Activar - Associação de Cooperação da Lousã
Lousã, Portugal
⭐️ Activity Title
Volunteering in Lousã: working with children and art
🌍 What is the European Solidarity Corps (ESC)? The ESC is the EU programme that funds young people aged 18–30 (up to 35 for humanitarian aid) to volunteer on solidarity projects across Europe, with travel, accommodation, food, insurance and monthly pocket money covered. This overview explains who can join, the project types, durations and how to apply. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/esc
🔷 Activity Details
Description
In this project, you will integrate into a team working with children in a hospital setting, focused on promoting reflection and the expression of emotions through art, as well as assisting with institutional communication and solidarity events. You will also develop other punctual activities within Activar, and a personal project of your choice. Tasks: participate in planning activities at the office; support the implementation of artistic and creative activities with children at the hospital; assist with communication and general office work; support solidarity events.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
You will have a bedroom in a fully equipped flat in the centre of Lousã, with access to services nearby: bakeries, supermarkets, cafes, pubs, pharmacies, health centre; post office, swimming pool, gym, nature and cultural spaces. Food allowance will be given monthly, through Revolut account . There are local public transports and a bus to the city of Coimbra. You will be able to reach the workplaces and main services by bike or on foot and might also use Activar's van punctually for long-distance activities. There is access to Wi-Fi, electric heaters, bed linen and bath towel.
Training during the activity
Regular meetings and integration in Activar's teams, as well as "on the job" training, will be provided. You will be given access to the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) platform, and we will also suggest other tools to study and learn the Portuguese language. Support for clarifying doubts and motivation to improve your skills and develop your ideas will be given by the workers and the ESC coordinator. You will also be enrolled on the On-arrival training provided by the Portuguese National Agency.
Participant profile
We are looking for a motivated young person who wants to be part of the life of a beautiful, authentic Portuguese village and experience local culture up close. The volunteer should: Enjoy working with children and teenagers; Be flexible and ready to help both in the activities with the target group, as well as in office work; Bring energy, curiosity, and a positive attitude, open to new experiences and different cultures; Have artistic and creative skills; Speak or want to learn/improve Portuguese. No prior experience is needed — just motivation, curiosity, and a willingness to join the local community life!
✍️ How do you write a motivation letter for ESC and Erasmus+? Research the project first, then follow a five-part structure that shows motivation, relevant skills and learning goals. This guide includes a full annotated example, how to adapt it per activity, and the mistakes that cause rejection. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/esc-motivation-letter
💡 How do you prepare a strong Erasmus+ or ESC application? Read the call carefully, write specific motivation, show skills with examples, and state clear learning goals. This guide gives 10 practical tips plus the common mistakes that lead to rejection. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/erasmus-application-tips
🔑 Key Information
Activity dates
A total of 10 week(s) during the period 26/10/2026 to 29/01/2027
Activity location
Rua General Humberto Delgado, 21, Lousã, Portugal
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Activity topics
Health and wellbeing
Creativity and culture
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 21/09/2026 23:00
Project code
2025-1-PT02-ESC51-VTJ-000346301
⚖️ What's the difference between ESC and Erasmus+? The ESC is for volunteering and solidarity, while Erasmus+ is broad learning mobility (study, training, youth exchanges). This guide compares age, funding, duration and application route, and includes a "choose this if…" decision guide. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/esc-vs-erasmus
🔗 Official Project Page
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/54132_en
🔐 How do you register on the ESC Portal? You create an EU Login with two-factor authentication, then complete your profile on the official ESC Portal. This step-by-step guide also fixes common problems like "0 opportunities" and the country-list lock. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/register-esc-portal
🩺 What insurance do ESC volunteers get? Every ESC volunteer gets free group insurance (currently Henner) that complements the EHIC and covers medical, accident, hospitalisation, liability and travel. This guide explains what's insured, the coverage period (home-to-return plus two months) and how your organisation enrols you. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/esc-insurance
🌍 What is ESC Humanitarian Aid Volunteering? It's the ESC strand (EVHAC) that sends people aged 18–35 to work full-time in countries outside the EU, after mandatory two-stage training. This guide details the training, the application steps and what's covered. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/esc-humanitarian-aid-volunteering
💰 Is ESC volunteering fully funded? Yes for core costs: travel is reimbursed by distance band (€28–1,735+), and accommodation, food, local transport, insurance, language support and daily pocket money are covered. This guide gives the official 2026 figures and the honest travel-band caveat — note there is no salary. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/is-esc-fully-funded
