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

	European voluntary service (EVS)
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. 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 programme 2007-2013 The priorities of the new programme are: European Citizenship; Participation of young people; Cultural diversity; Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. The new Youth in Action programme has some new elements: It integrates the activities of the "YOUTH" and " Youth NGO support" programmes; There are new actions and measures; It involves an extended geographical scope; Extended age access (13-30 years); One additional target group: youth policy administrations/policy-makers. The general objectives stated in the legal basis of the Youth in Action programme are the following: Promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular; Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union; Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries; Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field; Promote European cooperation in the youth field. The programme consists of 5 Actions: Action 1 - Youth for Europe (youth exchanges) 1.1. Youth exchanges 1.2. Youth initiatives 1.3. Youth democracy projects Action 2 - European Voluntary Service • European Voluntary Service (individual) • European Voluntary service (groups) • More participants • European and international cooperation with partner countries Action 3 - Youth in the World Youth exchanges, youth worker exchanges, training, networking, cooperation, innovation in youth work: 3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the European Union 3.2. Cooperation with other countries of the world Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems 4.1. Support to bodies active at European level in the field of youth 4.2. Support to the European Youth Forum 4.3. Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisationsy 4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality 4.5. Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations 4.6. Partnerships 4.7 Support for the structures of the programme 4.8 Adding to the value of the programme Action 5 – Support for European cooperation in the youth field 5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy 5.2. Support for activities to bring about better knowledge of the field of youth 5.3. Co-operation with international organisations In 2006 the European Commission celebrated 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 at this event. During its first ten years, EVS has changed the lives of 30.000 volunteers and numerous organisations and communities.

European voluntary service (EVS)

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.

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 programme 2007-2013

The priorities of the new programme are:

European Citizenship;
Participation of young people;
Cultural diversity;
Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.

The new Youth in Action programme has some new elements:

It integrates the activities of the "YOUTH" and " Youth NGO support" programmes;
There are new actions and measures;
It involves an extended geographical scope;
Extended age access (13-30 years);
One additional target group: youth policy administrations/policy-makers.

The general objectives stated in the legal basis of the Youth in Action programme are the following:

Promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular;
Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union;
Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries;
Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field;
Promote European cooperation in the youth field.

The programme consists of 5 Actions:

Action 1 - Youth for Europe (youth exchanges)

1.1. Youth exchanges
1.2. Youth initiatives
1.3. Youth democracy projects

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

• European Voluntary Service (individual)
• European Voluntary service (groups)
• More participants
• European and international cooperation with partner countries

Action 3 - Youth in the World

Youth exchanges, youth worker exchanges, training, networking, cooperation, innovation in youth work:
3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the European Union
3.2. Cooperation with other countries of the world

Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems

4.1. Support to bodies active at European level in the field of youth
4.2. Support to the European Youth Forum
4.3. Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisationsy
4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality
4.5. Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations
4.6. Partnerships
4.7 Support for the structures of the programme
4.8 Adding to the value of the programme

Action 5 – Support for European cooperation in the youth field

5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy
5.2. Support for activities to bring about better knowledge of the field of youth
5.3. Co-operation with international organisations

In 2006 the European Commission celebrated 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 at this event. During its first ten years, EVS has changed the lives of 30.000 volunteers and numerous organisations and communities.