International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP)

The International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) is a yearlong volunteer work and cultural exchange opportunity for Christian adults ages 18-30 living outside the U.S. or Canada.

Every year, IVEP participants come from more than 25 countries around the world to volunteer in the U.S., where they live with a local person or family. Since its beginning in 1950, IVEP has emphasized peacemaking and building understanding across cultures.

The IVEP program seeks to:

• Promote a theology of service that encourages growth as global citizens who are active in social justice and peacemaking
• Provide opportunities for learning and mutual transformation through the development of intercultural skills
• Foster opportunities for spiritual growth, appreciation of Anabaptist values and involvement in the local and global church
• Explore and develop skills and cultivate an increased sense of vocation through service alongside a local partner organization.

As an IVEP participant, you could serve at a school, thrift shop, social service agency, advocacy office, sustainable farm, immigration office and more!

During your IVEP year, you will make new friends, gain work skills and have new experiences — you will see your own culture from a new perspective. You’ll also grow in your faith as you meet and worship with Christians from around the world and learn what it means to be a peacemaker. See how a year with IVEP will transform you!

Read about the experiences of past IVEPers in the IVEP Yearbook.