A European Volunteer Service (SVE/EVS) project allows a young person to perform voluntary work outside his/her country for a limited period of time (normally between 6 and 12 months). The volunteer can perform activities regarding for example the environment, arts and culture sectors, having to do with children, young people or seniors, or dealing with cultural heritage, sports, and free time. Each project involves three partners: The volunteer, the sending organization and the host organization.

HOW TO BECOME A EUROPEAN VOLUNTEER?

The first thing is to contact a sending organization.
In Ferrara the only sending organization is:

I.B.O. Italia - Associazione Italiana Soci Costruttori (Italian Fellow Builders Association)
via Montebello, 46/a - 44100 FERRARA
tel. 0532/243279 - fax. 0532/245689
e.mail: info@iboitalia.org
http://www.iboitalia.org

There are many other organizations to work with in the different Italian region; to have the complete list, go to the National Youth Agency (Agenzia Nazionale Gioventù) website:
http://www.gioventu.it

If you are interested in doing an experience in a so-called “Third Country”, download the addresses of Italian organizations and institutions working with the “third countries”.

With the association help you will consult the database, accessible on Internet, of the officially recognized host organizations.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/sos/index_en.html

Once you find a project fulfilling your expectations, the sending organization will contact the host organization and they will send the “manifestation of interest” and funding request to their respective National Agencies.
If the requests are accepted you will, with the sending organization, complete the needed paperwork, as for example the application form. To mention (in Italian and English) are your personal data, the preferences for the project activities performed during the EVS, etc. It will then be sent by email to the host organization.

Once the project is approved and before departure, the volunteer will attend a minimum of one day of “linguistic and cultural” preparation.

WHO IS THE VOLUNTEER?

A young person between 18 and 30 years old, willing to do a VOLUNTEERING experience in one of the 25 European Union countries or the 3 EFTA countries, or in a pre-adhesion country which benefits of agreements between national structures.
The EVS can last between 6 and 12 months.

WHAT IS THE SENDING ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Together with the volunteer, spots the suitable project to join;
manages its part of the co-funding;
organizes the concluding evaluation by the volunteer’s return;
writes the report.

WHAT IS THE HOST ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Manages its part of the co-funding;
organizes activities to introduce the volunteer to the local language and culture;
is responsible for the project monitoring;
assures the presence of a tutor to the volunteer;
organizes the final evaluation.

BUT... HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST?

For the volunteer, nothing: all expenses (travel from and to Italy, eventual intern transfers to reach the project location, food and accommodation) are covered by the co-funding granted by the European Commission