My first Magazine handbook for better quality in evs projects_eu_eec | Page 6

2. About EVS. Does my organization need an international volunteer?
Erasmus+ Volunteering Activities includes EVS – European Voluntary Service 1 , a programme which gives
a chance for young people from 17 to 30 to participate in volunteering projects abroad up to 12 months.
Volunteers can take part in EVS in one of the Programme countries (28 EU members 2 + FYR of
Macedonia, Turkey, Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland) or one of the Partner countries, neighboring the
EU, including Eastern Partnership countries 3 .
EVS is once-in-a-lifetime experience and a great opportunity to realize one’s talents and abilities through
helping people, learning about other cultures, representing and getting more awareness about your
own culture, improving foreign language, soft and a whole range of other indispensable skills. The
volunteers get inspired to discover themselves, to live in an international environment and to contribute
to the sustainable development of the receiving organization.
Interested in hosting international volunteer in your organization? Our first advice: identify the NEED to
host EVS volunteers. Once you decide you need them, stay committed no matter what! Because it’s a
great responsibility, but even a greater opportunity.
Benefits of hosting an EVS volunteer:
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International volunteer brings multicultural experience both to the receiving organization and
the community;
International volunteer creates new ideas, new vision of the activities of the organization;
International volunteer provides practical assistance in the receiving organization;
International volunteer initiates new projects, bringing positive changes to the local community;
International volunteer inspires others to help people and causes, to take part in various
activities, to be more tolerant and understanding;
International volunteer motivates others to be active citizens, showing by his own example;
You can continue this list.
Challenges of hosting an EVS volunteer:
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International volunteer comes from a different culture and some conflicts can occur;
International volunteer isn’t always ready to live abroad for a long time;
International volunteer doesn’t always adapt well to the working style in the hosting country;
International volunteer has personal issues which might influence the run of the project – e.g.
problems with roommates, complains about the working schedule, childish attitude…
International volunteer isn’t always committed to their obligations till the end.
1
As of 2018 EVS is being gradually changed to ESC – European Solidarity Corps Programme
Including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
3
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is an initiative of the European External Action Service of the European Union (EU) governing
its relationship with the states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, intended to provide an
avenue for discussions of trade, economic strategy, travel agreements, and other issues between the EU and its Eastern
European neighbours.
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