IVEP participants from over 26 countries spend a year living in the United States or Canada. Beginning with orientation, participants spend the year (early August until the following July) working in placements that offer training that reflects the participants' professional interest and experience. Hosts are found in the community.

The program is partly self-financing, with some MCC subsidy, and does not generate money for the participant, host, or sponsor.

Besides the orientation conference, participants come together half way through their term for a week spent learning about peace and building relationships. The year ends with a conference in Ontario before people return home.

Participants are selected by mid-January, so the application process must begin up to 6 months before this deadline, depending on the IVEP committee in your country.

The objectives of IVEP are to:

• promote international peace and reconciliation
• help participants understand themselves and others better
• promote international goodwill, understanding and friendship
• increase a sense of personal involvement and responsibility in a world of inter-related peoples
• strengthen bonds of Christian fellowship
• broaden horizons and views
• correct stereotypes and misconceptions about other peoples
• help participants gain vocational skills through a volunteer work placement