European Solidarity Corps

The European Solidarity Corps is a new initiative by the European Union which aims to give young people the opportunity to volunteer or work on projects organised in their own country or abroad to help communities and people throughout Europe.

Young people can register with the European Solidarity Corps from the age of 17, but they must be 18 years old to start a project. They must complete the project before they turn 31.

They must have the nationality of, or be a legal resident in a member state of the European Union or in one of the following countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

After a simple registration process, participants can be selected to take part in a wide range of projects (e. g. natural disaster prevention, reconstruction work, assistance in asylum seekers' centres or social assistance to populations in need).

Projects last from two to twelve months. They will be conducted generally in one of the member states of the European Union.

While the European Solidarity Corps can be useful for your career prospects, it can also bring you other advantages, depending on the type of project and your participation in the "Volunteering" or "Professional activity" option.

If you decide to volunteer, you will not receive any remuneration, but your travel, accommodation, subsistence and insurance costs will be covered for the duration of the activity. You will receive adequate training before you leave and when you arrive on site.

In some countries, participants in an internship will sign an employment contract drawn up in accordance with the national regulations of the host country. They will receive daily allowances.

Participants recruited for a work placement will always have an employment contract and will be paid in accordance with local laws, regulations and collective agreements.