EVS

• You will have a document called Youthpass, which will confirm your participation, and validate your learning experiences and skills gained in the project.
• To have a lifetime experience.
• To improve your language skills.
• You can build relationships and find friends.
• You have the chance to get to know yourself better.
• Travel, accommodation and food are financed by the EU. It can happen that the hosting organizations give you the chance to do different sport activities, learn foreign language, and take part in different activities freely.
• Relevant work experience while having wonderful experiences.

EU-FA Alapítvány has been operating as an official Sending Organization for EVS Projects since April 2012.

There are five of us working as a team on EVS projects. Most of our co-workers have either worked or studied internationally, so they have shared values and exact knowledge about feelings and commitments needed to secure a successful project abroad. Their experience – be it local or international – is often used to make young people aware of the hidden challenges and opportunities of EVS. Our organization believes that one of the essential parts of a successful EVS project lies in recruitment and preparation. EU-FA recruits mostly young people from age 20 with confident English knowledge who are highly motivated in learning and experiencing, and seem to possess the ability to improve and make the project valuable.

EU-FA Sending Organization and its coordinators are up-to-date of current trends and related techniques of recruitment too. Being involved in EVS projects and thus placing our organization at the map of Europe, enabled us to extend and develop our knowledge towards EVS. Some of our experts have taken part in EVS Seminars, in order to ensure that all of our procedures run smoothly, obeying promptly the rules and regulations of the European Voluntary Service.

Slovenia

Program organiser Slovenia Zagorje

Czech Republic

Chech Social worker program organiser

Poland

Culture It’s Time! – Poland

1. First, find a host organization and project that you like.
   You can find a list of host organizations here:
   http:/europa.eu/youth/evs_database

   Set the search to receiving organisations and then select your desired country.

   You can also find some opportunities under the “current projects” section on our website, and we welcome applications for those as well. However, it is worth searching on your own too, so you can find the option that suits you best.

   Feel free to apply to multiple projects — this will only increase your chances of being selected.

2. If one or more host organizations catch your interest, please send your application to:
   titkarsag@eufa.hu

   Your application must include:

   • CV in English
   • (If you also speak the language of the given country, it’s even better to prepare a CV in that language as well.)
3. Motivation letter in English
   (Please be as specific as possible! Why do you want to support the work of that particular host organization?)
4. Photos

   (The host organization would like to get to know you better, and it helps if you attach a few pictures that represent you.)

   The subject of your email should include the name of the chosen host organization and project. Please also copy the exact name and email address of the host organization from the database to help speed up the process.

5. After you send us your application, we will get in touch with you and the host organization and handle the next steps.

   Host organizations usually like to have a short conversation with candidates via Skype — of course, we will help organize this for you.

To officially work as an EVS volunteer, it is important that you are aware of the requirements.

What do you need to make your plans come true?

• Sending Organisation – the EU-FA Foundation is an accredited sending organization (2012–2015).
• Receiving Organisation – you can find the list of receiving organizations here:
  http:/europa.eu/youth/evs_database

  These two organizations must have a written agreement stating that they will work together on a project and jointly prepare the application.

• Project

  A project created by the receiving organization, for which the participating organizations apply together. It is important that you understand the project being offered, read about it, and that you are genuinely interested in the chosen field or topic.

• Free Time

  Although volunteering is an activity for which you do not receive a salary, the participation rules are quite strict. Most EVS projects last 6–12 months, but there are also opportunities for shorter-term projects.

• Coordinating Organisation

  Often this is the same as the receiving organization; if not, it is designated by the receiving organization.

• Language Skills

  Officially, participants in the EVS program do not need a high level of foreign language knowledge, but a solid basic level and commitment to improvement are required.

• Money

  All EVS projects are funded by the European Union. This means you do not need to pay for travel, accommodation, or meals, and you also receive a small monthly allowance.

• Info-Kit

  At this link, you can find all information about insurance and other conditions:
  http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/programme/action2_en.php#info

• Mentor

  In every case you will always be assigned a mentor by the receiving organization.

• Application Deadlines

  There are three application deadlines each year: February 1, May 1, and October 1.

• Youthpass

  This document certifies that you have completed the project and records the skills you have acquired.

Péter Klausz – Spain

I took part in a six-month EVS project between June and November 2013 in Spain, in a small town called Don Benito, as a delegate of the EU-FA Foundation.

I went there without knowing any Spanish. This was a big challenge, as hardly anyone in the town spoke English.

During those six months, ten other volunteers stayed with us, who were participating in shorter-term EVS projects at the same organization.

Overall, this six-month experience was extremely valuable. EVS provided an excellent opportunity not only to get to know a new culture but also to live in it and find my place within it.

You’ll find further information about the seminars we took part in on the following websites:

Articles:

• Lea Sinka: Mentoring during EVS and everyday life.pdf
• Anna Varga-Radnóti: EVS – Volunteering.pdf

Domestic Volunteer Projects – Gain Real Project Experience!

We welcome applications and ideas for volunteering in Hungary, focused on employment policy and especially on improving young people’s employability at:
titkarsag@eufa.hu

• Opportunity to participate in a real project
• You will receive a volunteer reference for your CV
• Your personality and professional attitude can develop through mentoring
• A one-hour conversation with one of our foundation leaders
• You may also incorporate your project work into your thesis