From local roots to global connections
History of International Volunteering in Wales
International Volunteering as a concept was pioneered in Wales, and has been at the heart of work from Wales’ Temple of Peace since 1973 when UNA Exchange was founded to continue the legacy of post-WW2 International Youth Service (or IYS). Over the 1980s-90s UNA Exchange evolved into one of Wales’ most respected and dynamic volunteering charities, with a historic focus on building peace global citizenship, intercultural learning and social inclusion. From 2020 the organisations merged to join forces for the future.
1932
First international volunteering workcamp
Organised in Brynmawr by the Quakers, working with Service Civil International Founder Pierre Ceresole.
View BBC Wales ‘Hidden Histories’ feature on ‘Brynmawr: 80- years of International Voluntary Service in Great Britain’
1946
UNA-UK and UNA Wales founded in aftermath of World War 2
developing European volunteering placements that contributed to post-war reconstruction and rebuilding intercultural understanding.
1964
International Workcamps pioneered in Cardiff and Carmarthenshire
by UNA International Youth Service – then known as IYS.
1973
Founding of UNA International Service (Wales) by Robert Davies
who after surviving the WW2 Cardiff blitz had volunteered on postwar reconstruction projects in Greece, Austria and Belgium.
1982
UNAIS was a founding member of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations
which Cymru Global maintain an active role in.
1988
International Volunteers created Wales National Garden of Peace
to mark the 50th Anniversary of Wales’ Temple of Peace opening in 1938.
1991
UNA Exchange pioneering the first South-North Exchange Programmes with Uganda
Fall of Berlin Wall and end of Cold War led to major changes in the volunteering landscape, with UNA Exchange pioneering the first South-North Exchange Programmes with Uganda, before rolling out projects with partners across the global south.
1998
UNAIS taking on the new name ‘UNA Exchange‘
Devolution and creation of the National Assembly for Wales increased support for development of youth skills and global citizenship training through local authorities Wales-wide – with UNAIS taking on the new name ‘UNA Exchange‘.
2005
Make Poverty History campaign
Make Poverty History campaign inspires over 1500 young people across Wales to become active in North-South global education projects.
2014
Merger of WCIA and UNA Exchange
Austerity, Brexit and the COVID pandemic each led to loss of major funding sources (such as ERASMUS) for youth exchange, leading to the merger of WCIA and UNA Exchange in 2020.
2021
Welsh Government launches ‘Taith’ programme
Welsh Government launches ‘Taith’ programme (as a replacement for ERASMUS), to support Welsh young people in accessing international learning exchange opportunities.
2023
50th Anniversary of UNA Exchange and WCIA
The joint 50th Anniversary of UNA Exchange and WCIA offers an opportunity to look to the future, leading to the launch of Cymru Global.