What is VYA

* An NGO/NPO organiz ing workcamps and other voluntary projects in Taiwan & Asia

* Member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary development in Asia) since 2007

VYA in short:

a) 283436: Over 283,436 young people have participated our voluntary activities since first held in 2002

b) 160,000 ： Over 5,000 young people served as volunteers, donated more than 160,000 hours for social services.

c) 2551 : Cultivated 2,551 youth leaders

d) 700: Cooperated with over 700 NGOs.

e) 38 ： Supported 38 Taiwanese young leaders to intern in NGOs in Washington D.C., USA.

1) Brief History

Vision YouthAction was founded in 2002 by 30 young leaders who participated in international volunteer exchange project between Taiwan and U.S.A . From 2002 to 2007, VYA had been successful in setting up a regional youth volunteer center to promote very short term community service from one day to one week. Over 5,000 young people served as volunteers, donating more than 160,000 hours for social services in the past few years. In August, 2007, in collaboration with NICE Japan, the first international workcamp in Taiwan originated in a small fishing village in the mid-western coast of Taiwan. It has been developing rapidly and variously catering to the huge needs of projects & motivations of people!

2) Our Mission and Dream

a) To promote youth engagement in public affairs and international voluntary services: We encourage and help the youths to participate in various kinds of voluntary services. Through voluntary service, [w e grow exchange naturally among world youth and local people through living, working, talking , laughing together and promote global understanding and friendship ] .

b) Nurtured future Young Social Entrepreneurs: We assist youths to run NPO with the concept of social enterprise and venture capital, solving social problems efficiently with new business model.

3) Activities

To achieve our mission and dream mentioned a bove, VYA run s the following activities;

a) Very short term community service projects (VSTCSP): Organizing with National Youth Commission, VYA advocates Taiwanese young people getting involved in community voluntary services. Every year, at least 2000 youth volunteers are involved in VYA VSTCSP and organized more than 130 community service projects by themselves.

b) International WorkCamp in Taiwan : VYA organizes workcamps and sends Taiwan volunteers go abroad. The first Taiwan international workcamp was held in 2007 in cooperation with NVDA and NICE. In 2007, only one project with 8 international vols and 17 local vols/ sent 10 vols to 4 countries.

c) VolunteerMatch.org.tw: the first professional online IT management system for volunteer administration in Taiwan . This website offers NGOs & youth volunteers training courses, application for service certificates, volunteering opportunities hunting, and consults of volunteer administration.

d) Training Projects for Young Social Entrepreneur s: VYA maps out a series of training projects for young people intending to engage in a long-term career in non-profit organizations. By doing so, we cultivate young social entrepreneurs to be equipped with global perspectives, leadership, value of c ivil society , and the capability of organization and management.

4) Members & Partners

VYA is completely independent from any political, religious, economic power . There are 4 professional paid staff in charge of VYA and 20 - 30 regular volunt eers as assistants.. The General Assembly/ Executive Committee of VYA are held twice a year .

VYA has:

a) 2100 members around the world and 500 volunteers in Taiwan .

b) 32 local partners and has built partnership with more than 200 local NPOs around Taiwan to promote voluntary service.

VYA is:

a) The Executive committee of IAVE-IRC ( International Association for Volunteer Effort's International Resource Center , IAVE-IRC ) since 2005.

b) Member of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia ) since 2007.

We also cooperate with a lot of local governments, NGO/ NPOs, media, foundations and societies .

5) Finance

VYA is a non governmental organization, independent from other agencies such as political and commercial entities.

a) Income: 87.18% of its operating cost was generated by the project s and service income , 11.48% from g overnment donation and 1.33% from private donation in 2007.

b) Expense: 2.65% was used in offices operating cost and 97.35% was spent on projects (food, lodging, project staff salary (30.66%) etc.)

c) Project cost of workcamps in other Asia n countries and weekend workcamps are paid mainly by volunteers .

d) Project cost (food, accommodation, etc.) of international workcamps in Taiwan are mainly supported by VYA and local partners ( finance source includes NGO partners' budgets , local governments, sponsoring foundations, etc.)

In 2007:

Income: NTD $ 5,840,917 (US D 179,169

Expense: NTD $ 5,723,705 (US D 175,574)

Surplus: NTD$ 117,212 (US D 3,595)