An EVS project allows a young person to be a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 6 and 12 months. Voluntary service activities can take place, for example, in the field of the environment, arts and culture, activities with children, young people or the elderly, heritage, or sports and leisure or civil protection. Volunteers will participate in activities that comply with the following general principles. Activities must:

•  take place in a country other than where the volunteer lives,

•  be non-profit-making and unpaid,
•  be planned, implemented and followed up jointly in a spirit of partnership between the volunteer, the sending and the host organizations,
•  bring an added value to the local community,
•  not involve job substitution, nor be a substitute for military service or alternative service formulas,
•  last for a limited period (maximum 12 months).
•  involve at least one EU Member State.

The vast majority of voluntary service projects are on a one-to-one basis, i.e. a volunteer goes from one country to another. These projects involving two countries are dealt with directly by the National Agencies in the Program countries (see section B.2).

Who are the partners in an EVS project?

An EVS project involves a partnership between three actors: 

•  a volunteer,
•  a sending organization,
•  a host organization.

The preparation, implementation and follow-up of EVS projects are a joint activity and express a true partnership between these three key actors. Any type of non-governmental organization, an association, a local authority or any other non-profit-making local initiative can be a host/sending organization. The status and aims of the host and sending organizations and the project itself must be non-profit making.

Partners’ rights and responsibilities

The European Commission has drawn up documents on the rights and responsibilities of the volunteer, the host organization, the sending organization and the mentor in order to ensure a predictable, trustworthy, safe and enriching experience. For further information please contact your National agency.

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