European Voluntary Service (EVS)

The Youth in Action program offers young Europeans (and Vietnamese!) the chance to make a real difference to the world – and to their own lives – through the European Voluntary Service. The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young Europeans with the unique chance to express their personal commitment. They will execute unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or outside the EU. In this way, it seeks to develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people. Thus contributing to reinforcing social cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people’s active citizenship.

A VIETNAMESE IN KALAMATA

Ms Thanh Vy went in Kalamata for a 2-week job shadowing activity in the framework of the project Seeding Social Innovation in Local Communities implemented under the ERASMUS+ programme, KA2 Capacity Building in the Field of Youth and coordinated by Europe House Slavonski Brod organisation from Croatia.

You can find her experience and story here.

LEARNING FOR LIFE!

Open to all young people aged 18 to 30, EVS is a true ‘learning service’. Beyond benefiting the local communities, by participating in voluntary activities, young volunteers can develop new skills and, therefore improve their personal, educational and professional development. Volunteers can benefit from specific training throughout their voluntary activities and agree on their expected learning outcomes, processes and methods in advance. Their learning experience is formally recognised through a Youthpass. Participation is free for the volunteers who also get board and lodging, insurance cover and an allowance for the duration of the project. Special conditions apply to encourage the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. For instance, young people are eligible to participate from age of 16. Further information can be found in the Youth in Action Programme Guide as well as in the Inclusion Strategy of the Programme.

CO-OPERATION AND FRIENDSHIPS

A successful EVS project requires close co-operation among at least three key players: a sending organisation, a host organisation and the volunteer. One of the organisations involved in this partnership also plays the role of coordinating organisation and applies for an EU grant on behalf of the partnership. Organisations perform a number of roles: they identify volunteering opportunities and develop projects that benefit the local community. They also recruit and prepare the volunteers, host them, and ensure follow-up.

You can join EVS activities both individually or in group. Up to 100 volunteers can now participate in the same EVS activity! The European Voluntary Service spans a wide range of areas, such as culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, the arts, civil protection, the environment, development co-operation, etc. One thing all the activities have in common is a clear European and intercultural learning dimension. EVS is a mutually beneficial process, where everybody gains from getting to know the other’s culture.

ACCREDITATION

The EVS has certain core values and quality standards which are laid down in the EVS Charter. In order to protect and uphold these, organisations interested in sending or hosting EVS volunteers or coordinating an EVS project need first to be accredited. To receive accreditation, organisations submit an ‘expression of interest’. Once their application is approved, they sign up to the EVS Charter. Accreditation lasts for three years, but can be withdrawn immediately in cases of non-compliance with the Charter.

SO…

Are you between 18 and 30 and willing to spend from two up to 12 months abroad as an EVS volunteer in Vietnam or are you Vietnamese and wishing to join an EVS project in Europe ? Check this out for further information :

For more information, contact our EVS coordinator: [email protected]
(text extracts from http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc82_en.htm )

 

 

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