Voluntary Service International (VSI) is the Irish branch of Service Civil International (SCI), a worldwide peace movement that was founded after the First World War. VSI is a volunteer-based organisation, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Dublin.
For over 55 years VSI has promoted peace, social justice and sustainable development at home and abroad. During that time walls have fallen, borders have moved and the challenges facing us have changed. While there have been significant improvements during this time, many of the old problems remain (e.g. conflict, human rights abuses) alongside the emergence of new problems (e.g. climate change, growing inequality).
These challenges are large and multifaceted but we at VSI believe that we can play a part in addressing them. At the heart of many of these problems lies a lack of understanding, of people, their backgrounds, their cultures, their own day-to-day challenges. There is a lack of understanding of the environment, its importance, its fragility, our impact on it and of the interdependence of all these things.
The tool we have chosen to help combat this is a simple one but we know through experience that it is a powerful one: volunteering. By bringing together people from across the globe to participate in values-based volunteering, we aim to increase awareness and understanding of the people, the societies and the environment around us. This deeper understanding will contribute to a global and local society which is more open-minded, aware and responsible for its own behaviour and actions. We are able to do this with the help of our network partner organisations at home and abroad, enabling volunteering experiences that promote peace, social justice and sustainable development.
Our vision | Our mission | |
is a world of peace, social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual respect. |
is to promote a culture of peace, social justice and sustainable development by organizing and supporting volunteering projects, both in Ireland and internationally.
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Our Values
Volunteering is at the heart of VSI’s work. We support engagement, without material reward, that benefits society and aims to achieve positive social change. This is guided at all times by our core values. Every voluntary project, meeting, exchange or training reflects these values:
Non-violence - choosing peaceful resistance and conflict resolution without recourse to violence as a principle and a method
Human Rights - respect for individuals as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Solidarity - international solidarity for a more just and equitable world, and solidarity between all human beings
Respect for the Environment - and the ecosystems of which we are a part and upon which we are dependent
Inclusion - being open and inclusive of all individuals without discrimination
Empowerment - providing people with knowledge and tools to understand and act to transform the social, cultural and economic structures that affect their lives at all levels
Co-operation - with local communities as well as other local, national and international partners to strengthen the positive potential within civil society as a whole
Strategic Plan
Voluntary Service International (VSI) is the Irish branch of Service Civil International (SCI), a worldwide peace movement that was founded after the First World War. We are a volunteer-based movement, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Dublin.
In 55 years we have achieved a lot as an organisation. We recognise that over this time the world has changed and that we, as VSI, need to adapt to this and the new challenges it presents. This strategic plan represents our vision and intent for how we plan to meet those challenges.
Read our Strategic Plan for 2021-2025
Voluntary Service International (VSI), is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Ireland with registered office at 4-7 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, D07 RHA8 and registered company number 140520.
VSI is also a charity (Charity Reg. No. 20023065) and holds CHY number 9220.
VSI is supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth; the European Commission through Leargas and the Health Service Executive.
If you are interested in becoming a member of VSI go to our membership page