What is the European Solidarity Corps?

European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a European Union initiative providing opportunities for youth to volunteer in their homeland or abroad, work or build networks, encouraging their personal, educational, social, and professional development, and is devoted to addressing societal needs. 

The initiative aims to unite young people to form a more inclusive society, support people in vulnerable and marginalized conditions, and respond to societal hardships. The program provides an inspiring and rewarding experience for young people who want to reach out, help, learn, and better themselves. 

Who Can Join?

Young people between 17 and 30 can register through the European Solidarity Corps portal. Participants aged 18 and over can receive invitations to participate in solidarity projects from the institutions with access to the database. Additionally, these organizations may announce their projects on the portal to get direct responses from the participant youth. 

What Will You Achieve?

 By volunteering in the European Solidarity Corps,

1. You will contribute as a volunteer and reach out to communities in need. You will not be paid in return for your contribution since you will be working as a volunteer. However, your travel, shelter, food, and insurance expenses will be compensated, and you will get a particular amount of pocket money. 

2. European Solidarity Corps is a learning experience that will give your personal and professional growth momentum. You will have the chance of getting training before, during, and after the volunteering experience. The mentor will help you determine goals and show you how to reach those. In addition, you will have the chance to improve your language and intercultural skills, live on your own, overcome hardships, and learn how to work with a team. 

3. Living abroad and exploring the place you will live, learning about other cultures, and having friends from various backgrounds will be an inevitable part of your volunteering experience.

4. Thanks to your volunteering experience, you will have the opportunity to bring a multicultural spirit to the organizations and communities for which you will be volunteering.

5. You will be a part of a community by participating in the European Solidarity Corps. Upon your return, you can keep connected with a broader community of former volunteers, share your experiences, and inspire other young individuals in your country by communicating with them and sharing your experiences.

6. At the end of every project, you will have a certificate reporting your participation.

How To Apply?

First and foremost, you must find a sending organization!

1. After choosing a sending organization, you must choose one or more host institutions from the ESC Database that suit your expectations. (https://europa.eu/youth/volunteering/evs-organisation_en)

2. After finding the most suitable project(s) for you, you must apply via email. In this application, you will use your Europass CV and the Motivation Letter you have prepared. The email addresses you will use for the application are available in the ESC Database. 

3. You can apply to host organizations through your sending organization. You can deliver the forms to the sending organization and request them to submit your application for suitable projects(s). 

4. If you are applying by yourself, in addition to the Europass CV and Motivation Letter, you need to mention in your application that you already have a sending organization. The host institution must be informed that your sending organization will be sending you from Türkiye to the destination. 

Art History Research Association is a sending organization working to enable young people to benefit from the ESC program. 

In order to contact us and send your application forms, you can send an email to sanattarihiarastirmalari@gmail.com