EVS - 2 weeks until the deadline - apply now!

I would like to remind you that there is one very cool program called EVS - European Voluntary Service. It's an opportunity for 18-30 years old people to go abroad and work as volunteers in different areas, to get local language curses (for free) to get accommodation and food, to gain working experience and just have fun. You just need sending and hosting organisations and MOTIVATION. As a volunteer you don't pay anything. Even travel expenses are covered by the National Agency. From the first sight the program sounds like impossible but IT'S POSSIBLE! I am EVS volunteer and believe me this is one of the coolest programs  for youth throughout the Europe. EVS is part of the Youth in Action -the program supported by European Commission. Now I'm not going to tell you what are goals and objectives of the program. You can find this information here ---> http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/european-voluntary-service_en.htm

Today I want to tell you how to apply for this program. (For example from Lithuania)

First of all you need to have some motivation to go abroad and work there up to 12 months. After you make sure with yourself that you are ready, you need to find the project in which you would like to be involved. But pay attention that if you want to go for volunteering for instance from September 2012 you need to apply now, before the 1st May deadline. 

How to find the project? There is a huge database of EVS projects and accredited organisations on internet :P http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm here you can find almost every project which are registered for EVS. BUT... on this website it's not very clear whether these organisations are looking for volunteers right now or not. That's why I would recommend to visit this website ----> http://www.youthnetworks.eu/ here you can find projects which start in September or October 2012 but are looking for applicants right not. I would recommend to start looking for the projects as soon as possible because if you wish to go for volunteering for instance from September 2012 you need to be selected by the hosting organization until the 1st of May 2012. Why? Because when the organisation selects a volunteer for the project they apply for financial support to National Agencies and this procedure takes a while. That's why usually you need to start looking for the project in advance. 

[Sometimes there are some projects which are already approved (they already have financial support) but they're still looking for volunteers for some reasons (selected volunteers changed their mind or something like that).. In this case the project might start after 2 months you found it and if you are ready to go after 2 months you can apply for this kind of projects.]

When you find the project which suits your interests and you think that you also suit the project send your motivation letter and CV to the contact person from this project. The contact information you can find in the descriptions of the project, usually they indicate it :) Well, it'll be better if you send your CV in  Europass format.. I would recommend to apply for different projects, not only for one. Then your job is done. You just need to wait... wait... wait until you get the positive response from one of the projects you've applied for. 

But to make EVS you also need sending organisation which will agree to send you abroad for EVS. The sending organisation should be from the country of your residence and you can find them in this database http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_en.cfm. [When you select the country you get the list of projects which are in this country and the list of organisations that are running these projects. There you will find S H and C which indicate the type of the organisation like  Sending, Hosting and Coordinating. So you need the one which says S. It might be both S and H, it's not a problem] 

By the way Siauliai Didzdvaris Gymnasium is sending organisation for EVS so if you are the student of this Gymnasium it should be easier for you to make EVS. 

After you've been selected by the project they write to you and ask for the contact details of your sending organisation. Then they deal with some documentation and formal stuff together. You will need to sign some agreements.. f.e. the document that you have never did EVS before ect. (You can make long-term EVS just once in your life ) and they apply for financial support. Than again you have to wait a bit (1-2 months:D) and then you will get one more letter with positive or negative response about the financial support. That's it. Official part is over here. Then you just need to prepare yourself  for a long and nice experience of living and working abroad.:) 

If you have some questions, don't hesitate to ask :) The program is really very nice and I wish I could do EVS once more. 

P.S. Here is the video about EVS made by EVS volunteers in Georgia. Enjoy :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUGYtzahEoQ

Manana