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KERIC and volunteering are very closely interconnected. Since the beginning of our activities, we have been focusing mainly on international volunteering, which is gradually evolving, according to available projects that can support volunteering activities abroad.

It is a unique opportunity to experience a different culture, gain work experience from different areas, or be part of the local community. One learns a new language, makes new friends abroad and gets to know the country through the eyes of the locals.

International volunteering

European Solidarity Corps

The European Solidarity Corps is a new European Union initiative that gives young people the opportunity to volunteer or work in their own country or abroad on projects that benefit communities and people across Europe.  

Projects are designed for young people 18 to 30 and there are no entry requirements, such as education or experience. The main goal of the projects is self-development during the project, gaining new experience, knowledge, relationships, or gaining independence.

Projects can be short-term from 2 weeks to 2 months and long-term 2 to 12 months.

A young person can register on the ESC website 🔗 Search for your project in the database of current projects and apply for a project with the support of the sending organization. When accepted for a project, he is assisted with the preparation of the sending organization.

Upon arrival at the project, the volunteer has his mentor, learns the language of the host country with the support of the host organization, and assists the host organization with its activities.

During the project, the volunteer participates in 1 on-arrival and mid-term training at the invitation of the host national agency.

The project is financially supported by a grant from the European Union and covers travel, accommodation, catering, pocket money, language course, visa, and all costs associated with the implementation of the project.

Every young person can be a long-term ESC volunteer only once in a lifetime.

If a young person lacks opportunities and needs extra support to participate in a project, it is possible to ask for an assistant.

It's important that anyone who is interested and motivated can participate in the project.

Currently open projects of our partners

This table and most of the projects inside are in Slovak and meant for the Slovak audience. Clicking on the links inside you will be transferred to the Slovak part of the web.

ICYE - International Cultural Youth Exchange

A voluntary program that is not dependent on European Union financial support. The costs associated with participation in the project are paid by the participant.

The ICYE network of organizations was established after World War II between Germany and the United States to prevent further conflicts. The philosophy of the network of organizations was solidarity and international cooperation. The strategy of the network is to have one ICYE organization in each country, which coordinates host projects throughout the country.

The project has a strong educational dimension, which is ensured by a series of trainings (pre-departure, on-arrival, mid-term, final, after), connection with the local community (host family, mentor, local host organizations), social dimension - most projects are in the field of social work, education, and ecology.

More information on possible projects and countries can be found at https://www.icye.org/

 

EU Aid Volunteers

This European Union program ran from 2014 to 2020 and the last calls for participation in these projects are open until 2022.

These are humanitarian projects in countries outside the European Union.

They are designed for people with professional experience in the field. The goal is to develop the host community.

Participants can participate from 2 months to 2 years.

They can participate in this type of project repeatedly.

It is possible to apply from any country in the EU.

A change is now being prepared and in the period 2021 - 2027 this type of project will be implemented under ESC HumanAid. Participants will have an age limit of 18 to 35 years. Details are not yet available, but we expect to learn these details during the spring months of 2021.

Volunteers are reimbursed for accommodation, travel expenses, insurance, continuing education, and development, they receive a monthly allowance, resettlement allowance and are assisted with return expenses.

Erasmus+

The Erasmus + 2021 - 2027 program is still in the process of being created. So far, we have managed to find out that it will focus on supporting smaller organizations to work systematically, long-term, locally, and that they will provide space for the planned development of youth work in the regions. This will be carried out through the form of certification. The organization will develop a project explaining its vision for the activity in the coming years, and after approval, will apply for funding for this activity and will report on the achievement of the intended goals. The process should lead to a lower administrative burden for organizations.

During this period, great emphasis will be placed on supporting projects in the field of sports.

The new program also reflects on the pandemic situation and emphasis is put on the inclusion of virtual activities.

We will closely monitor the creation of the new program and as soon as we obtain more up-to-date information, we will publish it here

 

Examples of previoius volunteering

 

 

Volunteering in Costarica 

At the local level

KERIC strives to work with local organizations, especially through our international volunteers. We are currently working with the following organizations:

Struzielka

An organization that organizes leisure activities for children and young people with mental and physical disabilities. The activity consists of regular ring activities every Tuesday, occasional visits to cultural institutions in the region, trips and a regular weekly camp. Volunteers at KERIC regularly help them in this activity.

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Diocesan Charity, Dom Charity sv. Gianny

This organization provides housing for homeless women and overnight accommodation for homeless men, it also provides hot food for the homeless, hygienic security, collects clothes, leisure activities and also supports people in crisis situations. Our volunteers mostly help with leisure activities, serving food and sorting clothes.

Dom seniorov PARK

It is an institution that provides accommodation, care and leisure activities for seniors. As a rule, one volunteer helps here in the year, who comes here regularly and collaborates mainly on leisure activities - various workshops, cooking, dance group. We also regularly participate in a singing competition organized by homes for the elderly for our clients and we try to acquaint them with the culture of the countries of our volunteers. In the past, we had a similar cooperation with the homes of seniors in Žarec and Horelice.

Sports clubs in Čadca

We have regular cooperation with the athletics club, where our volunteers help lead the training. In the past, we also had cooperation with a chess club, football club, volleyball club and Žabka.

Always we welcome help during our local projects, whether it is cleaning around the river Kysuce, help at workshops , help during summer camps , or attending our events

Want to help us with some activity? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

 

International Volunteer Mentor  

It can be anyone who wants to improve   communication skills in a foreign language, likes to help, likes to meet new people and wants to be a part of it our international community .

You'll learn how to be a good mentor during preparatory meetings.   It should be like this friend in the country . When he goes outside, he calls a volunteer with him from time to time. He will show him the city, the surroundings, take him on a trip. He will advise and help when needed.

It's great to be a mentor, you learn a lot about habits and the country of the volunteer, but in particular will form an incredibly strong friendship that lasts.

 

Host Family

KERIC, as one of the few organizations, provides volunteers to volunteerservice and the host family. It's very simple, the first moments for a volunteer are not with us with the people of KERIC, but with the host family. She waits for him at the station and accommodates him at home for a week. She should accept it as her own and show him how Slovaks live. You don't even have to know English too well. Nowadays, everyone has smartphone translator and dad has a translator for you, a younger member of the family.

It is a unique opportunity to meet people from other countries, talk in a foreign language and, last but not least, get to know the Slovak of foreigners .

If you are interested, write to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

We started hosting in 2011, since then we have welcomed 8 volunteers from different parts of the world. Every new meeting was a challenge for us. Improving in English, but meeting new people and their culture was initially our main reason. Later, when our daughter started traveling around the world and lived in various host families, we were glad that we could also provide volunteers in Slovakia with a sense of background and lend a helping hand when they need it. Many people go on holiday and get to know the beauties of the countries, but the opportunity to get to know the real life of the country is only possible if we get involved in the normal running of the family and get to know it from within. Every year we meet other volunteers and beautiful friendships form between us. We are in contact with many, even though they leave Slovakia and we always like to remember our moments together. Thanks to Keric for friends around the world. Simona Melicherová

It's hard to comment on mentoring after this year, but if I should sum it up in a few sentences, mentoring in Kerica is, "Exploring the world without traveling. Learning without school. Information without censorship. Family without the same DNA." Because, many times surprisingly, one learns something about real life abroad and travel documents are too short for that. It is a matter of gaining insight, because due to the influence of our surroundings we are often inoculated with delusions about foreigners. And when we really get to know them, we find that despite having other customs, habits, traditions, or culture, they are the same as us - people with emotions, dreams and desires. Tereza Kubašková