Here are the four principal aims of The Finnish Volunteer Programme - ETVO.

• Etvo creates dialogue between Southern and Northern NGO-actors. Through this dialogue ETVO promotes global understanding and equal partnership. We believe that confronting development issues personally is a key for understanding them more profoundly. These encounters also generate thematic exchange and mutual learning.

• ETVO creates networks between NGO-actors and strengthens the civil society in both the South and  the North by supplying people with possibilities to be active in NGOs. In this way the ETVO programme builds capacity for the NGOs and creates global lobbying power.

• ETVO enhances global responsibility through direct North-South encounters and promotes values of equality, human rights, tolerance and peace, which are in line with Kepa's declaration of principles.

• The existence of ETVO is based on voluntary work. We understand voluntary work as acting for the benefit of the receiving NGO without receiving material compensation. The immaterial compensation for the volunteers is the learning experience supported by the receiving NGO. However, the ETVO programme is not alternative travelling.