EVS-2-SVE: “European Voluntary Service to Support the Valencian social Empowerment” is a project with the duration of nine months, held in Valencia (Valencian Community) and been designed so that 3 volunteers from Italy (Valeria), Romania (Flavia) and Estonia (Karin) from 18 to 30 years of age, can play an active and versatile role in the implementation of GoEurope activities. These activities have been focused in order to create new job prospects, give advice and inform young unemployed Spaniards, about the activities performed, as well as collaborating at their implementation. This activities mentioned before will be achieved by their direct involvement in support tasks, communication and information of young people, in addition to preparing EU projects to encourage participation in mobility and training. The 3 volunteers will support the association at the development of mobility and training projects, also at the dissemination of job opportunities including practice or voluntary , with the ultimate aim of contributing to the Valencian social development and improve the employability and training of young Spaniards. The type of experience and training will be based on the principles of non-formal education, which implies methodologies adequate to volunteer projects, learning from experience and learning by doing.

The most significant impact of the project at European and international level will be creating a greater chance of employment and access to training for the youth audience between member countries of the European Union and beyond. This will also improve cooperation between civil society organizations and other bodies active in the field of youth, volunteering, mobility and employability, both at European and international level.The project will have a significant impact on both the target groups and participating organizations, which will bring positive results both short and long term. The volunteers will have the opportunity to continue working with their sending organizations once back to their countries and then apply into what they have learned in Spain and share their experiences with current and future EVS volunteers. Since the ultimate objective of the EVS-2-SVE is to increase employment opportunities and disseminate training opportunities and volunteering abroad , volunteers will, once back to their countries , implement innovative tools and approaches acquired during EVS with the youth audience of their home countries and beyond.Finally the EVS-2-SVE will significantly promote EVS and Erasmus+ Programme both locally and nationally, and at European level , thanks to various outreach activities planned and the effort of the 4 partner organizations from Spain, Italy, Romania and Estonia.

Thanks to their direct participation in the activities of Go Europe, volunteers will learn much about the action of local government and associations at local, regional and national level, on the daily management of the economic crisis and its immediate consequences, being young unemployment in Spain, one of its main direct effects. They will be able to show personal ideas to address this situation at any time of its activities, in both their volunteering and their daily activities. This will generate an effect of mutual exchange between the volunteers and the local society, in which both sides will benefit, achieving a stronger European awareness; you can break all the barriers. The ultimate goal is helping local unemployed find work not only in Spain but also, reporting on the possibility of participating in mobility, training, practice and volunteering abroad.

Katrin, Flavia & Valeria, during their EVS in Valencia have also contributed to:

Create and upload a dedicated blog to share their EVS experience, while also disseminating the EVS and Erasmus+ programme.

Run the so called “English Coffee” (Language exchange EN/ES on current issues and topics of interest) once a week, along with groups of youth of the local community that serve the Youth City Council (CjV) and Youth Centre of Valencia (Regidoria de Juventud), where GoEurope has also its legal headquarters. Link to English Coffee Facebook Group.

Volunteering in another country is a great way to experience different cultures and make new friends, whilst also helping others and learning new skills that could be helpful in later life.

Here you can find more information about the different types of volunteering, read inspiring stories from previous volunteers, and find out about the European Voluntary Service and EU Aid Volunteers.

You can also search for volunteering projects that are looking for young people right now.