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United Way participates in European Voluntary Service (EVS) Program

Written by Steph Fox Monday, 25 May 2009 16:07

United Way is pleased to be a sending organisation for EVS!

United Way is pleased to participate in the European Voluntary Service program by acting as the sending organisation for Jamie Lawless, a Frederictonian and student at UNB Fredericton. Jamie is currently living in Spain, completing a 9 month voluntary service program.

For more information on how you can get involved in the EVS program, visit them online at http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/doc82_en.htm

We welcome the opportunity to act as the sending organisation for any local youth who are successful in the the EVS application process.

Learning for life!

Open to all young people aged 18 to 30, EVS is a true ‘learning service’. Beyond benefiting the local communities, by participating in voluntary activities, young volunteers can develop new skills and, therefore, improve their personal, educational and professional development. Volunteers can benefit from specific training throughout the activity and agree on their expected learning outcomes, processes and methods in advance. Their learning experience is formally recognized through a Youthpass. Participation is free for the volunteers who also get board and lodging, insurance cover and an allowance for the duration of the project. Special conditions apply to encourage the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. For instance, they can participate as of the age of 16. Further information can be found in the Youth in Action Programme Guide as well as in the Inclusion Strategy of the Programme.

Co-operation and friendships

A successful EVS project requires close co-operation among at least three key players: a sending organisation, a host organisation and the volunteer.  Organisations perform a number of roles: they identify volunteering opportunities and develop projects that benefit the local community. They also recruit and prepare the volunteers, host them, and ensure follow-up.

EVS activities can be carried out both individually or in group. Up to 100 volunteers can now participate in the same EVS activity!

The European Voluntary Service spans a wide range of areas, such as culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, the arts, civil protection, the environment, development co-operation, etc.  One thing all the activities have in common is a clear European and intercultural learning dimension. EVS is a mutually beneficial process, where everybody gains from getting to know the other's culture.