European Voluntary Service
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[edit] What is a European Voluntary Service project
An EVS project allows a young person to be a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 6-12 months. The voluntary 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 organisation and a host organisation.
The activities:
- Take place in a country other than where the volunteers lives;
- Are non-profit-making and unpaid;
- Do not involve job substitution or job replacement;
- Last for a limited period (maximum 12 months).
[edit] Who are the partners in an EVS project
An EVS project involves a triangular partnership, a volunteer, a sending organisation and a host organisation. One of the countries involved in a project must be an EU Member State or an accession country.
[edit] Who can be a volunteer?
The programme is open to all young people who are legally resident in an eligible country and are, in principle, aged between 18 and 25 years. Certain exceptions regarding age are allowed and are judged on a case by case basis.
There are no participation fees and the volunteer receives board, lodging and a small allowance from the host organisation.
The volunteers themselves are expected to take the initiative in contacting the sending and host organisations. Those interested in the available volunteering placements can access a host placement database.
[edit] Responsibilities of the volunteer
The volunteers give their time and efforts for a project benefiting the local community in exchange for an opportunity to practice their skills, gain cultural and social capital and to build for their future. During the volunteering the volunteers are responsible for the practical tasks assigned to them and have a general obligation to contribute to the host organisation and community.
[edit] Financial aspects
- The volunteer's international travel covers reasonable travel costs from the volunteer's home to the host organisation, and the costs are paid to the sending organisation in full when the volunteer uses the cheapest available train or plane ticket (e.g. discount air ticket, or equivalent). A copy of the ticket(s) must be attached to the final report.
- Contribution to the sending activities (recruitment, preparation, contact, assessment, follow-up) is a lump sum payment depending on the length of the project and is determined for each country.
- Exceptional volunteer costs are related to the special needs of the volunteer (medical attendance, additional preparation, etc.) and are paid in full, provided they are reasonable and justifiable.
- The volunteer's allowance is fixed per host country and is paid in full to the host organisation to be given to the volunteer weekly or monthly.
[edit] Insurance
All volunteers are insured against sickness, accidents, permanent invalidity, and repatriation in case of serious illness, accident, and death. The insurance also covers civil liability. This insurance complements the protection provided by the national social security (if applicable) which is proven by the E111 (or similar) form of the volunteer. All insurance costs are paid directly by the European Commission and they are not included in project budgets. The National Agencies provide more information about the insurance cover.
[edit] If you are a volunteer
The first step is that you should find a sending organisation and together consult the database of approved host placements. You can also contact a sending organisation, which has already established contact with a host organisation.
[edit] What happens after European voluntary service
All volunteers who have completed their EVS project are entitled to a certificate signed by the Member of the European Commission responsible for the programme. This certificate validates their period of voluntary service and provides details of the activities in which they were involved. Volunteers from the programme countries also have the possibility to benefit from the Youth initiative action, and get involved in other Community programmes in general.
After two years they have finished the volunteership the volunteers could apply for the Future Capital (up to 5000) to establish their own project.
