The European Solidarity Corps aims to promote solidarity as a value, mainly through volunteering, to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high quality solidarity activities as a means to contribute to strengthening cohesion, solidarity, democracy and citizenship in Europe, while also responding to societal challenges and strengthening communities, with particular effort to promote social inclusion. It shall also contribute to European cooperation that is relevant to young people.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, ITS OBJECTIVES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- to provide young people, with the support of participating organisations, with easily accessible opportunities for engagement in solidarity activities effecting positive societal change, while improving their skills and competences for personal, educational, social, civic, cultural and professional development, as well as facilitating their active citizenship, employability and transition into the labour market, including by supporting the mobility of young volunteers, trainees and workers;
- to ensure that the solidarity activities that are offered to the European Solidarity Corps participants are of high quality, properly validated and respect the principles of the European Solidarity Corps;
- to ensure that particular efforts are made to promote social inclusion and equal opportunities, in particular for the participation of young people with fewer opportunities through a range of special measures such as appropriate formats of solidarity activities and personalised support;
- to contribute to European cooperation relevant to young people and raising awareness of its positive impact.
The following activities are opened for cooperation with organisations from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus:
- Individual volunteering
- Volunteering teams
The organisations wishing to take part in the above opportunities should receive a Quality Label. Organisations holding valid EVS accreditation are automatically enabled to join European Solidarity Corps projects.
The European Solidarity Corps programme guide describes details of each action, including practical information for interested organisations.
