Universitair Centrum voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking vzw
Elsene, Belgium
⭐️ Activity Title
Non-formal educaiton and communication
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🔷 Activity Details
Description
Are you fascinated by international solidarity, global citizenship, and how higher education can contribute to a more just world? Would you like to help shape training, communication, and dialogue around decolonisation, interculturality, and global justice? As a volunteer in UCOS's educational team, you'll help shape how Flemish higher education engages with global citizenship, decolonisation, and international solidarity. You'll support the team in developing tools, training sessions, and materials that help students, researchers, and lecturers think critically about global inequality, neo-colonial dynamics, and equal partnership. A central part of your placement is contributing to a project on decolonising research: helping write a resource guide and co-organising a colloquium that brings decolonisation debates to life.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
UCOS will support the volunteer in finding safe and suitable accommodation in Brussels or nearby. The volunteer will have a private bedroom, access to shared kitchen and bathroom, heating, Wi-Fi and good public transport connections. UCOS provides a monthly food allowance, respecting dietary, allergy or cultural needs. Local public transport for volunteering activities will be fully covered. UCOS also supports arrival guidance, registration, insurance activation and access to healthcare services.
Training during the activity
During the opportunity, the volunteer receives support from three levels. The UCOS supervisor guides tasks, work planning, feedback, workload and learning goals. The mentor supports wellbeing, integration, reflection, conflict prevention and Youthpass. The programme provides an on-arrival briefing, UCOS workshops, team meetings, thematic learning tracks, JINT on-arrival and mid-term trainings, General Online Training, OLS and Dutch practice. UCOS may support Dutch lessons at CVO Semper if the volunteer successfully completes each module.
Participant profile
Profile - Strong interest in and/or experience with decolonisation, global citizenship, and global justice. - You communicate well, work independently, and take initiative. - Good written and spoken English; Dutch is an asset - As this role is embedded in a European Solidarity Corps volunteering placement, you need to meet ESC eligibility criteria (age and residency requirements) Responsibilities - Help organise a colloquium on decolonising research and international cooperation within higher education institutions. And contribute to writing a resource guide on decolonising research. This is part of your personal project, under the supervision of experienced colleagues. - Help develop and improve UCOS's online learning platform for students. - Support the development of educational materials on global citizenship, decolonisation, interculturality, and international solidarity. - Support workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and awareness campaigns, including logistics, facilitation, and participant engagement. - Co-create communication content (visuals, social media, video, podcasts, interviews) and help draft accessible texts on global citizenship from a youth perspective. - Help organise inter-university events and support outreach and documentation. - Depending on your interests, tasks can expand to include research, communication, or other thematic projects. We offer - An inspiring workplace within a small, dynamic team, with guidance from experienced staff. - The chance to contribute to projects on international solidarity, global justice, and critical global citizenship. - Room to develop your own ideas and gradually take on more responsibility. - Flexible working hours and the possibility of remote work. - A designated mentor, regular check-ins, and a supportive, safe learning environment. - Skill-building across facilitation, intercultural communication, project coordination, digital/creative work, and reflective practice, recognised through - Youthpass. - All costs related to your volunteering (accommodation, commuting, living expenses, etc.) are reimbursed according to European Solidarity Corps guidelines (maximum 1,500 euros per month, with the possibility of additional Dutch language lessons). Interested? Send your CV and cover letter to applications@ucos.be with the subject: “ESC communication and education”. Otherwise your email will not be received. Deadline: 19 July 2026, 11.59 PM. Interviews will take place in the week of July 27. The volunteer will start between September 1 and October 1. UCOS is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages everyone to apply.
✅ 10 practical tips to write a stronger Erasmus+ or ESC application and actually get selected. With growing competition for spots in Erasmus+ and ESC projects, a well-crafted application can genuinely make or break your chances. This guide shares 10 concrete, actionable tips based on what selection committees actually look for — covering everything from how to frame your motivation to the common mistakes that get applications rejected. If you're serious about getting selected, take the time to read this before you hit submit. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/8396/
🔑 Key Information
Activity dates
A total of 52 week(s) during the period 01/09/2026 to 01/10/2026
Activity location
Pleinlaan 5, Elsene, Belgium
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Aruba, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, France, Germany, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Palestine
Activity topics
Social challenges
Citizenship and democratic participation
Education and training
Working against discrimination (including gender discrimination)
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 19/07/2026 23:59
Project code
2026-1-BE05-ESC51-VTJ-000403875
🔗 Official Project Page
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/52792_en
✍️ How to write a motivation letter for ESC volunteering that actually gets read — and remembered.A motivation letter is often the single most important part of your ESC application, yet most people write them too generically or too formally to make an impact. This guide walks you through what to include, what to leave out, how to structure your letter, and how to express genuine motivation without sounding like everyone else. Whether you're writing your first letter or rewriting one that didn't work, this is the guide you need. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/6061/
🤝 What is a supporting organisation in ESC volunteering — and why does it matter for you? Most people know about sending and hosting organisations in ESC projects, but the role of the supporting organisation is far less understood — and far more important than it appears. This article clearly explains what a supporting organisation does, how it fits into the structure of an ESC project, and how its involvement directly affects the volunteer's experience and support throughout the programme. A must-read if you want to fully understand how ESC is structured. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/6051/
💡 What do organisations actually look for in an ESC volunteer? Getting selected for an ESC volunteering project isn't just about ticking boxes — it's about showing the right combination of values, attitude, and genuine motivation. This article digs into the skills and personal qualities that make a real difference during the selection process, and explains why some candidates stand out while others don't. If you want to understand what a strong volunteer profile looks like before you apply, this is essential reading. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/13941/
🗺️ Which countries can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC? — The complete and up-to-date country list. A lot of people assume Erasmus+ and ESC are only available to European Union member states — but the reality is much more inclusive. Programme countries, partner countries, and special eligibility rules mean that young people from far more places can participate than most realise. This article provides the full, up-to-date list of eligible countries for both Erasmus+ and ESC, with clear explanations of what each status means for applicants. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/15124/
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the source.
2️⃣ No Affiliation
YouthWorks Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the projects listed. All applications must be submitted directly to the project coordinator or hosting organisation through the original link, email, etc.
3️⃣ Content May Change
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy and details of the opportunity. Deadlines, eligible countries, activity dates, and other details may change, or the announcement may be withdrawn entirely, at any time after publication. Always check the original link before applying.
4️⃣ Funding
All funding, travel reimbursements, and allowances are determined and provided by the project coordinator or National Agency. YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any payments or financial matters.
5️⃣ External Links
Listings may contain links to third-party websites, forms, or documents (e.g. the ESC Portal, infopacks, application forms). YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or security of these external sources.
💡 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.
