The objective of Eurocircle Deutschland e.V. (ecd) is to offer support for projects that promote international tolerance and ideology as well as providing access to inter-cultural education.

Action 2 of the YOUTH IN ACTION programme - the European voluntary service - offers young people the possibility to spend time in a foreign country and collect valuable experience. This is very often a decisive experience, broadening the mind and having a lasting effect throughout life, impacting areas such as orientation and character building.

ecd is an accredited coordinating and sending organisation in the YOUTH IN ACTION programme.

What is European Voluntary Service (EVS)?

EVS is part of the European Union YOUTH IN ACTION programme. The programme promotes many aspects of trans-national voluntary service for young people.

EVS is fundamentally based on the cooperation of the 4 partners mentioned below: a volunteer, a sending organisation, a host organisation and a coordinating organisation (this role will be mostly taken over by the sending or host organisation).

Who can take part in EVS?

EVS is available for young people between 18 and 30 years of age (age at the beginning of voluntary service). To take part in EVS from Germany the applicant must have legitimate residency. In certain exceptional cases the volunteer may be as young as 16 years of age (age at the beginning of voluntary service).

How long does EVS last?

EVS is based on 2 different time periods; a project period and an activity period.

The project period encompasses the activity period and is therefore longer than the activity period as it involves pre-project preparation and post project assessment work.

The activity period is the actual EVS period abroad. The activity period may be anything from 2 weeks to 12 months, depending on the length of time the host organisation is prepared to offer a place to a volunteer. Volunteers can choose the most suitable offer from the many different offers available.

How to get a place in EVS?

Firstly, it is important to have a clear idea of your personal schedule. Six or seven months may easily lapse from the moment you decide to participate in EVS and the actual day you arrive abroad. Make sure you are aware of the application conditions and time limits so that you can adapt your own personal availability and schedule. The following tips will help when applying for EVS.

Firstly, decide which country or countries you would like to choose for an EVS project. A list of possible countries can be found here.

Secondly - and in fact more clever as a first step is to think about which area you would like to work in e.g. culture, youth, sport, social work, media, environment, health, etc.

As is usual when looking for a job, the next step is to prepare a CV and motivation letter. CV and motivation letter should be written in English. We encourage the applicant to write CV and motivation letter in the language of the country targeted if he/she is able to. This website can be of assistance.

Then, of course, you need a sending organisation……. that’s us!

Not only do we have all additional information needed to prepare a successful application, we also have an extended partner network and diverse information sources, which allow us to provide you with concrete offers from receiving agencies and coordinating organisations. Contact with a sending organisation is essential as the database does not state if the project on offer still has places or availability.

We provide help and support throughout the entire application process, read and suggest improvements to applications if requested and thereby provide a middle agent between EVS offers and applicants. This service has proved very successful in many cases.

Contact us anytime if you require our sending organisation services.

What does EVS cost?

EVS is free for all participants. The European Union YOUTH IN ACTION programme together with the EVS host organisation take care of travel expenses, accommodation, food, transport, local language lessons plus a modest sum of pocket money (this sum varies depending on the country; download PDF file with information here). Furthermore, participants are fully insured and child benefits at the home country are not affected in any way.

How do you prepare for EVS?

There are at least two possible ways to prepare for EVS. One way to individually prepare an EVS is compulsory, the other is left to one´s own needs.

EVS provides a pre-departure training. Applicants must attend this training when they have obtained a place on EVS. The training lasts approx. 3 days and takes place somewhere in Germany. Here many participants meet and learn everything they need to know about EVS.  The pre-departure training is free of any costs and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The second possibility to prepare for EVS is to learn some basics of the foreign language of the destination beforehand. Where possible participants should organize financial support before EVS, as the on site pocket money is often far from enough. It is also useful to know about the particular contents of the host project offer before EVS (e.g. check how similar projects are treated in Germany or which organisation in your home town runs similar projects). Browsing internet for information on the host country and region prior to your EVS will allow you to have a better idea of what’s awaiting and give you plenty of ideas on how to spend your free time.

What can you gain from EVS?

The aim of EVS is to promote solidarity and tolerance between young people and to strengthen inter-cultural ties. EVS encourages citizens to be active with respect to European cohesion, a cohesion which is then spread further when the participant returns to his country of origin. The participant promotes mutual understanding of other cultures via passive and active involvement with young people. EVS is an instrument for informal education. Young EVS participants can improve their abilities in personal, professional and cultural areas, which have a positive impact on their overall social integration.

Where can you find more information?

Please contact us directly if you are unable to find the answers you are looking for. For further information you can also check the website of the German National Agency for the EVS of the YOUTH IN ACTION programme.