European Voluntary Service

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a program initiated by the European Commission, which allows young people from Europe and neighbouring program countries (pages 17-18) between 18-30 to work as volunteer for a time period of 6-12 months.

You have the possibility to serve your EVS in Germany in a non-profit project not only within the fields of environment, arts and culture, sports and leisure, but also in activities with children, young people or the elderly. EVS volunteers do not have to bear any costs and do not need any language skills. Board and lodging, travel costs, a language course, allowance and insurances will be covered by the EU. Furthermore a support program is offered and each volunteer will get a personal mentor. If you have completed your EVS in Germany, you will receive the Youth Pass – a certificate which validates your activities during your EVS.

For taking part in the EVS you need a sending organisation in your home country. Together with this organisation you will search a suitable host organisation in Germany. Both organisations will file an application at the national agency JUGEND für Europa for you. Contact details of the national agencies and local Eurodesk partners can be found here.

Here you can find useful information about the EVS. In the European database you can search for sending organisations within your home country: www.go4europe.de > Information > Entsendeorganisationen > Datenbank or under www.youthnetworks.eu. Only after you have found a sending organisation, you can search for a host project in Germany. You will find such projects in the European database. Together with your sending organisation you can search for vacant EVS placements in the network on www.youthnetworks.eu.