The European Solidarity Corps is an EU funding programme for young people wishing to engage in solidarity activities in a variety of areas. These range from helping the disadvantaged to humanitarian aid, as well as contributing to health and environmental action across the EU and beyond.
The programme offers an opportunity for young people not only to make a meaningful contribution to society, but also to gain invaluable experience and develop new skills. It is open to people aged between 18 and 30 for solidarity activities addressing societal challenges, and between 18 and 35 for humanitarian aid activities. The programme also addresses organisations active in the solidarity sector looking to involve young people in their activities.
In order take part in the European Solidarity Corps, organisations are required to obtain a quality label , which certifies that they are able to carry out high-quality solidarity activities in compliance with the principles, objectives and requirements of the programme. The European Commission and National Agencies manage and implement the programme.
The program includes the following lines of action:
Volunteering activities in support of humanitarian aid operations in non-EU countries: adding to the European Solidarity Corps this well-established EU humanitarian aid initiative, which had been operating under the name of Volunteers EU Aid Fund, will create opportunities to volunteer outside the Union and will complement existing opportunities under the European Solidarity Corps to volunteer, either individually or in a group, do an internship or get a job. employment in Europe in connection with solidarity activities.
Specific measures: The participation of disadvantaged young people in the European Solidarity Corps will be facilitated by these measures, which can be, for example, additional funding or specific activities of shorter duration or located in the young person's own country.
