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Volunteer
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The E. V. S Action is open to all young people who are legally resident in a
Program country or in an eligible third country (see sections B.2 and B.3) and
are, in principle, aged between 18 and 25. Certain exceptions regarding the
upper age-limit are allowed for young people with less opportunities, if
justified, and are judged on a case-by-case basis. |
Participation fees are not allowed. Volunteers' travel costs, insurance, food,
accommodation and a small allowance are covered by the grant from the YOUTH
program.
Volunteers give their time and efforts for a project benefiting the local
community in exchange for an opportunity to practice their skills, acquire
cultural and social skills, and build for their future. During their voluntary
service, volunteers are responsible for the practical tasks assigned to them and
have a general obligation to contribute to the host organization and community.
All volunteers who have completed their E. V. S project are entitled to an E. V.
S certificate signed by the Member of the European Commission responsible for
the YOUTH program. These certificates are distributed by the National Agencies
or, in some cases, by the European Commission.
Sending organization
European Voluntary Service involves a sending partner known as the "sending
organization". Any type of non-governmental organization, an association, a
local authority or any other non-profit-making local initiative can be a sending
organization. For a sending organization, E. V. S offers an opportunity to
establish a cooperation and to exchange experience with a partner in a Program
country.
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The sending organization is responsible for arranging the following:
 | Preparation
The preparation required includes helping the volunteer to find and contact a
host organization. In addition, volunteers need to be prepared for their stay
abroad according to their individual needs (including possible visa
requirements etc.). The sending organization is obliged to make sure that the
volunteer attends a pre-departure training session.
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| Contact during voluntary service
The sending organization should keep in contact with the volunteer and with
the host organization during the project in order to avoid crises. It will
also help organize follow-up after the volunteer's return. |
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| Follow-up
Volunteers should receive help with reintegrating into their home community.
The sending organization should give volunteers an opportunity to exchange
and share their experiences and must also support them, e.g. by providing
information about other possibilities within the YOUTH program (especially
Action 3 - Future Capital, see section E.4) and by helping them into further
education, training or employment. |
| Visa and insurance
The sending organization has a shared responsibility with the host
organization to arrange a visa for the volunteer. It is also the
responsibility of the sending organization to make sure that the volunteer's
contact details are sent to the insurance company contracted by the European
Commission. |
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Host organization
The basis for European Voluntary Service is the existence of a number of
places where volunteers can do their voluntary service. These are called "host
organizations". European Voluntary Service brings together a large number of
different organizations, projects, local authorities and other initiatives.
Their contribution to European Voluntary Service is essential. By welcoming a
volunteer, a host organization will bring new ideas and intercultural elements
into its regular activities. It could also have an interesting exchange of
experience with the sending organization through the volunteer.
Any type of non-governmental organization, an association, a local authority
or any other non-profit-making local initiative can be a host organization.
If you would like to participate in E. V. S as a host organization, please
note the following criteria:
The host organization is responsible for arranging the following:
| Task-related support
Volunteers' tasks should reflect their individual abilities and desires.
Persons who are familiar with those tasks should guide them. The host
organization is also responsible for sending the volunteer to the mid-term
meeting.
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| Personal support
To avoid and overcome any difficulties, either in volunteers' personal lives
or in their activities in the host organization, sufficient personal support
should be provided for volunteers. They should be given opportunities to
integrate into the local community, to meet other young people, to socialize,
to participate in leisure activities, etc. Contacts with other E. V. S
volunteers should be encouraged whenever possible.
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| Mentor
Each host organization must identify a mentor who is directly responsible for
training, personal support and language training for the volunteer and to whom
the volunteer can turn in case of problems. The mentor should not be the
volunteer's supervisor or another person involved in the volunteer's project.
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| Language training
Language skills have long-term benefits in addition to helping the volunteer
to integrate into the host culture. The host organization is responsible for
arranging language learning opportunities.
| Accommodation
The host organization has to provide suitable accommodation for the volunteer.
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| Food
The host organization is responsible for providing meals, or a food allowance,
for the volunteer.
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| Local transport
The host organization must provide means of local transport for the volunteer. |
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| Allowance
The host organization must pay an allowance to the volunteer on a weekly or
monthly basis (the amount is included in the grant from the YOUTH program).
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| Visa
The host organization has a shared responsibility with the sending
organization to arrange a visa for the volunteer. |
Coordinating organization
An umbrella organization which coordinates the work of a number of sending or
host organizations in a country within a network is known as a national or
regional "coordinating organization". A coordinating organization may have a
considerable amount of voluntary work experience and belong to an efficient
network, either at national, European or international level.
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Its responsibilities may vary depending on the agreements it has concluded
with the sending or host organizations. Its primary role is to form
relationships with host organizations, and to coordinate, prepare and offer
support to the volunteers it places in these organizations. |
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It undertakes to carry out all or some of the host or sending organizations'
administrative tasks. The budget item Contribution to the host activities or
Contribution to the sending activities is then shared between the host,
sending and coordinating organizations (see section D.8), according to the
division of tasks and in agreement between the partners.
The coordinating organization is principally responsible for ensuring that E.
V. S philosophy and rules are complied with. It also has to provide training
for volunteers or ensure they attend the training sessions organized by the
National Agencies. |
