Want to spend six months making a real difference in the lives of very young children in Lisbon? Associação Spin, as the coordinating organisation, is looking for 1 ESC volunteer to join its partner, Associação Crescer a Cores, from 6 October 2026 for 6 months. At Youth Works Hub, we've laid out the full placement below, from what you'll actually do each day to exactly what's covered and how to apply, so you can send a strong application before the deadline.


About Crescer a Cores

Crescer a Cores – Associação de Solidariedade Social – IPSS is recognised under Portuguese law as a charity organisation. It is a non-profit association with regional reach, and its main aim is to accompany and support the social inclusion of vulnerable children, young people and families, through community responses and services in the fields of psychology, education and health. The ESC volunteer will work mainly with the organisation's biggest target group: children aged 4 months to 4 years old.

What You'll Do

🧸 Support the educators in daily activities for children aged 4-36 months (general support, helping with meals, hygiene and cleaning, telling stories, puppet theatres, playing, drawing and painting)

🎉 Support the organisation of cultural events with families, children and the local community, by preparing creative informative materials, contacting stakeholders, arranging decorations and preparing the spaces

🤝 Collaborate in local community projects within the "Pulsar" project, which promotes dialogue, interaction and local interventions among neighbours and residents of the Carnide parish

🎨 Help create materials and activities, and organise and run celebration days and summer activities with children

The organisation also encourages volunteers to create their own events or initiatives, in line with their principles and with the Board's approval.


☀️ Curious about other placements with young people in the same country? Take a look at this ESC Volunteering project in 🇵🇹 Portugal working three months with young people in sunny Olhão → https://youthworkshub.org/22165

Who Can Apply

👶 Volunteers aged 18-30, open-minded, eager to learn and motivated for the proposed activities. No formal education degree is required, but a positive, proactive attitude, tolerance, flexibility and enthusiasm are essential. Age and maturity matter here because of the direct work with small children and families.

⭐ Priority goes to applicants who already have some experience in volunteering or working with small children, and who are ready to commit to a long-term experience abroad. A basic level of Portuguese is a plus, but not a requirement.

🚺 This vacancy is only for female volunteers residing in Spain, France or Italy.

📝 All candidates must be registered with the European Solidarity Corps.

🔎 As the placement involves direct work with children, selected volunteers will have to provide a criminal record certificate. Priority will also be given to candidates who can be considered fewer-opportunities candidates.

What's Covered

According to Youth Works Hub's read of the call, the placement follows standard ESC support:

✈️ Travel – the two-way travel between your place of residence and Lisbon is reimbursed up to the limit of your ESC distance band

🏠 Accommodation – Associação Spin provides lodging in a flat as close as possible to the office and city centre (you share a room with another volunteer/young person; room and connected expenses are paid). If you prefer, you can instead receive a monthly accommodation allowance and arrange your own housing

🍽️ Food & local transport – a monthly allowance of 210€

💶 Pocket money – 180€ per month

⏰ Working hours – 30-35 hours a week, with time built in for language learning, lunch, social activities and developing your own project ideas

🌴 Days off – two days off per week (usually Saturday and Sunday), plus 2 extra vacation days for every month of volunteering


🎨 Drawn to working with children through ESC? Don't miss this ESC Volunteering placement in 🇪🇸 Spain built around child-centred education → https://youthworkshub.org/22266

How to Apply

To be considered, each candidate must complete the project's Google form and send, in one single email to esc.cac@a-spin.pt:

📄 An up-to-date CV

✍️ A project-specific motivation letter

💡 A short presentation about an idea you'd like to implement with the children (the format is completely free, so be as creative as possible)

Only complete applications containing all required documents will be accepted. Note that this vacancy has no assigned sending/supporting organisation, so the coordinator will partner up with the sending organisation of the selected volunteer.


💶 Wondering what "covered" really means before you commit? Our plain-language guide, Is ESC Volunteering Fully Funded?, breaks down every allowance → https://youthworkshub.org/is-esc-fully-funded

Selection Process

Due to the high number of candidates, only short-listed applicants will be contacted and invited to a brief online interview. Interviews take place on 11 September, and all other candidates will be informed of the results by 15 September.


🌟 Applying to work with small children? See the qualities selectors look for in What Makes an Ideal ESC or Erasmus+ Volunteer? → https://youthworkshub.org/ideal-esc-volunteer


Good to Know

📍 Activity location: Rua Rio Tejo nr 7, Espaço Comunitário Antiga Escola Rio Tejo, Lisbon, Portugal

🗓️ Start date: 6 October 2026, for 6 months

✅ This project is already approved by the ESC Programme (project code 2025-1-PT02-ESC51-VTJ-000346177)

Deadline

⏳ 07 September 2026, 23:59


Links

🔗 Application form: https://forms.gle/GRSGMSciLgatwdda9

🔗 Full opportunity details: https://www.a-spin.pt/english/?p=4763

🔗 Official ESC project page: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/54065_en

📩 Applications (CV + motivation letter + presentation in one email): esc.cac@a-spin.pt

You'll find more opportunities like this, explained in plain language, on Youth Works Hub.

⚠️ Important Notice

Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.