European Voluntary Service

In my very first post I mentioned I have been working and living in Armenia. Now I would like to tell a bit more about the program which made it possible for me to work and live in Armenia. Not many people know there are various opportunities through different grantprograms that provide grants to young people to work and live abroad. One of these programs I took part in: the European Voluntary Service (EVS) program of the European Commission. This program makes it possible for youngsters from 18-25 years of age to work as a volunteer for 6 to 12 months in a different European country, without any costs. Without costs means completely without costs: no administration fee, complete coverage of ticket, accomodation and food, and even a language course and some pocket money. There are also projects outside the EU (though limited), like the project i participated in, and also for example in Central and Latin America. Also for young people outside the EU there is a chance to volunteer in a project in an EU country. My own sending organization Falkor for example has already hosted 2 Armenian volunteers in the past. There are many, different kind of projects (social, working with youth, disabled, elderly; reconstruction; environmental, etc). It all depends on your interest and all are a very good opportunity to work and live in a different country.

Although the EVS program is a great opportunity for young people looking for an international experience without much money to spend, the program isnt well known among young people in The Netherlands (it seems this differs for the various EU countries).

Now tonight I will become the official treasurer of the Dutch organization for ex-EVS-ers: The DutchOnes. This organization aims to promote EVS in The Netherlands, to create an EVS network within Europe and to provide current EVS-ers that participate in a project in The Netherlands with cultural exchange and mentorship. This organization is also supported by the Dutch sending/host organization NoBorders. I am very curious about our future cooperation, since this organization has a lot of projects in mind that sound very interesting, e.g. to be a host organization for 4 EVS-ers for a big cultural exchange and more things that I will probably inform you about in (hopefully) the near future.

Besides the program of EVS there are many more opportunities, through the EU and through other organizations, non-profit ones and profit ones. These last mentioned are according to me far too expensive and not paying enough attention to the fact that volunteering is indeed free labour and that you definitely shouldn't pay extra so your free labour is only contributing to the organizations profit...Good Dutch non-profit organizations for volunteering projects are SIW Internationale Vrijwilligersprojecten (I have been a volunteer through SIW for short term projects in France and Czech Republic) and VIA.

Please feel free to ask me anything about volunteering, since I noticed I did gather quite some knowledge about it in the past few years. And please feel free to add any programs (I have not mentioned many to be honest, since there are numerous, but I am very interested in programs other people know)(maybe also for my own use in future, since I am currently looking for volunteering opportunities in other former Soviet countries, like Russia or Belarus).