The European Solidarity Corps is a new program created in 2018 by the European Union that aims to give young people between the ages of 17 and 30 the opportunity to volunteer or work on projects organized in their country or abroad and intended to help communities and people all over Europe.
This program replaces the old Erasmus + program for volunteering projects (European Voluntary Service). The projects last from two to twelve months and can be carried out in Belgium, in another member state of the European Union or in a partner country.
To be able to participate in the program, you must be over 17 and under 31 to register and be 18 years old to start your project. You must also reside legally or be a national of a member country of the European Union or of one of the following countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Participation in a project of the European Solidarity Corps is a major achievement for young people. It is an asset for finding a job and enrolling in higher education.
The European Solidarity Corps brings together young people who want to build a more inclusive society by helping the most vulnerable and meeting societal challenges. It offers young people who want to help, learn and grow the opportunity to live a positive and inspiring experience.
The European Solidarity Corps has two complementary components: voluntary activities and professional activities. The Volunteer component gives young people the opportunity to work in another country on a full-time voluntary service of between two and twelve months. It is based on the European Voluntary Service, which is part of the Erasmus + program, and other EU funding programs.
The “Professional Activity” component will enable young people to find employment, apprenticeships or internships in a wide range of sectors engaged in solidarity activities and who need highly motivated and willing young people to get involved. It will be implemented gradually through partnerships with NGOs, commercial organizations and public bodies active in these areas.
As the required skills and experience differ across projects, organizations may recruit participants as volunteers, workers, apprentices or trainees.
Volunteers will not be paid but, depending on the EU program that finances their activity, they will receive help: in general, their travel, accommodation, subsistence and medical expenses will be covered and they will receive pocket money for their daily expenses.
Young people recruited for work in the Professional Activity stream will have a work contract and will be paid for their work in accordance with the national wage legislation and collective agreements in force. Their salary should normally cover their daily expenses and housing costs. Young people will be subject to the labor laws of the country in which they work. You will find information on working conditions in the different EU countries on the Europe is yours website.
Youths engaged as apprentices or trainees will also have a work contract and will normally receive daily allowances.
To register: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_fr
For more information, visit: https://www.lebij.be/corto-laurianne-ces/
To download the complete program guide: https://www.lebij.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-european-solidarity…