∗ European Solidarity Corps / Léargas Forum ∗ Guard Room ∗ Dublin Castle

∗ Suzanne Kavanagh

∗ Noeleen O’Callaghan 28 November 2017

European Solidarity Corps

Why are we here?

Objectives of the day

What will we learn?

∗ EVS/ERASMUS+ Volunteering

∗ European Solidarity Corps

Objectives of Erasmus+ Volunteering ∗ Activities allow young people between 17-30 express their

personal commitment to contribute to the daily work of an organisation.

∗ These activities include dealing with youth information and

policies, young people’s personal and socio-educational development, civic engagement, social care, non-formal education programmes etc.

∗ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQWjS95iUDI

EVS/ERASMUS+ Volunteering

EVS/ ERASMUS+ Volunteering

Individuals incl. YPWFO Volunteering activities ∗ 2 to 12 months ∗ 2 weeks for YPWFO ∗ TEC

Group Volunteering activities ∗ 10-40 people ∗ 2 weeks to 2 months ∗ Complementary activities

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING Who can apply?

Organisations who hold a valid accreditation NGOs European Youth NGOs Social Enterprises Public bodies at local level Public bodies at regional or national level

∗ Programme Countries ∗ Member States 28 ∗ Non EU Programme Countries

∗ Partner Countries neighbouring the EU ∗ Western Balkans ∗ Eastern Partnership Countries ∗ South Mediterranean

Countries ∗ Russian Federation

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING

∗ Programme Countries/ Member States

∗ Non Programme countries

∗ Partner countries neighbouring EU

∗ Mobility is transnational and involves a hosting and sending organisation

∗ At least one of the partners needs to be a non EU Programme Country or a Partner Country neighbouring the EU

∗ Project duration is 3 to 24 months ∗ Volunteers who carry out a volunteering activity

lasting max 2 months can take part in an additional volunteering opportunity

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS

EVS/ ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME Budget Model

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING

�Travel cost

�Organisational support

�Individual support

�Special needs support �Exceptional costs

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING EXAMPLE 2018

∗ Gerry is 23 and is from an area of disadvantage in Ireland. Gerry is going to a youth club in Norway for two weeks to work on an inclusion project, to learn new skills in youth work and to learn about a new culture.

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING EXAMPLE 2018

∗ Anna from Iceland is coming to Ireland to help out in an after school programme for children. Anna will be learning about non-formal learning approaches, improving her English and experiencing the Irish culture.

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING EXAMPLE 2018

∗ Ahmed from Albania is interested in conservation and is going to carry out his Erasmus+ in Portugal to assist in the prevention of deforestation.

EVS/ERASMUS+ VOLUNTEERING ∗ 01 February 2018 at 11:00 (midday Brussels time) for

projects starting between 01 May and 30 September 2018.

∗ 26 April 2018 at 11:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 01 August and 31 December 2018.

∗ 04 October 2018 at 11:00 (midday Brussels time) for projects starting between 01 January and 31 May 2019.

DEADLINES 2018

European Solidarity Corps There are many young, socially-minded people in Europe willing to make a meaningful contribution to society and help show solidarity. We can create

opportunities for them to do so … Solidarity is the glue that keeps our Union together…..

President Juncker, Sept. 2016

European Solidarity Corps projects will cover a wide variety of topics but all will be within the Mission of the European Solidarity Corps, and meet its Principles. Examples of what you could be asked to do include: •Helping rebuild a school or community centre that has been devastated following an earthquake •Providing support to newly arrived asylum seekers •Clearing vegetation from forests to help prevent wildfires •Working with disabled people in a community centre.

EUROPEAN SOLIDARTITY CORPS Objectives

Put into practice EU values of solidarity Help tackle challenges with society, environment and natural disasters Young people will have the opportunity to get experience in confronting challenging situations

Gain life and work experience

Learn new skills and languages Help and support others, including society's most vulnerable

• European Solidarity Corps Announced

• Website launched

2016

• ESC Delivered under Erasmus+ and EVS

2017 • Stand alone

programme will be launched

2018

EVS to EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS What has happened so far…

The ESC is built on existing EU professional and volunteering programmes for youth. For now the scheme is available within the 28 Member States only. Candidates who want to join the Corps can do so through one single entry point: a dedicated European Solidarity Corps web-portal. Organisations must have an accreditation or quality label to take part in the ESC.

European Solidarity Corps How will this work?

http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I-143146

I. Activity related to disaster preparedness and long-term response

II. Addressing social challenges, such as social exclusion, poverty, health and demographic challenges

III. Activities aiming at tackling the refugee crisis Immediate disaster response is excluded because these activities require highly trained specialists.

European Solidarity Corps Solidarity Activities

Two types of placement as part of the ESC: ∗ volunteer placements – offering full-time, unpaid

opportunities ∗ occupational placements – providing traineeships

and jobs.

European Solidarity Corps

European Solidarity Corps – Volunteering Placements

Standard Projects Individuals and teams APV Complimentary activities Solidarity in nature Unpaid

European Solidarity Corps Solidarity Projects

∗ Initiated by young people themselves

∗ In country ∗ Must have a strong

European dimension ∗ Must address social

solidarity needs

ESC Web Portal- Volunteer

Volunteers apply by registering online at https://europa.eu/youth/SOliDARITY_en At registration, volunteers specify:

∗ the countries they would like to be placed

∗ whether they want a volunteering

experience or an occupational one

∗ what type of activities interest them ∗ what experiences and skills they have.

ESC Portal- Organisation

An online tool, called the Placement Administration and Support System (PASS), has been created to MATCH young people to an organisation based on the personal data and preferences they stated in their profiles.

∗ Can you think of some examples of what a Standard ESC Volunteering project might look like?

∗ Can you think of an example of what a Solidarity project may look like?

EXAMPLES OF ESC VOLUNTEERING

European Solidarity Corps Examples of ESC Volunteering

∗ INDIVIDUAL – Gerry from Ballyfermot is going to Croatia in a post-conflict area. He will help organise activities for young people from different communities to help them live together peacefully.

European Solidarity Corps Example of ESC Volunteering

∗ Solidarity Project- Following an oil spill in the Baltic Sea, a local Finnish authority will host a group of young people from Finland in the area most affected for a period of two months. They will support the municipality in cleaning up areas and rehabilitate animals.

TRAINEESHIPS AND JOBS

European Solidarity Corps JOBS AND TRAINEESHIPS

∗ Any public or private entity established in a participating country or an international organisation active in solidarity-related areas and holding a valid Quality Label

∗ Offer paid training opportunities with a solidarity dimension

∗ Offer jobs compliant with national labour and fiscal laws applicable in the countries where the job is carried out

∗ Jobs based on employment contract in accordance with the national regulatory framework of the country where the placement is carried out Good quality (skills and training opportunities, working conditions, promotion of gender equality)

∗ Paid traineeship in line with the Quality Framework for Traineeships and based on a written traineeship agreement NB: does not include traineeships which are part of VET curricula or those required for a specific profession or impact on other elements of European programmes.

European Solidarity Corps Jobs and Traineeships

Preparatory online training – ESC portal

Interview trip allowance

Online Linguistic Support

Pre-departure training (optional)

Insurance

Travel costs

Relocation allowance

European Solidarity Corps Possible supports in Solidarity placements

On-arrival training

(mandatory)

Mentorship and on-the job training

Supplementary allowance for young people with special needs

Remuneration/Salary in accordance with national standards but not less than equivalent volunteer

Mid-term evaluation sessions

Post-placement support

Certificate

Recognition of learning outcomes

European Solidarity Corps EXAMPLE OF TRAINEESHIP

∗ Gerry is qualified as a youth worker from Ireland. Gerry wants to learn new skills. He was matched through the ESC portal with an agency working with street gangs in Finland. Gerry is on a traineeship with the organisation learning a new way of working with street gangs for six months.

European Solidarity Corps EXAMPLE OF A JOB

∗ Gráinne from Donegal has just completed her studies. Through the ESC portal Grainne indicated that she had qualifications in archaeology. Grainne was given an offer of a job in Spain with a organisation working on preserving a site of historical value. Gráinne is working as an archaeologist in Spain.

European Solidarity Corps Quality Label

What is it? Certifies that the Organisation ∗ Is able to ensure the necessary

framework conditions ∗ Complies with ESC Charter Ensures high standards in the implementation Valid for the duration of the programme Free of charge Current EVS Accreditations are valid for ESC volunteering

What is it for?

Precondition for organisations to ∗ Receive access to the

portal ∗ Submit a grant

application

∗ The information needed depends on the function of the organisation and the type of placement.

∗ Applications for volunteering and traineeship placements may also include: ∗ description of the distinctive role of participants in their organisation ∗ approach to guiding and supporting participants' learning ∗ assurances that participants:

∗ do not replace regular jobs ∗ are not bound to work under contractual obligations ∗ are not taking up essential tasks for the organisation's running operations.

∗ that the placement is not part of a young person's regular studies or vocational training.

∗ In addition, traineeship placements should comply with the Quality Framework for Traineeships, while job placements need to respect national regulations.

European Solidarity Corps Quality Label

Where are we now?

∗ Last Tuesday EU Ministers in the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council came to an agreement on the Commission's proposal to provide the European Solidarity Corps with its own budget and legal framework.

∗ According to the European

Commission, this will give a boost to solidarity activities across Europe and enable it to secure 100,000 placements by 2020.

∗ This agreement by Member States paves the way for a final agreement with the European Parliament.

∗ Suzanne Kavanagh Youth Volunteering Léargas Client Services Team

∗ skavanagh@leargas.ie ∗ 01 887 1242

Thank You