International development volunteering: An instrument for promoting education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals?

Abstract

Education is one of the central tenets of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. International volunteer services (IVS) in development often aim to provide volunteers with knowledge and skills needed in a globalized world. We use the case of the German weltwärts programme, one of the largest IVS worldwide, to investigate how far IVS can be viewed as an instrument promoting education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, we discuss how weltwärts aligns conceptually with the principles and contents of the SDGs. Second, we present empirical evidence on how far the envisioned principles and education outcomes are achieved on the implementation level. We conclude with a discussion of the potentials and limitations of weltwärts in promoting education in line with the SDGs.