Objective of the call

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) aims to promote solidarity as a value, mainly through volunteering, to enhance the engagement of young people and organizations in accessible and high quality solidarity activities as a means to contribute to strengthening cohesion, solidarity, democracy and citizenship in Europe, while also responding to societal challenges and strengthening communities, with particular effort to promote social inclusion. It shall also contribute to European cooperation that is relevant to young people.

Structure and actions

The call implements 3 operational Actions:

- Volunteering.

It includes two sub-actions:

a) Individual volunteering: full-time unpaid solidarity activity in a broad range of areas for a duration from 2 to 12 months. In some cases, volunteering activities of 2 weeks to 2 months can be put in place for young people with fewer opportunities. This activity will give young people the chance to take part in the daily work of hosting organizations. Activities can take place either in a country other than the country of residence of the participant or in the country of residence of the participant.

b) Volunteering teams: solidarity activities allowing teams of 10 to 40 participants from at least two different countries to volunteer together for a period between 2 weeks and 2 months. Such activities could contribute to the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in the ESC. At least a quarter of the volunteers must come from abroad.

The Volunteering strand can be implemented through 3 types of projects: Volunteering Projects, Volunteering Partnerships (open only for organizations that signed a Framework Partnership Agreement for 2018-2020) and Volunteering Teams in high priority areas (Response to environmental and climate challenges, Inclusive societies through bridging the intergenerational and social divide or addressing challenges linked to geographical remoteness, Mental health and well-being).-

- Traineeships and Jobs.

It includes two sub-actions, which can take place either in a country other than the country of residence of the participant or in the country of residence of the participant:

a) Traineeships: periods of full-time remunerated work practice of between 2 and 6 months renewable once for a maximum duration of 12 months within the same participating organization. This activity should include a learning and training component, to help the participant gain relevant experience with a view to developing competences useful for the personal, educational, social, civic and professional development.

b) Jobs: solidarity activities for young people, for a period from 3 to 12 months, paid by the participating organization that employs the participant. Such jobs shall include a learning and training component and be based on a written employment contract, which respects all the terms and conditions of employment as defined in national law.

- Solidarity projects: in-country solidarity activity on a clearly identified topic initiated, developed and implemented by young people themselves. It gives a group of minimum five young persons the chance to express solidarity by taking responsibility and committing themselves to bring positive change in their local community. In this action no hosting organization is required as the project is submitted by the group of young people involved.

Eligible applicants

Individuals: the participants to Volunteering activities are 18-30 year old young people residing in one of the ESC eligible countries. Jobs and traineeships and Solidarity projects are open toparticipants residing in the EU Member States. The participants must be registered in the onlinedatabase of the ESC.

Host Organisations: ESC projects are submitted and managed by public or private organization established in an EU Member State. Volunteering and solidarity projects are also open to the participation of: EFTA countries, Switzerland, EU acceding and candidate countries and a group of neighbouring countries specified in the call. To participate in the call, the host organizations must have previously obtained the accreditation (Quality Label) with the National Agency of their country. This is required to ensure their compliance with the principles and objectives of the ESC, as regards their responsibilities during all stages of solidarity activities. A Quality Label is not needed for solidarity projects.

Partnership criteria

Individual volunteering: for cross-border activities at least two organizations, one host and one supporting organization. A supporting organization from the country in which the participant is legally residing is required. For in-country activities, at least one host organization is required. Volunteering teams and Traineeships and Jobs: at least one host organization. Solidarity projects: an organization can apply on behalf of the group that will implement the project. However, this is not mandatory and the project can be submitted directly from the group of young people.

Funding

All the actions are funded through a series of lump sum calculated on the basis of activities implemented and participants involved. These lump sums cover costs such as: travel, organizational support, inclusion support and pocket money for volunteers. Other exceptional costs are calculated as real costs and reimbursed up to 100% by the grant, depending on the type of cost.

Projects duration

Volunteering Projects and Volunteering Teams in high priority areas: from 3 to 24 months

Volunteering Partnerships: 18 months.

Traineeships and Jobs: from 6 to 24 months. Solidarity projects: from 2 to 12 months.

Deadlines

Volunteering Projects, Traineeships and Jobs and Solidarity projects: 5 February, 30 April and 1October 2020

Volunteering Partnerships: 30 April 2020

Volunteering Teams in high priority areas: 17 September 2020

Applications for Quality Label can be submitted on a continuous basis.

More information athttps://ec.europa.eu/youth/solidarity-corps

In case of interest please contact lnorton@fsjd.org