary services to Europe in the frame work of EVS.

IJGD Berlin also organises midterm voluntary services in Africa, Asia and Latinamerika.

Since 1990, EAPN has been an independent network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and groups involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Member States of the European Union.

AFS - Intercultural Programs Czech Republic

AFS International is one of the world's most experienced and largest non-profit providers of youth exchange and intercultural learning. Originally founded by volunteer ambulance drivers, the American Field Service has grown over the past 70 years into a global community with over 60 country organisations and partners.In addition to school exchanges and volunteer service, we also offer our volunteers a wide range of education and training. We also offer workshops in schools on the topics of racism, sustainability and intercultural learning.