Solidarity Corps

What is ESC (European Solidarity Corps) ?

The European Solidarity Corps is the new European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe.

The young people who participate in the European Solidarity Corps will all agree with and uphold its Mission and Principles.

You can register for the European Solidarity Corps when you are 17 years old, but you cannot start a project until you are over 18. European Solidarity Corps projects will be available to people up to the age of 30 years old.

After completing a simple registration process, European Solidarity Corps participants could be selected and invited to join a wide range of projects, such as helping to prevent natural disasters or rebuild afterwards, assisting in centres for asylum seekers, or addressing different social issues in communities.

Projects supported by the European Solidarity Corps can last from two to twelve months. They will usually be located within the European Union Member States.

Types of Activities

VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES
Individual volunteering lets young people participate in the daily work of organisations and lasts between 2 and 12 months, and in some cases, 2 weeks and up. Participants can volunteer abroad or in their country of residence for projects covering social inclusion, environment, culture, and more.

Volunteering teams are groups of 10-40 young people from at least two different countries who volunteer together for a period of between 2 weeks and 2 months. The costs of accommodation and food are covered. Participants also receive a small allowance for personal expenses.

TRAINEESHIPS AND JOBS
Traineeships count as full-time work practice and last between 2 and 6 months – renewable once. They are paid for by the organisation responsible for the traineeship. Trainees develop their personal, educational, social, civic and professional skills. Jobs are full-time and last between 3 and 12 months. They are paid for by the organisation employing the participant. Traineeships and jobs can take place in the participant’s country of residence or abroad. If abroad, participants receive a small allowance to help them relocate and settle in a foreign country.

Participants of volunteering activities, traineeships and jobs get online linguistic support, training and mentoring. Their travel costs to and from the project venue are covered.

SOLIDARITY PROJECTS
Solidarity projects are initiated, developed and implemented over a period of 2 to 12 months by at least five young people who want to make a positive change in their local community. Young people who want to run a solidarity project in their country of residence must register in the European Solidarity Corps portal.

Benefits of joining the European Solidarity Corps

Taking part in a European Solidarity Corps project will be a significant achievement for any young person. It will be an asset when applying for a job and it will help you when you apply for higher education. The European Solidarity Corps could be a new opportunity for you to engage in a meaningful activity which could prove to be a stepping stone into employment.

After participating in a project you will be entitled to receive a certificate that documents your participation. You could use this when applying for jobs or further learning.

As well as being useful for your future career prospects, European Solidarity Corps you will receive a package of other benefits, which will vary depending on the type of project that you undertake. It will also depend on whether you are participating in the Volunteering or Occupational parts of the Corps.

If you decide to volunteer, you will not receive a wage, but will on the other hand be entitled to travel, lodging and subsistence as well as insurance coverage for the duration of the activity. You will receive relevant training before you start and after you arrive on site.

For participants doing an apprenticeship or a traineeship, there will, in some countries, be an employment contract established in accordance with the national regulations of the hosting country. A subsistence allowance will be provided.

For participants that are recruited for a job placement, there will always be a formal labour contract and a wage in accordance with local laws, regulations and collective agreements.

So
Are you between 18 and 30 and willing to spend from two up to 12 months abroad as a volunteer in our organization in Greece; if you are Greek, and you want to do voluntary service in Greece or in another country in the world please contact us.

Please note before applying for any kind of project mentioned above you should be registered to the European Solidarity Corps database.

How to apply for ESC at Solidarity Tracks:
Is very easy: You should send us your CV (Europass CV) and your motivation letter

Youthpass certificate
About the experiences during volunteering you will not just have great memories, but as well a European level certificate – Youth pass!
Youthpass is..
Unique! The first document in Europe that shows the benefits what the young people get from non-formal education!
Friendly! Available to ALL youth!
Believable! Every certificate has a special number, which verifies the originality of the document.

All Youthpass certificates contain the following information:

  • Personal details about the participant
  • General description of the relevant Action of the Programme
  • Key information concerning the project and the activities realized by the participant
  • Description and assessment of the participant’s learning outcome during the project.

Through the Youthpass, the European Commission ensures that participation in the Programme is recognized as an educational experience and a period of non-formal learning and informal learning. This document can be of great benefit for the future educational or professional pathway of the participant.
For more information look here: youthpass
Download the Youth pass guide from this link: Youthpass Guide
The volunteers who come to Solidarity Tracks, we offer them a tool that helps them to follow their learning process ESC Diary / mydiary.e-evs.eu

Accommodation: When you come to do your ESC in Solidarity Tracks, you will live in one of these volunteer houses.
Volunteers house 1
The house has 3 double-bed rooms, one bathroom, big kitchen, living room and garden.
Provided in the house:

  • Furnished apartment
  • Full equipped kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Wireless internet
  • The bed-linen (sheets, blankets, pillows) not towels

Volunteers house2
The house has 3 double-bed rooms, one bathroom and a big kitchen. Provided in the house:

  • Furnished apartment
  • Full equipped kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Wireless internet
  • The bed-linen (sheets, blankets, pillows) not towels

Practical information
Venue:
Our ESC volunteer project will take place in Lefkas.
The island of Lefkas, also called Lefkada, is the fourth largest island of the Ionian Islands, after Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Corfu. It has an area of 303 square kilometers, a coastline of 117 km and a population of about 22.000 inhabitants. Lefkas is an island with a wide spiritual tradition and it is situated 378 km from Athens.
Discover the emerald island at: www.lefkada.gr

Food:

  • If your project will be at the Elderly care Center of Lefkas, you will take your lunch at the Elderly care center of Lefkas. You will take a lump sum of 100 Euros for meals that are outside the center.
  • If your project will be at Solidarity Tracks offices, you will take a lump sum of 150 Euros per month for food.

Pocket money:
You will receive 150€ per month.

Working place:
Your working place is in Solidarity Tracks Offices or in Elderly care centre of Lefkas. Both are 5 minutes walking from your home.

Transportation from your country:
When your project will be agree, you will inform us as soon as possible about your departure date. The airplane tickets should be bought by the volunteer. The transport costs will be reimbursed on a lump sum basis (official travel distance calculator supported by the European Commission.)

How to arrive to Lefkas:
When you arrive to Athens El. Venizelos Airport you have to take the city bus X93 to the bus station Kifissos, it will take about 60 min and the ticket costs about 6 Euros. There you have to take the bus to Lefkas which takes 5,5 hours and costs 34 Euro. We will wait you at the bus station in Lefkas. Pay attention that there are only 4 buses from Athens to Lefkas (At 7:00, 13:00, 16:30 and 20:30) so we will organize your flight so as to arrive early to Athens and catch a bus to Lefkas.
Very important is that you KEEP ALL THE BILLS, TICKETS AND BOARDING PASSES from your travel. We will reimburse to you the tickets in Lefkas.

Insurance:
Your sending organization will register in Henner Insurance before your coming in Greece. Your sending organizations will help you for the preparation. HENNER insurance Every volunteer before starting ESC gets a free HENNER Assistance insurance. Sending, hosting or coordinating organization is responsible for the completing the formalities. HENNER insurance works all the ESC period 24h a day in all the world, starting from the day when the volunteer is going to his project place and 2 more month after the end of the project.

For more detailed information, visit https://www.henner.com/

On Arrival training: It will be organized by the Greek National Agency

Mid term evaluation:
It will be organized by the Greek National Agency.(We will inform you later about the dates.
Your participation in these seminars is obligatory!


ESC activities in Solidarity Tracks

Infopack

e-esc.eu