We want to press ahead with EVS – European Voluntary Service. Take this as a guideline to introduce and realise EVS among us!

First we want to introduce some facts about EVS and MILSET Europe:

I. The starting point

1. We have spoken about possibilities of exchanging volunteers in the past
2. The structure of members among MILSET Europe provides unique chances to use this network for exchanges.
3. Youth in Action EU program provides good possibilities for funding in 2007 and later.

II. Requirements for EVS

1. The participation is voluntary – it’s no internship, no part of studies, no civilian service.
2. Required age for volunteers: 18 to 30 years.
3. Period of time for EVS: 2 to 12 month.

III. Steps to take to get EVS managed in general

1. Possible partner organisations need to contact each other, arrange the future EVS exchange based on EU documents and define future stressed task(s).
2. Based on this the participating partner organisations have to arrange agreements with their national agencies to be approved sending or hosting organisation.
3. Hosting organisations have the following tasks:
   a. ensure the location and tasks for the volunteer
   b. supply/ensure accommodation, meals, insurance, transportation
   c. organisation of a language course in the tongue of the hosting country
   d. supervising of the volunteer during EVS (tutors)
4. Sending organisations have the following tasks:
   a. finding interested young people for EVS
   b. preparation of application
   c. organisation of arrival and departure to and from partner
   d. define a specific agreement with the partner organisation abroad
   e. keep in contact during EVS time and afterwards prepare a joint evaluation
5. Fields of tasks for EVS could be:
   a. work in youth centres, day-care facility for children
   b. realisation of a specific project
   c. organisation of youth exchanges between hosting and sending country
   d. tasks in the office of the associations
6. Funding of EVS:
   a. Basis of funding EVS is promotion by the European Union (it pays partial for transportation, accommodation, meals, insurance, seminars, language education, pocket money an a global partial funding for the organisation).
   b. There is a different funding of hosting and sending organisation.
   c. Furthermore there is a necessity of private funding from the organisation.
   d. Participation organisations should find out, if they can receive additional funding from their governments or foundations, etc.

Based on this information we now have to take the first step. Different member organisations of MILSET Europe might be interested in sending/hosting EVS. The Executive Committee is setting up a database to coordinate this interaction. To fill it we need your collaboration:

Members interested in participating in EVS within MILSET Europe need to decide whether they want to be sending or/and hosting organisation and to contact the EVS coordinator.

EVS coordinator is Steffen Stärz. Please e-mail your data to steffen@europe.milset.org. The database will be found at europe.milset.org under the link “EVS - European Voluntary Service”.

The published data that you are called to send, are:

• Name of your organisation
• Your country
• Acting as sending or hosting organisation (or both)
• Definition of the field of work for the volunteer
• Requirements (needed abilities of the volunteer)
• Location
• Dates (from … to … )

As soon as your data arrive, we will publish them on the MILSET Europe webpage. You should visit it from time to time to keep on track.
You are supposed to get into contact with any partner organisation, you’d like. But please keep us informed about the status of your action, so we can update the information on the web.

Now, let’s introduce EVS to MILSET Europe, get connected closer to each other and get the best out of this.

More information

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/en/youth/library/evs_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/youth/program/sos/vh_links_en.html
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/newprog/index_en.html