There are plenty of volunteering opportunities to choose from across sectors and organisations, working for all kinds of causes. Here, we explore a few of the things you should consider if you’re interested in volunteering.
Identify the right opportunity for you
Once you have decided that you want to volunteer, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are my goals and expectations?
- How much time do I have available?
- What kind of tasks would I like to undertake?
- What skills do I have to offer?
There are many ways you can volunteer, including in your community, online, or abroad. To help you narrow down the opportunities that could be suitable for you, Eurodesk has developed an online quiz that provides you with examples of relevant programmes for inspiration.
But before you start packing your bags…
Do some background checks
While there are numerous organisations in genuine need of support, you should always make sure that the ones you apply to are reliable. There are hundreds of websites out there for organisations that no longer exist, never really existed, or do not do the work they claim to do. There are also private organisations that charge you for volunteering abroad, and some can be very expensive.
The European Volunteer Center (CEV) has published an easy-to-use toolkit to help you evaluate the quality of volunteering opportunities.
The European Solidarity Corps
Through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the EU offers great local and international volunteering opportunities. You can enrol in the ESC if you are between 17 and 30 years old, but you must be at least 18 years old when joining a volunteering project.
The ESC’s database of accredited organisations allows you to find the contact details of organisations and projects looking for volunteers, and apply directly through the site. Once you are selected for a project, everything is arranged for you. If you’re unsure what type of activity to choose, take the ESC quiz!
Other volunteering organisations
As well as the ESC, you can find volunteering opportunities through:
- Eurodesk;
- Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF);
- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Young Adult Volunteer & Internship Programme;
- The Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS);
- UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers;
- European Heritage Volunteers;
- Service Civil International;
- The Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations.
Volunteering online
If onsite volunteering is particularly difficult for you, you could consider volunteering online. Online volunteering opportunities are available through organisations and initiatives such as EU Aid Volunteers, which offers online support to humanitarian aid organisations, and UN Volunteers Online.
UN Youth Volunteers
As well as their online volunteering scheme, the United Nations (UN) runs the UN Youth Volunteers – a specific programme for young people aged between 18 and 29 years old who want to engage in worldwide development and peace initiatives.
As a UN Youth Volunteer, you can work in human rights, climate change adaptation, disaster management, peacebuilding, youth engagement, and many other areas. Assignments are advertised on the UN website under ‘Special Calls for Volunteers’, as well as via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
If you’re interested in finding out more about volunteering in the EU, head to the European Youth Portal. For more on the European Year of Youth, check out our article on Traineeships.
Related links:
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
World Wide Fund for Nature Young Adult Volunteer & Internship Programme
Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service
UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers
Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations
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Details
- Publication date
- 12 May 2022
- Authors
- European Labour Authority | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Topics
- Hints and tips
- Youth
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