EVS is also a way how the young people can gain  professional and personal experience, become more open-minded and interculturally sensitive as well as more independent and mature.

Funding
European Voluntary Service (EVS) is Action 2 of the Youth in Action Programme which aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background. The complete Programme Guide of of Youth in Action Programme can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc443_en.htm

 Age limit   
The EVS is open to young people between 18 and 30 years. Flexibility can be applied to the lower age limit - young people with fewer opportunities may participate as from the age of 16.

Length of EVS   
The volunteer can do EVS for a minimum period of 2 months and maximum of 12 months.

Place of EVS
A volunteer from a Programme Country can do his/her EVS in a non-profit organisation in Europe or in other  countries of the world. For example, KERIC cooperates with countries from Latin America.

Activities of the volunteer
The activities of the volunteer are non-profit, unpaid and full-time.
An EVS project can focus on a variety of themes and areas, such as culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, arts, civil protection, environment, development cooperation, etc.

Partnership   
The EVS project is developed in cooperation between the sending organisation of the volunteer (from his home country), the host organisation (in the host country) and in with the support of the coordinating organisation, which is responsible for the preparation, realization and evaluation of the project.
Organisations taking part in the project must be accredited. The list of accredited organizations can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm KERIC is an accredited host, sending and coordinating organisation.

Responsibilities of the sending organiastion:
- helps the volunteer(s) to find and contact a Host Organisation
- ensures the participation of the volunteer(s) in the pre-departure training course
- provides adequate preparation for the volunteer(s) before departure, according to the individual needs of the volunteer(s).
- keeps in contact with the volunteer(s) and with the Host Organisation(s) during the project.
- ensures the participation of the volunteers in the evaluation of the Activity upon return of the volunteer
- provides support to volunteer(s) to help reintegrate them into their home community
- gives volunteers the opportunity to exchange and share experiences
- encourages the involvement of the volunteer(s) in dissemination and exploitation of results
- provides guidance regarding further education, training or employment opportunities.

Responsibilities of the host organisation:
- identifies a mentor who is responsible for providing personal support to the volunteer(s).
- offers supervision and guidance to the volunteer(s) through experienced staff.
- provides personal support to volunteer(s)
- gives the volunteer(s) the opportunity to integrate into the local community, to meet other young people, to socialise, to participate in leisure activities, etc.
- encourages contact with other EVS volunteers whenever possible.
- ensures the participation of the volunteer(s) in the on-arrival training and mid-term evaluation
- arranges language learning opportunities.
- offering to the volunteer(s) the opportunity to carry out a well-defined set of tasks, allowing some of the volunteer’s ideas, creativity and experience to be integrated
- identifying clear learning opportunities for the volunteer(s).
- providing suitable accommodation and meals (or a food allowance, covering also the holiday period) to the volunteer(s).
- ensuring that means of local transport are available for the volunteer(s).
- giving the due allowance to the volunteer(s) on a weekly or monthly basis.

Training   
The volunteer takes part in these trainings which should help him realize his EVS project:
    Pre-departure training (in the home country of the volunteer)
    On-arrival training (in the host country)
    Mid-term training (in the host country)
    After-return training (in the home country of the volunteer)

What EVS is not
·    occasional, unstructured, part-time volunteering
·    an internship in an enterprise
·    a paid job; it must not replace paid jobs
·    a recreation or tourist activity
·    a language course
·    exploitation of a cheap workforce
·    a period of study or vocational training abroad

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