🇧🇪 ESC Volunteering in Belgium 👧 Supporting Children & Youth in Residential Care 🇧🇪

This ESC volunteering opportunity in Belgium invites volunteers to support children and young people in a residential care environment in Schoten, near Antwerp. The project focuses on education, wellbeing, and youth support, helping create a safe and structured space where children can grow and develop.

Volunteers become part of a caring team that supports the daily lives of children aged 3–14, contributing to activities that promote emotional stability, creativity, and positive social development.

🌍 About the Project

The volunteering activity takes place within a youth care residential setting where children live in a supportive home environment. Volunteers collaborate with the housemother and the care team to ensure a safe, structured, and nurturing atmosphere.

Through everyday interaction, activities, and practical support, volunteers contribute to children’s wellbeing while gaining experience in youth work, social care, and non-formal education.

🎯 Volunteer Tasks

🧒 Supporting daily routines such as morning preparation, school schedules, and after-school activities

🏡 Assisting the housemother with light household and practical tasks

🎨 Engaging children in creative, educational, and sports activities

🤝 Acting as a positive role model and reliable presence

🎲 Playing and interacting with children through age-appropriate activities

🚗 Occasionally supporting transport activities if holding a driver’s licence

👥 Working closely with the care team to ensure emotional safety and stability

⏰ Volunteer Schedule

🗓 Monday to Friday — 07:00 to 15:00

🥣 Morning activities include breakfast preparation, lunchboxes, school bus coordination, and household support

🍽 12:00 lunch break

🎨 Afternoon activities include supporting daytime activities and caring for younger children

🍳 Occasionally 1–2 hours of cooking support during weekends

🏠 Accommodation, Food and Financial Support

🏡 Accommodation in a studio in Schoten, a village about 20 km from Antwerp

🛏 Private bedroom with shared kitchen, living room, and sanitary facilities with another volunteer

🚲 Bike or public transport provided by the organization

🍽 Food budget of €300 per month

💶 Pocket money provided through the ESC programme

📚 Training and Learning Opportunities

🎓 On-arrival and mid-term training organized by the national agency

🗣 Opportunity to attend Dutch language lessons

🧑‍🏫 Basic training on working with young people

🤝 On-the-job coaching and mentorship

👥 Intervision meetings with other European volunteers working in youth care projects

👤 Participant Profile

🎂 Minimum age 20 years

🤝 Interested in working with young people in vulnerable situations

💬 Strong social and interpersonal skills

🎨 Creative, flexible, empathetic, and motivated to learn

🌍 Open-minded and willing to engage with new ideas and experiences

🌎 Eligible Applicant Countries

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden

📅 Activity Dates

01 April 2026 – 31 March 2027

📅 Application Deadline

Not specified

🔗 Application Link

https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/50346_en

⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the project coordinator.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Coordinating organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including dates, activity details, or application deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the project coordinators.
💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.