Volunteer Code of Conduct

Volunteer Code of Conduct

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

Are you between 18 and 30 and looking for an opportunity to help the wider community, in Europe and beyond?

You could do this with funding and support from the European Solidarity Corps, which helps young people take part in projects that benefit communities, either abroad or in their own country.
These projects offer an inspiring and empowering experience, as well as the chance to bring change while developing your skills and competences.

Most opportunities through the European Solidarity Corps are cross-border volunteering activities.
These projects are an excellent opportunity to help where needed, learn new skills, spend time abroad, maybe learn a language – and definitely come back with unforgettable memories.
With the wide range of issues covered by the projects (such as environment, health, inclusion, digital technologies, culture, sport), you’re sure to find something to match your interests and background.
You have the choice between volunteering individually and in teams.

Individual volunteering


● can last from 2 months up to 12 months
● is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week)
● allows you to contribute to the daily work of an organisation that is actively benefiting the local community 
● is usually ‘cross-border’ – i.e. in a different country to where you live (though it can be there too – these are called ‘in-country’ projects)
● in some cases, you can take part for a shorter time (from 2 weeks to 2 months) – for example for participants with fewer opportunities, or disabilities

Team volunteering


● can last between 2 weeks and 2 months
● is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week)
● you volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries
● the group will be between 5 and 40 volunteers and include people with fewer opportunities
● is usually abroad, though it can be in your home country

Supporting and host organisations (if you’re going abroad for individual volunteering)

If you’re going abroad for individual volunteering

  • supporting organisation – based in your home country, will help you prepare for your experience abroad (it used to be called ‘sending organisation’).
  • host organisation – will receive and help you in your destination country.
You can search for a potential supporting organisation on the accredited/Quality-Labelled organisation database.

/! If you are doing team volunteering, you don’t need a supporting organisation.

Who can volunteer?

European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-30 year old people who reside in programme and partner countries.

What is covered?

  • You are covered by a complementary insurance
  • You can access a range of support services such as linguistic support and training
  • Your basic costs will be covered (your travel to and from the project, accommodation and food)
  • You’ll also receive a small allowance for personal expenses (€3-6 a day, depending on the country)
  • If you have specific needs (e.g. a disability), these costs may also be covered


/! If you are selected through the Corps portal by an organisation, which is funded through the 8 funding programmes of the first phase of the European Solidarity Corps, then your activity falls under the rules and procedures of that funding programme and not all the services mentioned above will apply to you. Please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the additional funding programmes supporting the European Solidarity Corps.

What you need to know as an ESC Volunteer

Henner Insurance

Primary coverage: if the participant is not entitled to a first level of coverage (i.e., affiliated to a local health insurance or to the European Health Insurance Card EHIC). The European Solidarity Corps insurance plan is the only coverage. Henner will reimburse the medical expenses from the first euro of expenditure, up to the limits indicated in the table of reimbursements

Complementary coverage: if the participant is affiliated to a national health insurance, including the EHIC and/or home and hosting country are both part of either the European Union or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The European Solidarity Corps insurance plan complements its national health insurance coverage.
Henner will reimburse the difference between the amount covered by the national health insurance scheme and the European Solidarity Corps reimbursement ceiling.

Both categories of insured participants are equally covered by this insurance plan, i.e., same benefits, same ceilings

Henner Insurance

Contact Details Henner Madrid Customer Service Team

Phone : 0034917895722

Email : [email protected]

https://esc.henner.com

ESC Henner insurance guide

 
ESC – InfoKit

The European Solidarity Corps InfoKit is intended for the participants involved in the European Solidarity Corps. It provides information about what to expect before, during and after the volunteering activity. Each participant carries with them ideas, expectations, needs and habits that deserve to find a respectful and trustful hosting environment, receptive of individual specificities. At the same time, participating organisations often devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a European Solidarity Corps project; they can therefore expect that the participant shows a similar level of respect for and trust in their commitment to carry out activities in their local community.

The main objective of this text is therefore to clarify the role that each actor involved in the project (including participants) should take in jointly creating a positive environment for a European Solidarity Corps activity. The guidelines outlined in this document take into account the great variety of project partners, project formats and areas, and they need to be adapted to the specific circumstances of each project.

ESC InfoKit Document
On Arrival Training (OAT)

On Arrival Training (OAT) is dedicated to volunteers, trainees and employees involved in activities longer than 2 months in Romania in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps

  • Introduce participants to the host country
  • Prepare participants for the activity, including developing competences of learning to learn, intercultural dialogue, solidarity, conflict transformation, etc.
  • Support participants in learning about European Solidarity Corp, their rights and responsibilities within the programme, key documents and tools at their disposal.
  • Support networking and mutual learning among participants.
  • Sessions will be held online and individual/ group tasks to be done in sessions using such online tools as padlet, mentimeter and others.
  • A detailed programme will be sent via email to participants.
  • Technical requirements to take part in the course:
  • Access to a computer/ laptop/ tablet with video and sound system (including microphone and video camera).
  • A quiet place from where you can work.
  • There is no participation fee involved and the costs related with trainers, online platforms, tools are covered by the National Agency
More info on OAT
Mid Term Evaluation (MTE)

Mid Term Evaluation (MTE) is dedicated to volunteers, trainees and employees involved in activities longer than 6 months in Romania in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps

  • Evaluate their project experience till present;
  • Explore the challenges and their possible solutions in the project activities and experiences;
  • Review personal goals, intentions and responsibilities for the last part of the project;
    • The structure
  • Welcome session – introduction My ESC project
  • Me in my project + ESC evaluation form
  • Online session with QA
  • Motivation in volunteering and ESC Graph
  • Challenges ESC– Learning Opportunities and Solution oriented approach
  • My learning process in ESC
  • Training and evaluation cycle (TEC)
  • The MidTerm Evaluation Meeting is just one of the meetings dedicated to volunteers in European Solidarity Corps.
  • One of the key features of ESC volunteering is the training and evaluation it provides, guiding young volunteers through a non-formal learning process before, during and after their period of service abroad.
More info on MTE