What is it, this EVS?

It’s very simple. EVS stands for European Voluntary Service, which is one of the actions of the programme called Youth in Action Programme. YiA Programme is created and financed by the European Commission, one of the main bodies of the European Union. This action allows a young person (18–30 years) to become a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 2–12 months. The service activities can be, for example, in the field of environment, arts and culture, activities with children, young people or the elderly, heritage or sports and leisure activities. Each project has three partners, a volunteer, a sending organization and a hosting organisation. The project has to take place in a country other than where the volunteers lives, is non-profit-making and unpaid and last for a limited period (maximum 12 months). One of the countries involved in a project must be an EU Member State or an accession country.

Why does EVS exist?

The European Union supports the development of various forms of education through several Community programmes, which are executed by the European Commission. The Youth in Action Programme, supports non-formal education projects which offer greater mobility, possibility of intercultural learning, active social participation, both personal and professional development, and the chance to practice European values with young people from all across Europe and beyond.

Why volunteering?

Volunteering is one of the most effective instruments for young people’s non-formal education. Through volunteering young people acquire new knowledge, skills and competencies. At the same time, being exposed to intercultural challenges and new personal experiences, they expand their horizons, learn more about themselves and grow as human beings.

But not only volunteer benefits from volunteering. The volunteers’ work and services contribute to the society as well as to concrete communities, organizations or projects in need.

What about costs?

To write it as simple as possible:

• 90% of your travel costs are reimbursed to your sending organization with the proof of the e-ticket and/or invoice. 10% you need to cover by yourself or fundraise with your sending organization.
• You’re receiving monthly (or weekly) money for food (or equivalent in food) + pocket money (the sum depends on the country where you’ll be volunteering).
• You’ll get a place to live, which will be paid by your hosting organization. It can be a single room, it can be shared room, all depends on the arrangements.
• If you have any exceptional costs related to your special needs (medical attendance, additional preparation, etc.) they will be paid, provided they are reasonable and justifiable.
• Your hosting and sending organizations are receiving specific amount of money as well. Hosting organization have some money for costs related with your project (for example if you need some materials) and sending organization is getting money to prepare you for your EVS (for example they can buy you a dictionary or language books).
• Besides that you’ll have an insurance against sickness, accidents, permanent invalidity, and repatriation in case of serious illness, accident, and death through AXA. The insurance also covers civil liability.

Isn’t great? It’s opening the door for many young people to have an incredible experience abroad

What do you need?

A project:

• that last between 2 and 12 months
• and that takes place within an organization abroad (hosting organization).

You can look for such project in the database of organizations that are entitled to host and send volunteers (EVS database), which can be found under this link: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm.

The development of an EVS project consist of several important stages, which are taking pretty some time. Be prepared to work on the project, and then to wait for several months, first until the project is granted and then until it takes place. It’ll be worth your efforts!

How to find sending organization?

• via National Agencies of the Programme Youth in Action,
• via the EVS-database.

If you live in South Eastern Europe contact one of the contact points of from SALTO-SEE (http://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/). If you are from Euro-Meditterean country contact one of the organizations from the Euromed Youth Platform from SALTO-Euromed (http://www.salto-youth.net/rc/euromed/ or http://www.euromedp.org/). Well, if you live in Eastern Europe and Caucasus you can find an organization via SALTO-EECA (http://www.salto-youth.net/rc/eeca/).

What to remember about?

EVS is NOT…

• occasional, unstructured, part-time volunteering.
• an internship in an enterprise.
• a paid job and must not substitute paid jobs.
• a recreation or tourist activity.
• a language course.
• exploitation of cheap work force.
• a period of study or vocational training abroad.
• simply a funding scheme, but a quality model of transnational voluntary service.

More questions? Check the official website of the Programme – http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.php!