Volunteer
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European Volunteer Service or EVS: what is it?
An EVS project allows a young person to be a volunteer in another country for six to 12 months. EVS projects are an equal partnership between:
- the sending organisation
- the volunteer
- the hosting organisation
EVS Projects cover a wide variety of themes, for example: environmental projects; heritage; community development; work with elderly people or children; and many more.
Who can take part?
Any young person aged between 18 and 25 can be a volunteer. Any non-profit-making organisation can be a host or a sending partner and benefit their own organisation and the community at large.
What are the Criteria and Features?
- Volunteers must be 18 to 25 years old
- Activities must be non-profit making and unpaid (for example, not job-substitution)
- The project must take place in a country other than the home country of the volunteer
- The project must last for six to 12 months; shorter-term projects are available to young people who may face difficulties.
Why send a volunteer?
Funding is available and volunteers will learn new skills and experiences, which they can pass on when they return. An EVS project creates a networking opportunity for organisations to build future projects. Any type of non-governmental organisation, association, local authority or non-profit-making body can send a volunteer.
Why host a volunteer?
By welcoming a volunteer, host projects can benefit from new ideas and introduce intercultural experiences to their projects and their communities. EVS projects create networking opportunities for organisations to build future projects. Any type of non-governmental organisation, association, local authority, community initiative or non-profit making body can host a volunteer. Projects must first have a HEI (Hosting Expression of Interest) approved which will outline the tasks of the volunteer and their role in the project and the community.
Why become a volunteer?
Volunteers give their time and energy for a project that will benefit a local community in exchange for an opportunity to learn new skills and to make a valuable and tangible contribution to society. Volunteers will experience a different way of life in a new culture, perhaps learn a language and will certainly acquire life-skills that will be of benefit for the future.
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