Individual volunteering
- Lasts between 2 weeks and 12 months
- Is full time: 30–38 hours a week
- You volunteer solo, though in many places there will be other volunteers too
- Going abroad needs two organisations: one support, one host
← International Volunteering
European Solidarity Corps
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
A programme that lets people aged 18 to 30 volunteer across Europe and beyond — no fee can be charged for taking part.
- Age
- 18–30
- Resident in a country covered
- Individual
- 2 weeks – 12 months
- Volunteering solo
- Team
- 2 weeks – 2 months
- At least 5 volunteers, 2+ countries
- Per week
- 30–38 hours
- Full time
What is the ESC?
The European Solidarity Corps is a European programme that lets young people help where help is needed, leave a positive mark on a community and pick up new skills along the way. Activities usually take place abroad, but they can also be in your own country.
No fee can be charged for taking part. You receive clear information about your tasks both before and during the activity, with training and linguistic support where needed. When you accept an activity you sign an agreement with the host organisation setting out the conditions, and at the end you are awarded a European Solidarity Corps certificate confirming your participation.
Costs covered during the programme:
- Insurance
- Linguistic support and training
- Travel to and from the project
- Accommodation and food
- Pocket money
- Costs related to specific needs
Two kinds of volunteering
Team volunteering
- Lasts between 2 weeks and 2 months
- Is full time: 30–38 hours a week
- You volunteer alongside people from different countries
- The group has at least 5 volunteers from 2 or more countries
What the organisations do
- Support organisation
- Usually based in your home country, it helps you prepare for the experience abroad. It used to be called the "sending organisation".
- Host organisation
- Usually based in the country where the activity takes place; it welcomes you and supports you once you are there.
Individual volunteering abroad needs two organisations: one support and one host. For team volunteering, either one of them is enough.
Volunteer Movement and the ESC
All Erasmus+ programmes in Türkiye, and therefore the ESC, are coordinated by the Turkish National Agency. Volunteer Movement has been an accredited organisation since May 2010; it runs ESC projects as both a sending and a hosting organisation. It sends volunteers abroad and hosts volunteers coming to Türkiye.
How do you start?
- 01You register on the European Solidarity Corps portal; the first time, you are asked to create an EU Login account.
- 02Once your profile exists you can apply for opportunities from your own dashboard, take the online training open to participants and view your certificates.
- 03Registering does not mean you will take part in a volunteering activity; registration is voluntary and you can delete your account at any time.
Other parts of the programme
- Solidarity Projects
- Without going abroad, you can set up your own project in your own community.
- On the European Youth Portal →