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European Solidarity Corps

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a European Union programme that gives young people the opportunity to volunteer abroad on projects that benefit communities and people across Europe. You can take part in individual or group projects. The programme operated under the name EVS – European Voluntary Service, until the year 2018

Who is the European Solidarity Corps designed for?
For young people aged 18-30 (you can be 30 years and 364 days old on the day you start) who like to learn practically and are not afraid to go abroad.

What kind of ESC projects can you be part of in general?

Environmental projects
Art projects
Working with the media
Working with children and youth
Working with people with disabilities
And everything else

What are the costs of European Solidarity Corps project?

The volunteer does not pay any fees. The grant provides the volunteer with: food, accommodation, insurance, pocket money, travel expenses, language course.

Why to participate in an ESC project?

Helping others also means helping yourself – you will communicate in a foreign language, meet people from all over the world, become more independent, confident and enriched by unforgettable experiences and friendships. Read experiences from our volunteers.

INEX Slovakia has been awarded a quality label as a lead, hosting, supporting organisation in the European Solidarity Corps volunteering programme: 2021-1-SK02-ESC50-QLA-000002777

This means that we are an accredited organisation for sending volunteers abroad and hosting volunteers on ESC projects.

How do we divide European Solidarity Corps projects?

1. Individual volunteering

Short-term project: 2 weeks to 2 months
Long-term project: 2 to 12 months

It is possible to go first on a short-term project and then on a long-term project (a combination of first long-term and then short-term project is not possible) and the total must not exceed 14 months.

2. Volunteering teams (VT)

also falls under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme
these are shorter projects of between 2 weeks and 2 months
30 to 38 hours per week
you will meet volunteers from several countries and volunteer abroad in a group of 10-40 young people
the grant covers travel, accommodation, food, supplementary insurance and volunteers receive pocket money
You can do an “unlimited” number of Volunteering Teams, even if you have already been on a long or short-term ESC project. However, the total may not exceed 12 months.

If you want to know more about group volunteering – Volunteering Teams – VT, how it works and how to apply for a project, we have them in our database on INEX together with workcamps – international volunteering projects.
What will the ESC volunteer for the position of "volunteering and educational activities" primarily focusing on? (under the supervision of the coordinator)

planning and organizing volunteering activities, workcamps
volunteering and educational activities in the field of volunteering, the ESC programme, personal development and non-formal education
“INEX meetings” – contribute with topic ideas focusing on educational and volunteering activities for regular meetings of volunteers or young people. Create invitations publish them on social media and promote, prepare the place and the material according the needs of particular meeting. First meeting will be about presenting your own country, culture and motivation why you are here.
organizing events for children, people with disabilities – create program for activities, promote the activities among our volunteers, motivate them to participate on these activities and be in charge of organizing these events.
Participating and helping us with our trainings – ESC volunteers will participate on trainings for the future campleaders. They may support us with their abilities, experiences and skills and with the organization of these activities like preparing materials, preparation of the program etc. We would welcome the creativity and initiative of the volunteers.
becoming the co-leader on the workcamps in Slovakia – participate on international voluntary workcamps in Slovakia, use all the theoretical knowledge gained during the project and the training into the practice while having direct contact with the group of young people from different cultures.
Creating workshop – Volunteers will have opportunity to prepare their own workshop “INEX Messenger”. Workshop will be presented at workcamps, within the educational part.
visiting schools with educational workshop
working with Canva Pro
writing articles on blog about traveling, volunteering, personal development
being part of volunteering team
What are other everyday activities?

Except of this exclusive work, the volunteer will be part of everyday activities we do at INEX Slovakia, where the tasks can be fulfilled.

• Activities of the project are flexible and depend on the phase of the project.
• Each volunteer will have a timetable to fit skills, abilities and wishes.

• In case the amount of working hours is higher than usual, the volunteer will get alternative day off.

Activities of INEX Slovakia, where you can improve your volunteering and educational skills and learn something new:

• Promotion of voluntary work and ESC Programe – Promoting volunteering and voluntary activities among youth is always important. That is why our ESC volunteers will visit schools and run presentations and workshops mostly about volunteering. They will be also involved in our promotional team and take care about our online media such as Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok and INEX web page.

• Administrative work – We would like the volunteers to help us with some administrative work like sorting and copying documents and other things. They will help a bit with shopping, going to the post office and work with our web-page.
What skills will you gain taking part in this ESC project?

• how to prepare volunteering events
• how to communicate with various types of people
• how to improve your public speaking skills by preparing and organizing workcamp
• how to improve your public speaking skills by preparing and presenting workshop
• how to create materials for educational and volunteering activities
• be more aware of educational and evaluation methods in non-formal learning
• learn soft skills like leadership, conflict resolution, time management, public speaking, management of the budget
• how to write articles
• gain practise for your professional life
• improve your English

All activities contain an educational part and they help with the development of your competences and skills. The project will be an important experience for you and will contribute to personal and professional growth. Thanks to the project you can moreover:

• meet people from around the world
• improve your practical skills and soft skills: communication, time management, budget management, conflict resolution, intercultural skills, public speaking, evaluation, theory of games, group dynamic, motivation, team management
• gain more experience in the management and leadership
• gain new friends
• help where your help is needed
Whom will I meet during the project?

You will meet different groups of people on various activities – young people, students, children, seniors, socially disadvantaged, people with disabilities. You will help with preparation of events, workshops and leisure time activities while using the methods of non-formal education.
What is the participant profile?

• Young person from EU member country,

• age 18 to 30 who want to take part in an intercultural project in Slovakia
• Interested in the topic of volunteering and non-formal education and its values
• Personal motivation to step out of the comfort zone and become a volunteer for 11 months
• Speak good English
• Are you responsible, flexible? Focused on working with youth? Creative and ready to take initiative? Passionate about volunteering and interested in workcamps? Positive and open-minded person?

Then we want you.
What is the crisis and risk prevention?

Once you are selected for the position, we will provide you with all the necessary detailed information for preparing yourself to come to the project.
You will receive InfoPack and WelcomePack with emergency numbers, you will be given detailed description of the activities, working conditions, food, accommodation, possibilities to spend your free time.
Once on the project, we will go through all the Health and Safety instructions in the flat and also in the office.
You will have your mentor, who will be there for you to help you especially the first days of the ESC project.
You will be provided with mobile numbers of your mentor and the ESC coordinator.
The ESC coordinator is also in charge of reflection and evaluation of activities during the ESC project.
Study theme

Once you become an ESC volunteer, you can choose one of the study theme you would like to focus and elaborate more as an INEX Messenger and pass it to other volunteers, e.g.:

* critical thinking
* mental health
* staying focused in the social media world
What are the training opportunities?

Volunteers will be part of:

1. On-arrival training organized by Slovak National Agency
2. Mid-term training organized by Slovak National Agency
3. The ESC volunteer will be trained within the framework of educational programme “VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT IN MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT”

ESC volunteers take part on our trainings that are organized for our future camp leaders. We will adjust the trainings following the abilities, experiences and skills of the ESC volunteers.
How is it with food, accommodation, allowance, insurance, transport and language course?

You will be living together with 2 other volunteers in an appropriately equipped flat only 5 minutes far from the INEX Slovakia office. This flat is situated near the city center and all the important institutions are around. You can find there laundry facilities as well as fully equipped kitchen. There are two rooms in the flat for the volunteers, so two volunteers will have to share a room.

You will receive money for food (150€) together with the pocket money (150€) at the beginning of each month and you will manage the money on your own. Since our office is near the flat, you can walk to the work.

ESC insurance is covered by HENNER.

Travel costs covered by travel distances:
100 – 499 km: 211 € per person
500 – 1999 km: 309 € per person
2000 – 2999 km: 395 € per person
3000 – 3999 km: 580 € per person

It is possible to use the green travelling – using anuthing else except the plane „to and from“ the project and receive higher amount for founding.

Language course:

The ESC volunteers will be having private slovak lessons with a teacher or they will visit the language school. Slovak language belongs to Slavic group of languages. It might seem as a very difficult one, but on the other side a very beautiful one 🙂
Testimonials

If you want to know more, check short videos from our ESC volunteers: Merike, Elena, Ivan, Mathilda, Lea, Borja, Helena and Christina, Chiara, Iryna, Geoffroy, Amandine.

Check the articles of previous INEX ESC volunteers on our blog.

Check our social media: inex.sk, FB, IG, LinkedIn, YouTube.
Where is the location of INEX Slovakia ESC project?

you can find our office here: Prokopova 15, 851 01, Bratislava, Slovakia
How to apply?

We open the positions to apply on October by filling in the questionnaire here and send your CV and motivation letter to esc@inex.sk

European Youth Portal: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/placement/37513_en
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