Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
Opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it.
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINECOHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!
A Union of Solidarity
The European Solidarity Corps for Youth (ESC4) aggregates solidarity from all Europe, bringing it where it matters the most. From social inclusion to environmental protection to humanitarian aid, the European Solidarity Corps creates a Union of solidarity, project by project, and they make it reach the most vulnerable.
Cross-Border Volunteering and Projects for the Most Vulnerable
The European Solidarity Corps offers volunteering and project opportunities for young people looking for professional experience with social impact on vulnerable communities. As European platform, it offers the opportunity for associations and young candidates to post their profiles, present their aims and discover if there is a match.
In 2023, there are two main types of opportunities for candidates:
- Volunteering: candidates spend between 2 and 12 months in a hosting organisation which provides food and accommodation. Activities usually take place in a country different than the one of origin of candidates- ‘cross-border volunteering‘- but it is also possible to do ‘in-country’. Volunteers receive pocket money for daily expenses. It is possible to join as individuals or in teams: the latter option is shorter (maximum 2 months) and it is thought for people with less opportunities.
- Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid: this type of volunteering focuses on providing relief to communities stricken by humanitarian disasters or to ensure their preparedness. Volunteers will be trained by at least two organisations and supported by a third one located in a third country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Republic of North Macedonia)
- Solidarity Projects: young people can team up and submit a project proposal for funding (500 EUR per month max). The proposal should address local, regional or national issues that affect the local community and are addressed by EU priorities such as inclusion, climate change, democratic engagement, citizenship or gender equality.
Other opportunities such as jobs and traineeship may be possible during 2023, but they will be discontinued as the year ends.
Eligibility
Young people
- European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-30 year old people who reside in programme and partner countries. The age limit is 35 for those involved in Humanitarian Aid Activities.
Organisations
To be eligible for funding through the European Solidarity Corps, organisations need to be aiming to the greater social good of the communities where they are working. Fields of work may include:
- encouraging democratic participation
- fighting social exclusion
- protecting nature
- promoting health and wellbeing
- promoting education and training
- working with migrant communities.
- strengthening the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in those regions of third countries in which humanitarian aid activities and operations take place
- reinforce disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction in these regions.
See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!
The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.
