Young People

Explore the World

Are you interested in international volunteering this year? Sculpt is now recruiting a group of young people to participate in three-month volunteering placements in Europe in 2022. It is the last year of the EU-funded European Solidarity Corps programme at Sculpt, and we are keen on creating as many volunteering opportunities for young people as possible.

Feet walking up steps

What is ESC?

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU initiative which creates opportunities for young people in Europe who agree with and uphold its Mission and Principles. This programme is aligned with Sculpt’s ethos. We were set up by young volunteers from across Europe as the first EU-wide, youth-led network on equality matters. Our mission remains to empower young people and marginalised groups to participate in public life as equal citizens.

Boy smiling with tree in background

What support is available?

The programme will contribute to all travel, accommodation and living expenses for the volunteers. This also includes linguistic support, insurance and any special assistance, where needed.

The programme has an inclusion support fund to help young people facing psychological, educational, economic and social challenges.

Who can participate?

Anyone who is: 18 to 30 years old at the start of the placement, open minded, curious about other cultures, European values, learning a new language and motivated to help others! 

  • We will prioritise young people with fewer opportunities, who may face social, geographical or economic obstacles, health problems, disabilities, cultural differences or educational challenges.
  • You should have Intermediate level of English Communication and you must be registered on the European Solidarity Corps platform.
  • You don’t need to speak a foreign language but willingness to learn is a plus
  • The programme is for EU and UK citizens who are current UK residents (volunteers applying for placements in Europe).
Group of friends taking photo smiling and laughing
Smiling young woman

Tailored to you

Sculpt works as a coordinating and supporting organisation for outgoing and incoming volunteers. We work in collaboration with other European partner organisations and together are able to provide meaningful and well-supported volunteering placements for our volunteers. We are currently recruiting volunteers for the following countries and cities:

  • Romania (Craiova)
  • Italy (Bologna)
  • Spain
  • Finland

The programme runs from 1st January 2022 to 1st January 2023. We will start to fill places up as suitable volunteers are identified and the activities will commence as soon as it is safe to do so. We are monitoring the Covid-19 situation very closely and keeping ourselves updated with the latest information from ESC and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Contact m.babecka@iars.org.uk for more information on specific placements/countries and how you can apply.

Volunteers travelling to Romania will work with the Asociatia Comunitati pentru Tineret (ACT), an organisation based in Craiova, Dolj County, South West part of Romania. ACT mission is to develop, implement and support youth development programs built around the concepts of lifelong learning, mobility and associativity ACT works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives. The organisation is now looking for volunteers to help with the ACT Volunteering Centre. Placements can start as soon as February and March 2022.

What do volunteers say about ESC in Romania?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Twn5iS0nfw&t=52s

Read the blog from Georgie, a volunteer we supported on her ESC placement to ACT in Romania, to hear her reflections on her amazing experience there:

Blog 1: https://www.iars.org.uk/online/2021/10/13/ecoyouth-six-months-as-a-brit-in-romania-with-the-european-solidarity-corps/

Blog 2: https://www.iars.org.uk/online/2021/11/16/my-experience-as-a-european-solidarity-corp-volunteer-in-romania/

Volunteers travelling to Italy will work with the Associazione Interculturale UNIVERSO, an intercultural non-profit association based in Bologna since 2002. It was created by a group of students and workers, both foreign and Italian, with the aim of promoting and supporting social initiatives alongside motivating and facilitating mutual understanding between people of different cultures and origins.

Find out more about the activities run by UNIVERSO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFDxFqQFkYc

Volunteers travelling to Spain will have an opportunity to gain knowledge of project management and international work with the Asociación Caminos team in Vélez-Málaga or learn more more about agriculture and tourism at the ESC project at Finca La Cañada del Robledo in southern Spain. It is recommended that the candidates know at least a basic level of Spanish.

Infopack for office-based projects

Infopack for projects at Finca La Cañada del Robledo

Allianssi Youth Exchanges works as a supporting/coordinating organisation for incoming volunteers based in organisations in different parts of Finland, usually in smaller communities.  All the projects have lots of interaction with local and immigrant youths as well as a wide variety of tasks.

Read more about the available projects: https://www.nuorisovaihto.fi/allianssi-youth-exchanges/volunteering-in-finland/long-term-esc-finland/

Sculpt is also going to host a number of European volunteers in London. The placements are for up to three months (88 days) and are full time with a five-day working week. Volunteers will accumulate two days off upon completion of each month (6 days in total).

The activities include a variety of online and face-to-face training, delivery of a social action project in the areas of human rights, equality, justice, youth policy and evaluation and accreditation.

Our partners are responsible for recruiting and sending European volunteers to the UK. If you are interested in applying, get in touch with m.babecka@iars.org.uk to find out more about the recruitment process and relevant contact details for a sending organisation from your home country (we are currently looking for volunteers from Romania and Italy – more countries will be added soon).