MISSION OF THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS

The European Solidarity Corps brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn and develop.

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PRINCIPLES OF THE EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS

European Solidarity Corps participants carry with them ideas, convictions and expectations. The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities.

These general principles of conduct take into account the great variety of potential participants, organisations and environments in which activities may be performed. They should be adapted to the specific circumstances of each activity.

Young people planning to join the European Solidarity Corps should read this document carefully. As a European Solidarity Corps participant, one agrees to uphold the following principles:

• European Solidarity Corps participants embrace the values of solidarity, respect for human dignity and human rights, and believe in the promotion of a fair and equal society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality prevail;

• European Solidarity Corps participants strive to enhance solidarity between people, while respecting their cultures and their traditions, and aim to build a community of shared responsibilities and mutual support;

• European Solidarity Corps participants are willing to make meaningful contributions to society and will show solidarity, cooperation and mutual understanding;

• European Solidarity Corps participants must not act in any way that could put others or themselves at risk of being harmed;

• European Solidarity Corps participants must respect the rules, organisational structure and practices that govern the hosting organisation, bearing in mind also that this frame may be necessary to respect the personal health, safety and dignity of individuals involved in the activity. European Solidarity Corps participants must also abide by the laws in force in the host country;

• Joining the European Solidarity Corps must always be the voluntary choice of a young person, and they are free to resign from the initiative. They have the right to refuse to accept any offer of a Corps placement without affecting their chance to receive other offers in the future;

• The participation in the European Solidarity Corps does not involve the payment of any fee;

• At the end of their placement, European Solidarity Corps participants are entitled to receive a European Solidarity Corps certificate, confirming their participation in the activity;

• When accepting a placement for a volunteering activity, European Solidarity Corps participants will sign a Solidarity Contract with the participating organisation, detailing the conditions of their activity, in line with the principles of the European Solidarity Corps Charter. For an occupational activity, the employment contract will serve a similar purpose;

• Prior to the start of the activity and during their deployment, European Solidarity Corps participants will receive clear information about the tasks they will carry out and, where appropriate, adequate training and linguistic support.

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PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES

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WHICH ACTIONS ARE SUPPORTED?

The following Actions may be supported and covered in this section:

• Volunteering Projects;

• Volunteering Teams in High Priority Areas;

• Solidarity Projects.

As regards participants, the solidarity activities, as well as any other supported activities related to them (e.g. quality and support measures), are meant to produce the following main outcomes:

• Improved skills and competences for personal, educational, social, civic, cultural and professional development;

• More active participation in democratic life and in society in general;

• Enhanced employability and transition into the labour market;

• Increased sense of initiative and entrepreneurship;

• Increased self-empowerment and self-esteem;

• Improved foreign language competences;

• Enhanced intercultural awareness;

• Better awareness of the European project and the EU common values;

• Increased motivation for further engagement in solidarity activities.

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HOW TO SET UP A VOLUNTEERING PROJECT?

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The activities should take an active role in all those stages enhancing thus their learning experience.

• Planning (including defining the learning outcomes, activity formats, development of work programme, schedule of activities)

• Preparation phase, including practical arrangements, selection of participants, set up of agreements with partners and participants, tailor-made linguistic/intercultural/task-related preparation based on the needs of participants before departure;

• Implementation of activities;

• -Follow-up phase, including the evaluation of the activities, issue of the certificate of participation, support to participants upon return as well as the evaluation, dissemination and use of the activities’ outcomes.

 

Most European Solidarity Corps activities are implemented by one or several participating organisations. All participating organisations involved in a volunteering activity must hold a valid Quality Label. The organisations involved assume the role of “supporting” the implementation of the activities and the volunteers and/or “hosting” the volunteers:

• The host role covers the full range of activities related to hosting a Solidarity Corps participant, including the development of a programme of the young person's activities and providing guidance and support to the participant during all the phases as appropriate (some of these activities can be carried out by a support organisation involved in the same project).

• The support role entails supporting, preparing and/or training participants before departure, a mediation between them and their host organisations and/or providing support to participants upon return from their activity as well as project management and coordination.

 

Where only one organisation is involved (in-country activities or volunteering teams), the organisation has to ensure that all phases are carried out and the above tasks and responsibilities are fulfilled. In all cases, the involvement of a support organisation in activities involving young people with fewer opportunities is highly recommended.

In addition, organisations applying for grant must hold a valid Quality Label for lead organisations. For more information on the Quality Label, please refer to the section “Quality Label for volunteering in solidarity activities”. 20

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SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS

Young people who want to participate in the European Solidarity Corps must register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity. Young people with fewer opportunities may receive support from organisations to complete the registration phase. The European Solidarity Corps Portal offers a meeting place for young people and organisa-tions holding a Quality Label and willing to implement solidarity activities. Organisations have to select the participants from the database of registered young people.

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