The European Solidarity Corps is a funding programme of the European Union that consists of giving young people from 17 years old to 30 years old the opportunity to work and volunteering in their country or abroad.

To participate you must be legally resident in the EU Member States or in one of the other partner countries.

The initiative is managed by the National Agencies and by the Educational, Audiovisual, Culture Executive Agency located in Brussels.

The European Solidarity Corps’ goal is bringing help to vulnerable people, meanwhile developing an empowering experience for young people.

The participants in the projects share the values of this initiative like solidarity, respect, believing in an equal non-discriminating society.

The projects in which young people can participate can last from two to twelve months.

If you are more than eighteen you can create your own Solidarity Project.

 

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

The different types of the project may concern disadvantaged people, agriculture, containing violence and intolerance in sports, environment protection, combating doping, culture, cultural heritage, cooperation with developing countries, disasters prevention, education, enterprise, gender equality,  inclusion, health, migrants, social assistance and many others.

Taking part in one of these projects is a unique experience that gives the participants new skills and abilities, the opportunity for self-empowerment, the chance to help needy people and communities.

Who wants to participate can choose between individual or collective volunteering activities, traineeships, jobs, and Solidarity Projects, which are activities created by a group of at least five young people.

 

HOW IT PERFORMS

To attend it is necessary to register at European Youth Portal with your basic personal information and what kind of project you are interested in and the organizations will be able to search the database for people for their projects.

Who participates is free to resign from the initiative and has the right to refuse to accepts any offer of a Corps placement.

Participation does not request any payment.

If you decide to volunteer instead of a job or a traineeship, you will not receive any wage, but you will have lodging, subsistence, and insurance coverage anyway.

The participants get online linguistic support, training, and mentoring, and the travel cost is covered. The participants also receive a certificate, that is useful for the Curriculum Vitae.

European Solidarity Corps make some contests, such as photo contests or story contests.

This is an awesome opportunity for young people because it allows them to do a formative experience through a safe institution like the European Union and it enables them to have linguistic improvement, giving their help and developing new skills.