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What is EVS?
Introduction
EVS, first set up as a pilot programme in 1996, is part of the YOUTH programme a European Union programme that promotes the mobility of young people through international activities with a non-formal education dimension such as youth exchanges, voluntary services, youth initiatives and training of youth workers.
First piloted by the European Commission in 1996, after a four year successful trial it was re-defined and re-launched in 2000 and now is financed untill the 2006.
EVS offers to the young from 18 to 25 year old a non-formal, intercultural learning experience in a large variety of fields (social, cultural, environmental, sport, etc.).
Most EVS projects takes from 1 to 4 volunteers, but you can find larger projects with up to 60 volunteers.
An important target group under EVS is young people with fewer opportunities, who due to socio-economic, health or geographic reasons would normally not have the possibility to participate in transnational voluntary activities.
At the end of the service, every volunteer is entitled to an EVS certificate in order to facilitate the recognition of his/her experience.
EVS volunteers receive food and accommodation, insurance cover and an allowance (pocket money) whose level depends on the host country (200 Euro in average).
EVS is recognised as a high quality standard, notably because it ensures that every single volunteer receives adequate training, including linguistic one, and personal support throughout the project.
Aims
The main aims of EVS are:
- to help young people become more integrated into society
- to develop a service that will benefit the community in humanitarian, social and cultural ways
- to link and strengthen organisations working for the benefit of the public throughout Europe
Voluntary service activities can take place, for example, in the field of the environment, arts and culture, activities with children, young people or the elderly, heritage, or sports and leisure.
Who is who ?
An EVS project involves a partnership between three partners:
- A volunteer, you probably!
Volunteers are aged between 18-25, and have to be legally resident in a programme country. There are no preconditions in terms of qualifications or social background for participants. One of the most important priorities of the programme is to give access to activities through short term EVS to young people with fewer opportunities. - A sending organisation. An organisation in your country. It will help you to better understand EVS and to choose the right project for you.
- A host organisation. An organisation in the country where you'll spend your service. It is running the project you'll take part.
Hosting/Sending organisations are non-governmental organisation (NGO), association, local authority or any other non-profit-making local initiative.
How long ?
There are 2 "kind" of EVS :
- Long Term EVS - projects with a duration between 6 and 12 months. These are the "usual" projects.
- Short Term EVS - projects with a duration from 3 weeks to 6 months. These are open exclusively to "young people with less opportunities" and aims at giving them access to the YOUTH programme.
Costs ?
EVS volunteers receive food and accommodation, insurance cover and an allowance (pocket money) whose level depends on the host country (200 Euro in average).
I did my best to gather all the information from the Internet about EVS. If you find any kind of error feel free to point them out, by dropping me a email.