European Solidarity Corps: The New European Volunteering Project

Have you ever thought about volunteering? Would you like to take part in a project that takes you volunteering abroad even, and you’re not the type of person to lay around doing nothing all day? Maybe European Solidarity Corps could be the perfect option for you. Whether it’s environmental issues that you want to give a helping hand with, health is your main focus, or you just simply want to take part in community sport based activities, this program will have you covered. With such a huge range of different organisations, countries and opportunities at your fingertips, volunteering with European Solidarity Corps could be exactly what you’ve been looking for as a way to give back to the community!

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

European Solidarity Corps is an organisation that allows people between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, to take part in volunteering schemes across borders. Initially, it was known as the European Voluntary Service, and focussed mainly on volunteering, however as the organisation developed over time and expanded into other areas such as traineeships and jobs, it became something much bigger that's now known as ESC.

Maybe you’re interested in learning new life skills, maybe it’s learning another language that draws you in, or maybe you just want to give back to the world that we live in; whatever the reason behind it, volunteering abroad with ESC will leave you with memories that will last you a lifetime.

How does it work? European Solidarity Corps Projects

Registering is easy, simply follow this link register now and log on to the platform that you see on the screen, before filling out the application form. It’s as easy as that!

It’s possible that you’re now thinking about funding and how you can survive abroad financially if all of the work you’re doing is voluntary. Well, we have you covered there too. All basic living costs, such as food, accommodation and travel, will be paid for by the European Solidarity Corps, as they offer complimentary insurance, and they even pay for you to take part in traineeships linked to aspects of life such as language or health, which could really help you in the long run.

European Solidarity Corps: Duration of Projects

The time you spend volunteering, can vary from anything between 2 weeks, and the European Solidarity Corps maximum duration of 2 months. Once you’re there, you also have even more options as you can either volunteer individually and focus on what it is that you want to help with, or you can volunteer as a team and work with people from other countries of the world with different backgrounds, cultures and languages that you can learn from. The choice is yours!

What activities does the European Solidarity Corps Support?

As an association, there are many other activities that are supported by the ESC scheme, including training, language classes, and mentoring; all of which are aimed at helping you to settle into your host country (should it be abroad) and developing your personal skills. If you want to go even further than just training, there is also the opportunity to take part in one of the European Solidarity Corps jobs that are available to those taking part. These jobs can last between 2 and 6 months and are full-time, but you do get paid for the time you spend working on the job, by the organisation that is providing the job and its experience.

European Solidarity Corps Portal: Apply to New Opportunities

The application process is simple. All you need to do is go to the ESC website following this link, scroll down until you find volunteering on the left hand side of the screen, and then after having selected this section, have a read through, make your account, and fill out the form attached. Equally, you can click on the link in the “How does it work?” Section of this post and follow it directly through that. It really is that easy!

Screenshot taken from the European Union Youth Portal online.

Benefits of Volunteering

So at this point, you might be asking yourself, what is volunteering? And, why is volunteering important?

Well, volunteering is essentially giving up your own time to help others. There is no set subject or expectation as to what you would volunteer for, it could be anything from helping out at a kids football team on a Sunday morning, to rebuilding homes for victims of natural disasters… There really is no limit!

There are professional volunteers who are trained in specific areas such as medicine or animal rescue for example, but to make a difference in somebody’s life by taking the time to work with ESC and help out within the community that surrounds you, you don’t have to be trained in anything at all. It’s all about your own desire to help, because if you truly want to make a difference, there will be nothing that could get in your way.

Volunteering also has so many advantages, both to you and to the people that you’re helping; these benefits of volunteering are what make it so important and so worthwhile to all those involved. It allows you to connect to new communities, make new friends, learn new skills, and learn more about yourself as a person. Volunteering enables you to test yourself, push yourself to the limits and realise exactly what you are capable of.

So what’s stopping you? Sign up now!

Looking for somewhere to stay whilst volunteering abroad and not too sure where to start? Look no further!

Don’t forget that if you’re looking for accommodation whilst you’re volunteering abroad, we can help!

At Erasmusu, we have a large range of spacious rooms, studios and apartments to help you find your perfect place to stay online.

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