EVS
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What does European Voluntary Service mean?
EVS (European Voluntary Service) is an international volunteer program funded by the European Commission. It enables all young people legally resident in Europe, aged between 18 and 30 years, to carry out an international volunteer service in an organization or in a public body in Europe, Africa, Asia or South America for a period ranging from 2 to 12 months. It provides the reimbursement of travel expenses and complete coverage of the costs of food and accommodation for the international volunteer.
Thanks to the intercultural dimension and its non-formal approach, European Voluntary Service is a unique opportunity to come into contact with cultures different from your own and to acquire new skills and abilities useful for your personal and professional growth.
In 2018, EVS was replaced by the European Solidarity Corps program. Check out, in this new european youth portal , all the opportunities offered from this new program and more.
European Voluntary Service is based on the following principles:
1. increasing your own skills through the practical experience of volunteering abroad;
2. encouraging the learning of another language;
3. encouraging the learning of another language;
4. developing the ability to interact with persons of different language and culture;
5. spreading tolerance among young people of the European Union;
6. promoting active citizenship;
7. supporting the development of local communities.
EVS is NOT:
1. occasional, part-time volunteering;
2. an internship in an enterprise nor in a humanitarian organization or in an NGO
3. a recreational or a tourist activity
4. a language course abroad;
5. a paid job.
EVS proposes projects in different areas:
1. Culture;
2. International Mobility;
3. Sports;
4. Social care for the elderly, the disabled and the immigrants;
5. Art;
6. Leisure;
7. Media and communications;
8. Environmental protection and education;
9. Rural development and development cooperation.
European Voluntary Service is based on a strong partnership between the sending organization, the hosting organization and the volunteer.
The sending organization is responsible for the preparation of the volunteer before departure. It informs the candidate about the search procedures of EVS projects, pre-departure training and follows the volunteer at distance throughout his stay abroad and upon his return.
The volunteer will work 5 days out of 7 for a maximum of 40 hours per week and will have 2 days of leave per month (accumulative). He is obliged to participate in pre-departure, on arrival and mid-term training and must comply with the directives of the host organization performing the tasks specified in the international volunteering project.
During the selection process host organizations cannot require the possession of specific skills or qualifications, only in special cases (duly justified according to the tasks the volunteers are responsible for) it is allowed to select candidates with a specific experience.
Are you looking for interesting volunteering opportunities abroad not connected to EVS? Check out our website about Work-camps.