Governance

Young people's voluntary activities take place within different non-profit organisations in Luxembourg.

The main top-level governmental authority responsible for youth volunteering is the National Youth Service under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.

Promotion of volunteering in general is placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region (ministère de la Famille, de l'Intégration et à la Grande Région). As a result of this, the target age groups of initiatives and policies sometimes overlap.

The support commission for voluntary service (Commission d'accompagnement du service volontaire) is an important body, which takes part in the development of policies in the field of youth volunteering. Its tasks are to make recommendations on the implementation of the law on voluntary service, suggestions on the training of young volunteers or a proposition for a mediation between the volunteer and the hosting organisation (if needed). This commission is composed of 7 full members and 7 deputy members from different ministries and public administrations. Members are proposed by the minister in charge of youth policy, the minister in charge of education, the minister in charge of employment, the minister in charge of development cooperation, and the minister in charge of culture (one full and one deputy member in each case). Furthermore, one member is proposed by the Higher Youth Council, the director of the National Youth Service is a permanent member.

Regional or local authorities are not involved in the development of policies in the field of voluntary activities.

However, at local level, many different organisations work with young volunteers in a variety of domains including local activities, citizenship, integration and social action, culture, human rights and peace, education, environment, humanitarian aid and international solidarity, religion, health, assistance, sports and tourism. Some of these organisations are also members of the voluntary agency.

Currently there is no concrete cooperation with volunteer systems in other countries to exchange information or identify best practices. Cooperation with other countries only takes place through the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

The support commission for voluntary service (Commission d'accompagnement du service volontaire) is an important body, which takes part in the development of policies in the field of youth volunteering. It is composed of representatives of different ministries and therefore is an important body for the promotion of cross-sectoral cooperation.