EU-supported volunteering for young people

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is the European Union’s volunteering programme.

Through projects supported by the European Solidarity Corps, you can volunteer in a European country or its neighboring regions. Project durations are usually between 3 and 12 months. Volunteers participate in grassroots, non-profit projects run by KVT’s partner and sister organizations or other NGOs we cooperate with. Volunteers have the opportunity to become deeply involved in their work and in the local community’s culture, as the projects usually include language learning. No specific professional skills are generally required: what matters most is independence, responsibility, and a realistic attitude.

Who can join?

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU-funded volunteering programme for young people. It may be a good fit for you if you are:

• 18–30 years old
• a citizen of an EU country or have a permanent residence permit in an EU country
• motivated to work in the project you’re applying for
• interested in getting to know another European country and its culture, and are respectful and open-minded toward the host community

Anyone who is independent and responsible can participate. Previous experience abroad is not required, and basic English is enough.

In a nutshell

Duration & practical details

The volunteer period lasts from three months up to one year, depending on the project.

There are usually no other costs for the volunteer besides KVT’s membership fee. Since the ESC is an EU-funded programme, your volunteer experience is financially supported. The funding covers travel costs, insurance, accommodation, food, language training, a small allowance, and pre-departure and on-arrival training.

All inquiries, application processing, interviews, and training are handled by KVT’s long-term volunteering working group: . We aim to respond within three working days.

How to apply

You can search for volunteering opportunities on the European Youth Portal and apply directly, or check the currently open calls from our partner organizations at the bottom of this page. Please note that if your application is sent to us with less than 2 weeks’ notice, we cannot guarantee that we’ll have time to process it and organize the training.

Pre-departure training

Those heading out for ESC volunteering must attend a mandatory one-day training, held three to four times per year (usually in December–January, April–May, and August–September). Trainings are generally held in Helsinki. Topics include responsible volunteering, practical matters, cultural adaptation, and the value of volunteer work. Participants will also hear about the experiences of past volunteers.

Criminal record extract

In some cases, after being accepted into a project, the volunteer must provide KVT with a criminal record extract, especially when working with children, young people, or people with disabilities. The certificate costs €6 or €12, and detailed instructions on how to acquire it will be sent by KVT after approval.

Reporting

After returning from the project, volunteers are expected to send a report to KVT. A feedback form will be sent at the end of the project. These responses help us improve the quality of projects across the SCI network and partner organizations, and also support the development of training, communication, and volunteer materials.

After returning

All returning volunteers are warmly welcome to continue participating in KVT activities, for example, by sharing your experience with new volunteers or joining working groups. Each autumn, we organize a Volunteer Weekend where returned volunteers can connect and share experiences. We also host smaller gatherings for returned volunteers throughout the year.

More information

Questions and inquiries about the European Solidarity Corps: Long-term volunteering working group, . Responses are given within three working days.

Open volunteer opportunities in our network

Austria: ESC office Volunteer for people with fewer opportunities 5.-10.2026 (application form)