The European Solidarity Corps is open to the world bringing together volunteers and organisations from different countries and offering cross-border volunteering activities in support of humanitarian aid operations in third countries.

 

Who can participate

European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-35-year-old people who legally reside in an EU Member State or in a third country associated with the Programme (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Republic of North Macedonia) and who have registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal.

 

Volunteering activities

You have the choice between individual volunteering and team volunteering:

-Individual volunteering

• can last from 2 months up to 12 months
• is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week) 
• allows you to contribute to the daily to carry out tasks needed to support the activities undertaken by the host organisation
• is ‘cross-border’ – i.e. in a different country to where you live – and takes place in a third country where there are ongoing humanitarian aid activities and operation.

-Team volunteering

• can last between 2 weeks and 2 months
• is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week)
• you volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries
• the group will be between 5 and 40 volunteers who will be selected by the supporting and host organisations 
• takes place in a third country where there are ongoing humanitarian aid activities and operations.

 

Benefits

Access to several support services, covered travel costs, a complementary insurances, accommodation and food, a small allowance for personal expenses

Cost for specific needs (e.g. a disability), may also be covered.

 

Supporting and host organisations

• At least 2 support organisations – from different EU Member States or third countries associated to the programme (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Republic of North Macedonia). These organisations will help you to prepare for your experience abroad. 
• At least 1 host organisation – based in a third country not associated to the programme where there are no ongoing international or non-international armed conflicts and where humanitarian aid activities take place. This organisation will accompany you during your volunteering activities abroad. 

Visas e residence permits

You may need one (or both) of these when moving between countries to take part in your Corps activity. 

Please make your request for any such travel or residence permits well in advance, as the process may take several weeks.

For details, contact the relevant National Agency or the Executive Agency. 

For general information on visas and residence permits, for both short and long-term stays, check the EU immigration portal.

 

How to register

You can register here and express your interest in Humanitarian aid volunteering.

 

Compulsory Online Training Courses

Prior to a volunteering activity volunteers need to have completed successfully a self-assessment, and online and face-to-face training.

 

Find out more here.