European Voluntary Service

P.E.CO. coordinates the European EVS project, also known as EVS, for sending Italian volunteers and receiving foreigner ones internationally.

EVS is regulated by the Erasmus+ program, consisting of a total of 3 Key Actions that promote the international mobility of young people. In particular EVS allows youth – EU citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old – to experience a period of international volunteering in associations, non-profit organizations, NGOs or institutions of another country of the European Union.

EVS is an opportunity both for personal and professional growth for young people who, through international voluntary service, get in contact with many different cultures that are unusual to their traditional lifestyle. For these reasons, EVS is conceived not only as an opportunity for solidarity and work of social utility but also as a precious moment of international education.

According to the functioning of the European Voluntary Service project, volunteers are hosted in a foreign organisation who is active in the social field. Youngsters will be involved and work together with local volunteers or with other ones coming from different countries. During the experience the EVS volunteers will be encouraged to integrate within the local community, and to attend language classes in order to stimulate their intercultural Learning.

The duration of EVS projects ranges from a few weeks to a maximum of one year, during which the volunteers will provide their service to the hosting organisation. The costs are almost non-existent, being EVS a project funded by the European Union. It provides coverage up to 90% of the travel costs and the total coverage of living expenses. The programme also foresees a monthly pocket money that supports small maintenance costs and it is proportionate to the cost of living in the hosting country

P.E.CO. fully identifies itself in the values of the Erasmus+ programme and this is why it is actively involved in the promotion, coordination and sending of EVS projects guaranteeing young people a constant following before, during and after their period of volunteering abroad.