::AVSO::Association of Voluntary Service Organisations::

	European voluntary service: evs
DEFINITION European Voluntary Service (EVS) supports transnational voluntary service of young people. It aspires to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, primarily to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union. It promotes active citizenship and enhances mutual understanding among young people. These general objectives shall notably be achieved by: • supporting young people’s participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union; • giving young people the opportunity to express their personal commitment through voluntary activities at European and international level; • involving young people in actions fostering solidarity between citizens of the European Union; • involving young volunteers in a non-profit-making unpaid activity for the benefit of the general public in a country other than his or her country of residence. European Voluntary Service is a “learning” service: throughout non-formal learning experiences young volunteers improve and/or acquire competences for their personal, educational and professional development as well as for their social integration. The learning elements consist of a mutually agreed definition of the expected learning outcomes, processes and methods, the certification of the acquired competences, the participation of the volunteer in the EVS training cycle and the continued provision of task-related, linguistic and personal support, including a crisis prevention and management mechanism. EVS is open to all young people between 18 and 30 years old, regardless of their background, legally residing in a Programme Country or in a Partner Country. The EVS is a programme partly financed through the European Commission. All our Member organisations participate in this programme so you can apply by contacting them directly. YOUTH IN ACTION 2007-2013 4 main points can be highlighted of the new Youth in Action programme: 1. In the future programme there will be no distinction between different project formats (e.g. one-to-one, Europe-wide, etc.). The new rule says, that one project can have one or several activities – meaning up to 100 volunteers per activity and project. In one deadline, one application promoters may introduce one single project with only one volunteer, or one project with up to 100 volunteers, or several activities, meaning different countries, different number of volunteers in one project. 2. A new feature of the programme is the Activity Agreement. By the submission of the application all partner organisations have to be identified, but applicants do not need to identify the volunteers – this can happen after the project has been approved. Once the volunteer is identified the different parties in the project (namely the sending, the hosting and the coordination organisations as well as the volunteer) have to sign an Activity Agreement, which contains all the practical and financial information of the project, the tasks and responsibilities of each counterpart, the sharing of the grant, as well as serves as a proof of commitment to the project. A copy of this has to be sent to the National Agency or the Executive Agency in Brussels in case of a European level project. The PPA (Preliminary Partnership Agreement) is still part of the application form. 3. Another important aspect of the new EVS is the emphasis on the valorisation/visibility of the programme and thus the projects. It is based on the experience of the current 2000 – 2006 phase of the programme, that apart from the compulsory reports many project results are not sufficiently used and disseminated.. The Commission encourages and requires a more thorough and tangible explotation and dissemination of project results, e.g. film, photos, blogs, testimonials and any other material that contributes to the visibility and valorisation of the project and the programme as well. This will also show the benefits of the programme and help future political decisions.. 4. There is a general increase in the Youth in Action budget, as well as a steady increase for EVS from 2007 on each year. In the first year of the new programme, the EVS budget is similar to 2006 and first organisations are called on to improve the rate of absorbing the EVS funds that have not been spent to 100% before. More promotion of EVS is needed to make more potential users aware of it – notably in the new member states. In this light it is important to encourage the participation of new organisations as well as improving the efficiency of organisations with long-standing experience with the programme. In 2006 the European Commission celebrated the 10 years of EVS On the 26 and 27 of November 2006 the European Commission organised an event to celebrate "European Voluntary Service - 10 years of solidarity and active citizenship" in Brussels. Among the participants up to 100 former EVS hosting, sending, coordinating organisations, representatives of European institutions, national youth ministries and national agencies, etc. Massimiliano Viatore, the President of AVSO was among the keynote speakers on this event. During its first ten years, EVS has changed the lives of 30.000 volunteers and numerous organisations and communities. The Commission has also published a short film. EVS was founded in 1996, initially as a pilot action. Today it is Action 2 of the EU YOUTH programme (2000-2006) with more than 4,000 volunteers between 18 and 25 years participating each year. From 2007, a modernised and expanded EVS will be part of the new "Youth in Action" Programme (2007-2013). EVS has had a positive impact on more than 30.000 young people's personal and professional development and increased their readiness to play an active role in society. It has greatly enhanced European and international solidarity.

European voluntary service: evs

DEFINITION

European Voluntary Service (EVS) supports transnational voluntary service of young people.

It aspires to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, primarily to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union. It promotes active citizenship and enhances mutual understanding among young people.

These general objectives shall notably be achieved by:

• supporting young people’s participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union;

• giving young people the opportunity to express their personal commitment through voluntary activities at European and international level;

• involving young people in actions fostering solidarity between citizens of the European Union;

• involving young volunteers in a non-profit-making unpaid activity for the benefit of the general public in a country other than his or her country of residence.

European Voluntary Service is a “learning” service: throughout non-formal learning experiences young volunteers improve and/or acquire competences for their personal, educational and professional development as well as for their social integration. The learning elements consist of a mutually agreed definition of the expected learning outcomes, processes and methods, the certification of the acquired competences, the participation of the volunteer in the EVS training cycle and the continued provision of task-related, linguistic and personal support, including a crisis prevention and management mechanism.

EVS is open to all young people between 18 and 30 years old, regardless of their background, legally residing in a Programme Country or in a Partner Country. The EVS is a programme partly financed through the European Commission. All our Member organisations participate in this programme so you can apply by contacting them directly.

YOUTH IN ACTION 2007-2013

4 main points can be highlighted of the new Youth in Action programme:

1. In the future programme there will be no distinction between different project formats (e.g. one-to-one, Europe-wide, etc.). The new rule says, that one project can have one or several activities – meaning up to 100 volunteers per activity and project. In one deadline, one application promoters may introduce one single project with only one volunteer, or one project with up to 100 volunteers, or several activities, meaning different countries, different number of volunteers in one project.

2. A new feature of the programme is the Activity Agreement. By the submission of the application all partner organisations have to be identified, but applicants do not need to identify the volunteers – this can happen after the project has been approved. Once the volunteer is identified the different parties in the project (namely the sending, the hosting and the coordination organisations as well as the volunteer) have to sign an Activity Agreement, which contains all the practical and financial information of the project, the tasks and responsibilities of each counterpart, the sharing of the grant, as well as serves as a proof of commitment to the project. A copy of this has to be sent to the National Agency or the Executive Agency in Brussels in case of a European level project. The PPA (Preliminary Partnership Agreement) is still part of the application form.

3. Another important aspect of the new EVS is the emphasis on the valorisation/visibility of the programme and thus the projects. It is based on the experience of the current 2000 – 2006 phase of the programme, that apart from the compulsory reports many project results are not sufficiently used and disseminated.. The Commission encourages and requires a more thorough and tangible explotation and dissemination of project results, e.g. film, photos, blogs, testimonials and any other material that contributes to the visibility and valorisation of the project and the programme as well. This will also show the benefits of the programme and help future political decisions..

4. There is a general increase in the Youth in Action budget, as well as a steady increase for EVS from 2007 on each year. In the first year of the new programme, the EVS budget is similar to 2006 and first organisations are called on to improve the rate of absorbing the EVS funds that have not been spent to 100% before. More promotion of EVS is needed to make more potential users aware of it – notably in the new member states. In this light it is important to encourage the participation of new organisations as well as improving the efficiency of organisations with long-standing experience with the programme.

In 2006 the European Commission celebrated the 10 years of EVS

On the 26 and 27 of November 2006 the European Commission organised an event to celebrate "European Voluntary Service - 10 years of solidarity and active citizenship" in Brussels. Among the participants up to 100 former EVS hosting, sending, coordinating organisations, representatives of European institutions, national youth ministries and national agencies, etc.

Massimiliano Viatore, the President of AVSO was among the keynote speakers on this event. During its first ten years, EVS has changed the lives of 30.000 volunteers and numerous organisations and communities. The Commission has also published a short film.

EVS was founded in 1996, initially as a pilot action. Today it is Action 2 of the EU YOUTH programme (2000-2006) with more than 4,000 volunteers between 18 and 25 years participating each year. From 2007, a modernised and expanded EVS will be part of the new "Youth in Action" Programme (2007-2013). EVS has had a positive impact on more than 30.000 young people's personal and professional development and increased their readiness to play an active role in society. It has greatly enhanced European and international solidarity.