Action 2

ACTION 2 - european voluntary service

European Voluntary Service (EVS) supports transnational voluntary service of young people.

It aspires to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, primarily to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union. It promotes active citizenship and enhances mutual understanding among young people.

EVS is implemented through activities organised in partnership between legally established organisations, which send or host volunteers. An EVS activity is composed of preparation, voluntary activity and follow-up. The volunteer carries out the voluntary activity in a country other than his/her country of residence. The activity is unpaid, non-profit making and full-time during a given period (max. 12 months). It services the benefit of the community.

An EVS activity can take place in a variety of areas: culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, arts, civil protection, environment, development co-operation, etc.

An EVS activity involves at least one sending organisation, one host organisation and one volunteer. It may involve all or only some of the project partner organisations and volunteers participating in the overall EVS project.

An Individual EVS Activity involves only one volunteer, one sending organisation and one host organisation. Individual EVS activities remain important because they stand for an intensive learning experience, individual support, high impact on personal development, and strong integration opportunities with the local community.

A Group EVS Activity allows volunteers to take part collectively in a voluntary activity at local, regional, national, European or international level, and to benefit from individual and group learning experiences. Up to 100 volunteers can participate in the same host organisation or - split up in smaller sub-groups - indifferent host organisations. A group EVS activity has to ensure a group character for both the learning processes and the service for the benefit of the community. It also has to ensure a common thematic approach and regular contacts among the volunteers. Group EVS has been developed in order to increase the impact, accessibility, effectiveness and visibility of EVS even further.

Each EVS project and each EVS activity must involve at least one EU Member State.