Don’t miss the inspiring talk on Volunteerism and Youth, which we're organising in collaboration with the American Embassy, the General Secretariat for Youth and Megaron Plus.

What inspires young people to volunteer and how do they and their community benefit? How can volunteerism improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement? What is the role of volunteers and community organisations in addressing critical social needs? How can non-profit organisations attract and empower volunteers? And how can volunteerism and community service become part of the educational process?

These are just some of the questions that Susanne Rauprich and Susan Stroud will address during their Megaron Plus presentations.

As more than 900 million people volunteer across the globe each year – and numbers are on the rise both in Europe and in the U.S. – the two visiting experts will discuss the impact that volunteers, and young people in particular, have in a democratic society.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

			Susanne Rauprich (UK) Susanne Rauprich is Chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), the co-ordination and facilitation network for youth NGOs in England. Rauprich took up the position of NCVYS CEO in 1994 and established the network as the go-to partner for the sector and government on all matters relating to young people and civil society. She is a member of several government advisory groups and national policy forums and is regularly consulted on all matters affecting young people and volunteering.
			Susan E. Stroud (U.S.A.) With more than 30 years' experience in the fields of public service, social responsibility in higher education and international policy development, Susan Stroud is Executive Director of the Innovations in Civic Participation. Stroud was one of the White House architects of the National and Community Trust Act of 1993, a volunteer umbrella organisation. She later went on to senior positions at the Corporation for National and Community Service and at Learn and Serve America. In 2001, she founded Innovations in Civic Participation, which provides technical assistance to develop youth service programmes and policies around the world.