European Voluntary Service (EVS)
Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia (FYCA) is European Voluntary Service (EVS) sending, hosting and coordinating leading organization inArmenia. FYCA has been dealing with EVS since 2006 and till now it has sent more than 50 volunteers abroad and host more than 30 volunteers inArmenia.
What is the European Voluntary Service (EVS)?
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young people with the unique chance to express their personal commitment through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or outside the EU. The aim is to develop solidarity and promote tolerance, mutual understanding and active citizenship (particularly European citizenship), help young people develop skills and competences which will be useful in their future employment or education.
Who are the actors of the EVS?
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Sending Organisation (SO, home country)
The sending organisation is in charge of the preparation and support of the volunteers before, during and after the EVS activities.
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Hosting Organisation (HO, project country)
The host organisation has to ensure safe and decent living and working conditions of the volunteer throughout the entire activity period. It has to provide adequate personal, linguistic and task-related support, including the identification of a mentor for the volunteer.
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Coordinatihg Organisation (CO, project country)
The coordinating organisation (applicant) has the role of facilitating the implementation of the project by offering administrative and quality support to all project partners and enabling their networking.
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Volunteer (V, must be legally resident in the country of the SO)
Who can apply?
18 – 30 years old young people on the application deadline.
Note: young people with fewer opportunities can participate from age of 16.
Do volunteers
have to pay
anything?
EVS is free for volunteers. The only thing you might have to pay is a small part (maximum 10%) of your international travel costs.
What does EVS cover?
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International travel costs
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free accommodation
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food
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health insurance
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pocket money
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language course
How long does an EVS project last?
Service period abroad: 2-12 months
Minimum of 2 weeks for young people with fewer opportunities
What type of work do volunteers do?
There are many possible fields, e.g. culture, youth, sports, children, cultural heritage, arts, animal welfare, environment and development cooperation.
What countries can volunteers go to?
EVS projects can take place in any “Programme Country”*, “Neighbouring Partner Country”** or “Other Partner Country of the World”***, but volunteers from Partner Countries (Armenia) must carry out their Service in a Programme Country.
*Programme Countries:
27 EU Member States, Turkey,Iceland,Liechtenstein,Norway(the participation of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway is subject to the entry into force of the relevant EEA Joint Committee decision).
** Neighbouring Partner Countries:
South East Europe (SEE):Albania,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia,FormerRepublicofMacedonia,Montenegro,Serbia;
Mediterranean Countries:Algeria,Egypt,Israel,Jordan,Lebanon,Morocco, Palestinian Authority of the West Bank andGazaStrip,SyriaandTunisia;
Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EEC):Armenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Georgia,Moldova,Russian Federation,Ukraine.
***Other Partner Countries of the World:
Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP),Asia.
What is EVS?
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Non-formal education
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Intercultural learning
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Learning by doing
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Youth empowerment and development
What is not EVS?
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occasional, unstructured, part-time volunteering
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an internship in an enterprise
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a paid job; it must not replace paid jobs
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a recreation or tourist activity
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a language course
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exploitation of a cheap workforce
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a period of study or vocational training abroad
Shall I get any kind of certificate after the EVS?
Volunteers have the right to receive a Youthpass after completing their Service. Your CO/HO must provide you the certificate.
What should I do to become an EVS volunteer?
A volunteer needs to find a SO. In this case, it is FYCA.
You need to send your CV and Specific Motivation Letter to FYCA.
call
Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia