European Voluntary Service

European Voluntary service

"What are you going to do there?" - "are you being paid for this?" 

My (volunteering) project is part of a bigger system/idea. It's not just one organization that is asking for a volunteer and arranging it themselves. European Voluntary Service (EVS) is, in a way, a service of the European Union. Europe [European Commission] creates a platform for youth and sport organizations to send young people abroad. The EU make it possible for young people to work in an organization for a period of 3 weeks up till 12 months. No, you're not being paid (that's why it's called voluneering...) BUT there is European money meant to cover your staying. *For instance: 

• Every month I receive €85 of pocket money  
• Also I receive €160 (a month) for buying food and non-alcoholic drinks 
• €270 of my travel-costs will be reimbursed (= from Belgium to Estonia and back) 
• The organisation who wrote my project receives money to pay my flat, arrange free public transport, pay for services like the application of a residence permit...

So basically I don't spend much of my own (or my parents) Belgian money! 

*These amounts and the details of the arrangements differ according to the project , country and organization. Read more about European Voluntary Service - here - 

I found my project in the EVS-database. When selecting the country [Estonia] and type of voluntary work [youth work and education] I ran into the project "shared diversity" , written by Tallinn's youth and sports department. After having sent an application form and having had a Skype interview, it was up to them to accept me or not. 

And they did!