IP/06/1624
Brussels, 24 November 2006
The European Voluntary Service celebrates its tenth anniversary On 26-27 November 2006, the European Voluntary Service celebrates its tenth anniversary. European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a flagship of the YOUTH programme, a Community action that encourages young people to become immersed in a different country and culture, while carrying out a voluntary, not-for-profit or charitable activity. Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Multilingualism, said: "The European Commission is proud of EVS, because it is a testimony to the social commitment and solidarity of our young people across Europe. It also shows how European Union action can help create something that is larger than the sum of its parts. The European Voluntary Service is a unique opportunity for young people to engage in society and help shape the Europe and the world of tomorrow".
Aged between 18 and 25 years, EVS volunteers work individually for up to 12 months for example in kindergartens, youth organisations, municipalities, sport associations, etc. or collectively help with the organisation of major European events. As an example, a group of committed young EVS volunteers has just recently started helping with the activities of Luxembourg: Culture Capital of Europe 2007, while another EVS group has helped with environmental rehabilitation in the High Tatras National Park in Slovakia. Since 1996, almost 35,000 young people have participated, through unpaid and full-time voluntary service in another country.
EVS will continue as an Action of the new YOUTH IN ACTION Programme for the period 2007-2013, and it will be considerably expanded: the future EVS will allow people between 18-30 years to participate (in some cases even 16-17 year-olds). It will cover a large range of countries in Europe, the neighbouring regions and the whole world. Further, group EVS activities, which can involve up to 100 young volunteers, will henceforth become a systematic feature of the new EVS and complement the traditional individual activities.
Commissioner Ján Figel' has invited 180 guests, among them 100 former volunteers, to a special commemorative event in Brussels on 26-27 November. This celebration brings together former EVS volunteers, representatives of sending, hosting and coordinating organisations, the European institutions, the YOUTH National Agencies (which administer the programme at Member State level), national youth ministries and many more stakeholders. A truly global dimension is brought to the event through the presence of Mr Ad de Raad, executive coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers, with whom the Commission has the intention to enhance the existing fruitful cooperation through a multi-annual partnership agreement.
More information on EVS and the event: www.celebrateEVS.eu
See also Annex Pages 2 and 3
Annex: The European Voluntary Service in figures
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) aims at enhancing solidarity, active citizenship and mutual understanding among young people through unpaid voluntary activities in another country. It is open to all young people regardless of their backgrounds and does not cost anything to them.
EVS volunteers generally provide a service to a local community, but also receive regular training and strong personal and task-related support. The EVS is thus an important non-formal learning experience for young people, which is documented by means of an EVS certificate. Through EVS, volunteers can increase key competences that are necessary to be active citizens and to improve their educational and employment prospects. The EVS therefore contributes to the Community Lisbon programme for growth and jobs.
The EVS relies on a strong partnership between sending organisations, hosting organisations and volunteers. Volunteers do not have to pay anything for participation in EVS; they receive a full reimbursement of travel costs, complete insurance cover and pocket money. Organisations receive Community co-financing for their sending, hosting and coordinating activities.
Since its establishment in 1996, EVS has mostly targeted individuals, meaning that only one volunteer participates in one project. Group EVS activities have only recently been introduced and successfully implemented at major youth, culture and sports events (Culture Capitals of Europe 1999 and 2002-2007, Special Olympics 2003, World Youth Festival Barcelona 2004, Euro 2004-European Football Championship, Recovering the Tatra Mountains 2005-2006, etc.).
The Commission wants to extend EVS under the recently adopted “Youth in Action” programme that will cover the period 2007-2013. The EVS will thus become more visible and effective, while meeting increasing demand from young people to participate. The new EVS will build on achievements so far, but simplify its management and funding rules. The age range of volunteers and the geographic scope of EVS will be broader. The EVS will put a strong emphasis on the services to be provided to organisations and young people. Group EVS activities with up to 100 volunteers will also become a regular feature in the new programme.
European Voluntary Service: Key figures
Total number of volunteers 1996-2006 Almost 35 000 Average grant amount per volunteer (2005) Approx. EUR 7 000 Annual number of volunteers (2006) Approx. 4 500 (estimate) Share of female / male volunteers in projects with Programme countries in Europe (2005) female: 70%; male: 30% Share of female/male volunteers in international cooperation projects with Partner Countries (2005) Female: 41%; male: 59% Number of accredited host organisations in European Programme countries in the online database http://ec.europa.eu/youth/program/sos/vh_db_en.html Approx. 7 000 Share of young people with fewer opportunities in EVS (2005) 18% Funds committed for volunteer trainings (2005) EUR 2 million "success rate" of granted applications compared to the number of submitted applications (2005) 80% for projects with Programme Countries Share of international cooperation projects with Partner Countries (2005) Approx. 7% Funds available for EVS (2006) EUR 38.5 m (34,9% of operational YOUTH budget) Contact and further information
EVS-film, EVS-poster and further facts: www.celebrateEVS.eu.
European Commission, DG Education and Culture, Youth: programmes unit: EAC-YOUTHINACTION@ec.europa.eu; tel. 0032/2/2950883.
SOS Volunteer Helpdesk at the Education, Culture and Audiovisual Executive Agency in Brussels: 0032/2/296 87 24, volunteers@ec.europa.eu;
National Agencies: see http://ec.europa.eu/youth/program/natage_en.html or Programme Guide 2007. Programme Guide and application forms 2007: http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.html and http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/en/overview/Youth_overview.htm (forthcoming).
