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Volunteering in Europe.

What is EVS?

EVS stands for European Voluntary Service, volunteering abroad by a young person who is:
- supported by an organisation in their home country
- hosted by an organisation in the destination country
- mentored by an assigned tutor/mentor
- assisted by Léargas at all stages
and is a programme that provides support and funding for young people to spend some time doing voluntary work in another European country. The programme is open to young people between 18 and 25 years.

 

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So, what can EVS do for me?

Volunteering in Europe can be a great way of getting to know another country. You could gain valuable experience of living in another country, working in an new area, learning a new language, not to mention all the friends you'll make. In addition funding is available, including travel costs.

 

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What kind of projects are there?

Projects take place in over 32 countries and there's a great range of activities
- arts and culture
- environment
- social justice/human rights
- working with people with disabilities
- media and communications
- youth projects.

These are just some examples of projects, the EVS database, http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm contains details of hundreds of approved projects.

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Who's Who in EVS?

There are three partners in every EVS project: the sending agency, the volunteer and the hosting agency.

The Sending Agency
Any non-profit organisation can be a sending agency, and they are responsible for:
- the selection and preparation of the volunteer before they go
- keeping in touch with the volunteer while they are away.

The sending agency gets a lump sum to cover preparation costs as well as an administration fee for every month the volunteer is away and the volunteer travel costs.

The Volunteer
Any young person from between 18 and 30 years who is legally resident in a programme country can participate. Normally volunteers commit 2-12 months.

Funding for travel costs and a basic pocket money is provided through the hosting and sending agencies. On-going training and support is also provided.

The Hosting Agency
Hosting Agencies are responsible for
- creating an interesting work programme
- providing the volunteers board and lodging
- on-going volunteer training and support.

For more information on the application process, contact: evs@leargas.ie

The Hosting Agency receives a lump sum administration and preparation costs as well as funding towards the volunteers board and pocket money.

 

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8 Sure Steps, to a Great EVS

Step 1.
Volunteer: find a sending organisation
or
Sending organisation: select a volunteer.

Step 2.
Find a host project in another country.
There are hundreds of eligible projects in the European database of all hosting projects: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm

Step 3.
Contact projects and then select one suited to the volunteer.

Step 4.
Sending organisation: if you wish, you can apply for an advanced planning visit for the young person and a youth worker/leader to visit the host project and assess its suitability for the volunteer.

Step 5
Sending organisation: apply to Léargas for funding.

Step 6.
If approved for funding, the sending organisation prepares the young person for their departure abroad.

Meanwhile the host organisation applies for their costs in their own country.

Step 7.
Volunteer: travel to the host project.
Sending organisation: maintain contact with the volunteer and the host project.

Step 8.
Volunteer: complete your EVS and on return help the sending organisation with filling in the final report;
Send feedback to the sending organisations activities;
Possibly prepare other EVS volunteers for departure.

For more information on EVS and how to apply please go to:
www.leargas.ie/youth/evs

 

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WWWVolunteering?

If EVS isn't for you, there are other options to volunteer in Europe. Take a look at some of the links below

www.volunteeringireland.com
The Volunteering Abroad section gives some ideas on Irish agencies that offer placements abroad.

www.eilireland.org
EIL offers a variety of international volunteering opportunities and also acts as a sending organisation for EVS.

www.vsiireland.org
Voluntary Service International has volunteering projects all over the world.

www.youth-knowledge.net
Download the very useful kit on International Volunteering.

You can find more web links on volunteering in Europe and in the world in the Volunteering/Exchanges section of the European Youth Portal

 

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Page Updated in June 2008.