Here is everything you need to know.

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU initiative that gives young people aged 17 to 30 the opportunity to volunteer, work, or do traineeships in projects that benefit communities across Europe and beyond.

It was launched in 2016 and has since involved hundreds of thousands of young people from across the EU and partner countries.

The core idea is simple: young people contribute to society through meaningful projects, and in return, the EU funds their participation — covering travel, accommodation, food, and providing a small monthly pocket money allowance.

Who is it for?

ESC is open to young people who:

• Are between 17 and 30 years old

• Are residents of an EU member state or an eligible partner country

• Are registered on the European Youth Portal

You do not need a university degree. You do not need previous experience. You do not need to speak the language of the host country (though it helps). ESC is explicitly designed to be inclusive, with special provisions for young people with fewer opportunities, including those from rural areas, with disabilities, or with difficult socioeconomic backgrounds.

What Can You Do Through ESC?

ESC funds several types of activities:

Individual Volunteering You go alone to a hosting organisation in another country for a period of 2 months to 12 months. The organisation provides you with accommodation, meals, local transport, language learning support, and a monthly pocket money allowance (typically €150–€200 depending on the country).

Topics range widely: environmental projects, social inclusion, working with children or elderly people, arts and culture, digital inclusion, sport, and more.

Team Volunteering You join a team of volunteers (usually 10 to 40 people from multiple countries) for a shorter period — typically 2 weeks to 2 months. These projects tend to be more intensive and community-focused.

Virtual Activities For those who cannot travel, some ESC projects offer virtual participation — contributing to projects remotely while staying in your home country.

What Does ESC Cover?

This is the part that surprises most people.

A fully-funded ESC placement covers:

• Travel costs — return flights or train travel up to a set limit per country

• Accommodation — provided by the hosting organisation, usually a shared apartment or host family

• Meals — either provided directly or covered by a daily food allowance

• Local transport — within the host city for project-related activities

• Language learning — access to the EU's Online Linguistic Support platform (OLS)

• Pocket money — a monthly allowance to cover personal expenses

• Insurance — comprehensive coverage through the EU's group insurance scheme

• Youthpass — a certificate recognising the competences you developed

In short, you show up. Everything else is taken care of.

What is Youthpass?

Youthpass is an EU certificate issued to every ESC participant upon completion of their project.

It is not just a participation certificate. It documents the specific competences you developed during the project — teamwork, intercultural communication, language skills, problem-solving, project management — using the EU's recognised competence framework.

Increasingly, employers across Europe are familiar with Youthpass and understand what it represents. It is a meaningful addition to a CV, particularly for roles in the social sector, education, NGOs, and public institutions.

How to Find ESC Projects

ESC opportunities are posted by accredited hosting organisations — NGOs, municipalities, social enterprises, and other civil society bodies that have received official EU accreditation to host volunteers.

Where to find them:

Abroadventure — Browse ESC projects alongside other EU-funded programmes. Filter by country, duration, and topic. Find ESC projects →

European Youth Portal — The official EU portal where accredited organisations post their openings.

Directly with NGOs — If you know which organisation or country you are interested in, contact NGOs directly. Many have ongoing ESC placements and welcome proactive applicants.

How to Apply

The application process varies by organisation, but typically involves:

1. Creating a profile on the European Youth Portal

2. Finding a project that fits your interests and availability

3. Contacting the hosting organisation directly or applying through their listed process

4. An online interview or a written application

5. If selected, signing a volunteering agreement and preparing for departure

The most important part of your application is showing genuine motivation — why this specific project, in this specific country, at this specific time. Generic applications rarely succeed.

Common Questions

Do I need to speak the local language? Not usually. Most ESC projects work in English as a common language, especially in international team settings. Language learning support is included in the programme.

Can I work while volunteering? No. ESC is a full-time commitment during your project period. You cannot combine it with paid employment.

Does it affect my benefits or student status? This depends on your home country's regulations. Check with your national Erasmus+ agency before applying if you are receiving benefits or enrolled as a student.

What if I need to leave early? Life happens. If you need to leave a project early for serious personal reasons, the hosting organisation and your national agency will work with you. It is not a legally binding contract.

Is ESC Right for You?

If you are young, curious, and open to living abroad for a period — even if you are nervous about it — ESC is one of the most supported ways to do it. The financial barrier is essentially removed. The network of other volunteers and youth workers you meet often lasts long after the project ends.

The main thing ESC requires is genuine commitment. The hosting organisations invest real time and resources in their volunteers. If you are ready to contribute meaningfully to a project and embrace the experience fully, it will give back more than you put in.

Find Your ESC Project

Browse open European Solidarity Corps projects across Europe on Abroadventure. Filter by country, duration, and topic to find the right match.

Browse ESC projects →

If you have heard of Erasmus+ but are not quite sure how volunteering fits into it, or where to even begin, this guide is for you.

What is Erasmus+ Volunteering?

Erasmus+ is the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth, and sport. Most people associate it with university exchange semesters — but that is only one part of it.

The youth strand of Erasmus+ funds a wide range of activities for young people between 18 and 30, including:

• Youth Exchanges — groups of young people from different countries meet for 6 to 21 days to work on a shared theme

• Training Courses — professional development for youth workers, educators, and NGO staff

• Volunteering Projects — through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), young people can volunteer for 2 weeks to 12 months with a hosting organisation abroad

These are not internships. They are not paid jobs. They are structured, non-formal education experiences, and they are almost always fully funded, meaning your travel, accommodation, meals, and local transport are covered.

Who Can Apply?

The basic requirements for most Erasmus+ youth activities are:

• You are between 18 and 30 years old (some activities accept 17-year-olds)

• You are a resident of an EU member state or a partner country (many non-EU countries participate)

• You are genuinely interested in the theme of the project

There is no requirement to speak a specific language, hold a university degree, or have previous volunteering experience. Erasmus+ is deliberately designed to be accessible, including for young people with fewer opportunities.

What Kinds of Projects Exist?

The range is enormous. In any given month, you might find:

• A two-week youth exchange in Romania focused on democracy and active citizenship

• A month-long ESC volunteering placement in Portugal, working on reforestation

• A training course in Vienna for youth workers on non-formal education methods

• A six-month ESC project in Spain teaching digital skills to elderly communities

Projects happen across more than 30 countries and cover topics from environment and climate to arts and culture, sport, social inclusion, digital skills, and human rights.

Where to Find Erasmus+ Volunteering Opportunities

This is where most people get stuck. Opportunities exist, but they are scattered. Here are the main places to look:

1. Abroadventure: A platform built specifically for EU-funded youth programmes. You can filter by country, programme type, dates, and topic. NGOs post their opportunities directly, so the listings are current and detailed. Browse programmes →

2. SALTO-YOUTH: The official European resource centre for Erasmus+ youth activities. Their training and cooperation opportunities database lists courses and exchanges, though the interface is dated and not always up to date.

3. European Youth Portal: The EU's official portal for young people. Has a volunteering section, but requires patience to navigate.

4. Social Media Facebook groups like "Erasmus+ Youth Exchange" or "ESC Volunteers Europe" are surprisingly active. NGOs often post opportunities there directly.

5. Direct Contact with NGOs: If you know which country or topic you are interested in, search for NGOs in that area and contact them directly. Many run recurring programmes and are happy to hear from motivated applicants.

How to Apply

Every project has its own application process, set by the hosting NGO. Most applications involve:

• A short motivation letter explaining why you want to join this specific project

• Basic personal information (age, nationality, language level)

• Sometimes a few specific questions about your experience or expectations

Tips that actually help:

Be specific in your motivation letter. "I want to volunteer because I love helping people" will not get you far. Instead, explain what you know about the project, why this particular topic matters to you, and what you bring to the group.

Apply early. Good projects fill up fast, especially those with no participation fee and full travel reimbursement.

Do not apply to everything at once. Pick two or three projects that genuinely excite you and write a proper application for each.

What Happens After You Apply?

If the NGO is interested, they will contact you for an online interview or ask for additional information. Selection usually takes one to four weeks, depending on the project timeline.

If accepted, the NGO will guide you through the next steps — paperwork, travel arrangements, and preparation activities. You will typically receive a participation agreement outlining what is expected of you and what you will receive in return.

Is It Worth It?

Ask anyone who has done an Erasmus+ project, and they will almost universally say yes.

You gain real experience working in international teams. You develop language skills, intercultural competence, and resilience. You build a network of contacts across Europe. And often, you leave with a Youthpass certificate — an EU-recognised document that validates the competences you developed.

Beyond the CV, many participants describe their Erasmus+ experience as genuinely life-changing. The combination of meaningful work, new friendships, and living abroad even briefly has a way of shifting your perspective.

Ready to Start?

Browse currently open Erasmus+ and ESC programmes across Europe on Abroadventure. Filter by country, topic, and dates to find the right fit for you.

Find your programme →