European Voluntary Service: what is it?
This is a volunteering from 2 to 12 months, within non-profit organizations, which is part of the “Youth in Action” program developed by the Member States of the European Union. It is indeed the youth section of the European Commission that organizes the EVS and bears the costs.
The EVS is completely free: the volunteer is housed, fed, transported, benefits from language lessons and a variable monthly allowance (between 140 and 210 euros approximately).
The EVS is a formative experience which above all allows mobility to young Europeans, and offers the experience of living in another country and thus discovering a culture and a language other than one’s own as well as learning new skills.
Through an EVS the young person shows active citizenship, since he collaborates as a full-time volunteer for a project of general interest, often with a social inclination around different themes (racism, education, environment, art , sports, communications, etc.).
The EVS is not an internship, nor a language stay: it is a voluntary service regulated by contract or hours of work and other conditions will be specified.
EVS conditions
To participate in the European Voluntary Service, you must:
- to have between 18 and 30 years old. There is also an EVS for minors between 16 and 17 years old, but the latter is reserved for young JAMO (Young People With Less Opportunities);
- have a european passport ;
- be resident in the region where the chosen sending organization is located (for practical reasons).
There are also several registration procedures to follow. Consult our article on the steps to apply for European voluntary service.
Member countries
– The 33 countries adhering to the Program are :
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic , United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
– From neighboring countries of the European Union are also partners:
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip , Russian Federation, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.
– others countries in the rest of the world are partners: Caribbean, Pacific, Americas,…