More than €138 million in support of youth volunteering in 2022!
Today, the Commission launched a call for proposals under the European Solidarity Corps 2022. European Solidarity Corps is AN EU programme for young people who want to be involved in solidarity activities in various areas, ranging from aid to people in difficulty to support for health and the environment, throughout THE EU and beyond. This call also provides for the possibility for participants to participate in humanitarian operations around the world with a view to establishing solidarity between organisations and volunteers IN EU countries and the Communities outside the Union. This new part of international projects is called the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.
In order to help create more solidarity opportunities for young people during the European Year of Youth in 2022, nearly eur 139 million will be available in the context of the call. Funding will be devoted to volunteering, youth-led solidarity projects, groups in high-priority areas aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and the preservation of cultural heritage and the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027 the total budget is eur 1 billion. In the seven years of operation of this EU programme, at least 270 000 young people will be able to participate in solidarity activities.
Vice-President of the Commission on our European Living Margaritis Shin:
Solidarity is one of the fundamental values, both in our Union and in relations with partners around the world. The European Solidarity Corps involves the younger generation of volunteering projects. This experience gives young people the opportunity to help and contribute to the Communities. I am very proud of the fact that the programme develops and first includes humanitarian aid measures. Young people are able to change the world and the Commission helps to achieve this.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Maria Gabriela:
Young people can make a big contribution to society. In 2022, a European Year of Youth, the European Solidarity Corps will be an important instrument to help young people participate in civil society and support them in shaping a better, greener, more digital and inclusive future. For the first time, the programme will offer opportunities to contribute to humanitarian aid. In the next year, we will also engage volunteers in activities and projects that promote healthy lifestyles and preserve cultural heritage.
The programme provides young people with an opportunity to make a significant contribution to society, gain invaluable experience and develop new skills. In this programme, young people aged 18-30 can participate in solidarity activities addressing societal challenges and young people aged 18-35 years of international humanitarian aid.
The European Solidarity Corps supports THE EU's political priorities and engages organisations and young people in projects aimed at addressing these priorities. Program:
- promote inclusion and diversityand its objective is to ensure equal access for all young people to the opportunities of the European Solidarity Corps;
- support projects and activities aimed at protecting, preserve and improve natural habitats and environment, raising awareness of environmental sustainability and promoting behavioural change;
- contributes to digital rearrangement by supporting projects and activitiesaimed at improving digital literacy, promoting digital literacy and raising awareness of the risks and opportunities of digital technologies;
- engaging young people and give them the opportunity to be active in society and become a real vector of change.
Young people wishing to participate in the activities of the European Solidarity Corps are: register in the European Solidarity Corps portalwhere they can browse and find organizations that implement projects. In addition, youth groups registered in the European Solidarity Corps portal may apply for own-managed solidarity projects.
In order to implement activities within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps, any public or private body may apply for funding. Such organisations must obtain a quality mark demonstrating that they are able to implement quality solidarity activities in accordance with the principles, objectives and requirements of the programme. Organizations can log in European Solidarity Corps in National Agencieslocated in all EU Member States and in third countries associated with the programme, or centralised activities: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
The call for proposals for voluntary work and solidarity projects shall be valid until 23 February for projects beginning in the same year and by 4 October for projects of the following year.
Context
The European Solidarity Corps has been working as AN EU-funded programme since October 2018, with a budget of eur 375.6 million in 2018-2020. It is based on previous EU initiatives in the area of solidarity aimed at offering unique gateway organisations active in the field of solidarity and young people who want to contribute to society in the areas they are most important to. The initiative has succeeded, so the European Solidarity Corps continues its activities in 2021-2027 and expands them to help provide humanitarian aid in third countries.