BRYR Home Page / Volunteering / EVS / EVS Facts & Info

EVS Facts & Info

EVS (European Voluntary Service) is one project of many in the Youth in Action Programme of the European Union. In Ireland, it is administered by Leargas, with a network of sending and hosting organisations throughout the country, such as BRYR.

How long?
2 weeks – 24 months

Who?
EVS is open to young people between 16 - 30 years old (with specific limits on placements for those under 18).
There are three partners involved in an EVS placement
1. The Volunteer
2. The Sending Organisation
3. The Host Organisation

Money
All project expenses are covered by the EVS grant! Travel, accommodation, food, language classes, bills…

The amount of pocket money depends on the country you will be volunteering in, and its standard of living, but it is always enough to get by on - just ask one of the volunteers currently being hosted in Ballymun, by BRYR or the Aisling Project!

Work and Holiday
8 weeks before a placement is due to begin, the volunteer, his/her sending agency and the host project all agree on and sign an Activity Agreement, which sets out all the details of a placement (hours, responsibilities, holidays, budget etc.) and the role of each partner in the placement - for example, a hosting agency organises and provides support and supervision during a placement, whilst a volunteer's sending agency organises the travel arrangements and pre-departure training.

Insurance
The volunteer receives complete insurance cover (including dental) throughout the full term of the placement, under the EU Youth in Action plan.

Project Themes
An EVS activity can take place in a variety of areas:
- Culture
- Youth
- Sports
- Social care
- Cultural heritage
- Arts
- Civil protection
- Environment
- Development cooperation

Support during the EVS placement
The volunteer will receive a pre-departure-training, on-arrival-training, mid-term-meeting and final evaluations from their host organisation and the national agencies, here in Ireland and in their own country. The national agency sessions are a great way to meet fellow volunteers, on placement the same time as you are, having similar experiences and many great friendships have begun here!

In your hosting organisation, there will be a supervisor, who supports a volunteer within their day-to-day work, and a separate mentor, who supports the volunteer in everything else - settling into the community, sorting out accomodation, making friends, understanding the language and making the most of their time on placement in Ireland! The mentor also offers volunteers the opportunity and support to complete their Youthpass certificate - a valuable tool to receive recognition for their participation and learning on their EVS placement.

General Information about EVS

Looking for a project