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| Description: | The aim of the European Voluntary Service is to support young people's participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union. Under this Action, young people take part individually or in groups in non-profit, unpaid activities. |
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| Reference: | The Programme Guide |
| Applications: | Application forms for permanent call for proposals 2013 |
| Participation: | Please find more information in Who can participate? |
| Responsible entity: | EACEA or National agencies. Please find more information in How to apply? |
| Projects duration: |
Up to 24 months |
| Useful link: |
Database of approved EVS organisations Hopscotch for EVS/ACTION2 Handbook for EVS Promoters: http://www.salto-youth.net/download/2006 |
As outlined in the "Youth in Action" Programme Guide", any organisation located in a Programme Country or in South East Europe wishing to send or host EVS volunteers or coordinate an EVS project must be accredited. Through their accreditation EVS organisations agree to adhere to the ‘EVS Charter’. Accreditation serves to gain access to EVS and to ensure a common quality standard in EVS.
Organisations outside the Programme Countries and South East Europe can participate as project partners in EVS without accreditation.
European non-governmental organisation (ENGOs) located in Programme countries and international governmental organisations located in Programme countries and South East Europe (SEE) are accredited by the Executive Agency.
They may request one or more types of accreditation (as sending, as host, as co-ordinating organisation).
From now on, they can submit an ‘Expression of Interest’, preferably in English, by post and by email, to:
Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency
Youth Department
BOUR 01/01
Avenue du Bourget 1
B-1140 Brussels
Expression of Interest forms can be submitted at any time (no deadline). However, requests should be submitted within reasonable time before the submission of the EVS project application (at least 6 weeks before) in order to avoid that the EVS project is rejected due to some of the promoters involved not being accredited by the time the application is submitted. In case of approval the accreditation will have a validity of three years.
As part of the evaluation of accreditation applications, the Youth Unit will carry out a telephone interview with all applicants. The purpose of the telephone interview is to enable the Agency to supplement the information submitted in the Expression of Interest. It forms part of the process whereby the Agency evaluates the Expression of Interest documentation before reaching a decision whether or not to grant accreditation. It also gives the Agency the opportunity to highlight key points about which all accredited organisations should be aware. Applicants will have the opportunity to ask questions or for further information.
For clarifications on the accreditation matters please contact:
Email: eacea-p6@ec.europa.eu
The Info-Kit is meant to support volunteers and Sending Organisations in the pre-departure preparation and has to be made available to all volunteers before their departure. It contains important information about what volunteers can expect from their Sending and Host Organisations and what the organisations can expect from the volunteer. The content of the Kit may wary from country to country, but four compulsory parts are provided by the European Commission and are common for all volunteers:
For further information about the insurance coverage, instructions on enrolment of your volunteer(s), we advise you to read the information available on the website of MSH international www.msh-intl.com/global and get in touch with them directly:
MSH INTERNATIONAL
Sylvie Lavenant
18 rue de Courcelles
75384 Paris Cedex 08
FRANCE
Tel. : + 33 (0) 1 44 20 82 10
Email : indiveurope@msh-intl.com
EVS volunteers are covered by a group insurance plan specifically designed to protect them during their period of voluntary activity. The cover is compulsory and free of charge to the Volunteers. The following guides provide information about the principles of this insurance.
Accreditation is a quality assurance process to make sure that promoters involved in EVS are aware of the values, objectives and rules of EVS. These guidelines are intended to support promoters preparing for accreditation by explaining the accreditation process and listing elements which will be assessed by the accreditors.
EVS Accreditation Guidelines 
One of the key features of EVS 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. These guidelines gives an overview of the objectives and expected achievements of the various trainings provided for the volunteers. The guidelines are intended for anybody involved in the training of EVS volunteers, as well as for the volunteers themselves.
EVS Volunteer Training: Guidelines and Minimum Quality Standards (2011, pdf)
The European Voluntary Service Charter is part of the Youth in Action Programme Guide and highlights the roles of EVS Sending, Host and Coordinating Organisations and the main principles and quality standards of EVS. Each EVS Project promoter adheres to the provisions set out in this Charter.
European Voluntary Service Charter
This document offers advice and guidance concerning visa and residence permits if necessary for participating in a YOUTH project. The document contains information according to length and purpose of the stay in a foreign country. Note: This document provides general information, for further details it is advised to contact the Youth in Action National Agencies in charge.
General Recommendations for Visa/Residence Permit Application 
If, after following the 'General Recommendations for Visa/Residence Permit Applications', Coordinating Organisations experience difficulty in obtaining visas for individual volunteers the Executive Agency can provide a letter of support.
The letter of support will provide confirmation that the young person in question is intending to participate in a European Union funded Youth in Action programme project.
To request a letter of support the Coordinating Organisation must complete the relevant, identified, details in the following document. A separate document must be provided for each individual volunteer.
To allow the Executive Agency to provide the same level of service to all Coordinating Organisations please note the following requirements:-
a. Requests for support letters must be submitted no later than 1 month before the intended date of travel of the young volunteer in question.
b. Only requests submitted using the above template, fully completed, will be dealt with.
c. Requests must be submitted by e-mail to eacea-p6@ec.europa.eu
d. In completing the above template the Coordinating Organisation takes full responsibility for any errors or omissions.
The Executive Agency will provide letters of support to Coordinating Organisations within 10 working days of receipt of correctly submitted requests.
| Last update: 03/05/2013 | Print | Top of page |
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