🔑 Key Information
Activity ⭐️ Title
Volunteering Forum
🇪🇺 What is Erasmus+? Erasmus+ is the EU's programme for education, training, youth and sport, with a €26.2 billion budget for 2021–2027. It funds study abroad, internships, youth exchanges, training courses and youth worker mobility. This overview covers who is eligible, every activity type and what's funded. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/erasmusplus
Activity 🔶 Type | 📆 Dates | 📍Location
Conference – Symposium - Forum
8-11 October 2026 | İstanbul, Türkiye
❗️What Is This Training About?
Are you working with and for volunteering in ESC? Have you ever volunteered in an ESC/EVS project or coordinated one? Join us in İstanbul for the Volunteering Forum, taking place in 8-11 October 2026
✅ Who can apply for Erasmus+ and ESC? Eligibility depends on activity: ages 13–30 for most Erasmus+ youth activities and 18–30 for ESC volunteering (up to 35 for humanitarian aid), plus country and residence rules. This guide covers roles, inclusion support, language needs and the profile coordinators look for. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/whocanapply
ℹ️ Description About The Opportunity
This forum aims to strengthen the quality, impact, and recognition of volunteering activities within the European Solidarity Corps by bringing together volunteers, youth workers, mentors, coordinators, and young people from diverse backgrounds. Through the exchange of experiences, peer learning, networking opportunities, and interactive discussions, participants will explore the role of volunteering in fostering solidarity, active citizenship, personal development, and employability. The forum will provide a space for stakeholders to reflect on challenges and good practices in ESC volunteering, enhance cooperation among organizations and support structures, and discuss how volunteering experiences can contribute to the development of competences, community engagement, and long-term social impact.
What is this activity?
This activity is part of an ESCNET activity organized by the Turkish National Agency for ESC. NET is a tool for National Agencies to support the ESC Program and enhance its impact. The event will be held in English, therefore applicants are expected to be able to understand and speak the language.
Main Objectives:
The primary objectives of this forum are:
• To exchange experiences and good practices in ESC volunteering activities,
• To strengthen cooperation among volunteers, mentors, coordinators, youth workers, and organizations,
• To explore the impact of volunteering on young people’s personal and professional development,
• To discuss quality standards, support systems, and challenges in volunteering projects,
• To encourage networking and future partnerships within the ESC community.
• Celebrating the 30th anniversary of volunteering!
Call for Speakers
Do you see yourself delivering a keynote speech, participating in a panel discussion or delivering a workshop? Think you’re a fit for any of these roles? Learn more about the clusters below and apply here by 1 October 2026. If selected, your travel, board and lodging for the whole duration of the forum will be fully covered by the Turkish National Agency.
Applicant Profiles:
- Quality label holder organisation representatives
- Former ESC Volunteers
- ESC Project Coordinators
- ESC Mentors
- Other ESC related roles in organisations
Structure and Sessions:
The event will be organized around four thematic clusters, each addressing a key dimension of volunteering within the European Solidarity Corps. Sessions under these clusters will take place concurrently, allowing participants to choose the topics most relevant to their interests, experiences, and professional backgrounds.
Cluster 1 – Quality in ESC Volunteering
This cluster will focus on quality standards in volunteering projects, the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, volunteer support systems, and creating meaningful and inclusive volunteering experiences.
Cluster 2 – Learning, Impact and Recognition
This cluster will explore the personal, social, and professional impact of volunteering, competence development, recognition of learning outcomes, and the contribution of volunteering to active citizenship and solidarity.
Cluster 3 – Building Stronger ESC Communities
This cluster will cover cooperation among volunteers, organisations, mentors, youth workers, and National Agencies, with a focus on networking, partnership building, and sharing good practices across the ESC community.
Cluster 4 – The Future of Volunteering
This cluster will address emerging trends, innovation, digitalisation, sustainability, and new approaches that can strengthen the quality and long-term impact of volunteering within the European Solidarity Corps.
A more detailed info-kit and schedule will be sent to the selected participants.
The arrivals will begin on the 8th and departures will be on 11th of October.
📘 What is Erasmus+? (in-depth) Erasmus+ has run since 1987 and has had over 13 million participants, funding four main activities for young people. This pillar guide covers its history, funding, research-backed benefits, the full application process and an FAQ. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/what-is-erasmus-plus
Training overview
This Conference – Symposium - Forum is
for 80 participants
from Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries 
, Partner Countries Neighbouring the EU
and recommended for
Youth workers, Youth leaders, Youth project managers, Volunteering mentors, Former volunteers
Accessibility info:
This activity and venue place are accessible to people with disabilities.
Working language(s):
English
Organiser:
Türkiye Ulusal Ajansı (Turkish National Agency) (National Agency)
💡 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
📥 Contact
Contact for questions:
A. Doruk ÜNAL
E-Mail:
Phone: xx
💶 Costs
Participation fee
This project is financed by the participating National Agencies (NAs) of the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme. The participation fee varies from country to country. Please contact your National Agency or SALTO Resource Centre (SALTO) to learn more about the participation fee for participants from your country.
Accommodation and food
Unless specified otherwise, the hosting NA or SALTO of this offer will organise the accommodation and covers the costs for accommodation and food.
Travel reimbursement
Please contact your NA or SALTO in order to know whether they would support your travel costs. If yes, after being selected, get in touch with your NA or SALTO again to learn more about the overall procedure to arrange the booking of your travel tickets and the reimbursement of your travel expenses.
📜 Certificate
Participants are entitled to receive a Youthpass certificate from the organiser, for recognition of their competence development during the activity. Read more about Youthpass:
https://youthworkshub.org/what-is-youthpass
⚠️ Important Dates
Application deadline (24h UTC): 14 September 2026
Date of selection: 22 September 2026
🎓 What is an Erasmus+ Training Course? A Training Course is a short funded course (5–10 days) for youth workers, educators and NGO staff to build skills through non-formal education. This guide explains who can join, what's covered and how it differs from a Youth Exchange. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/trainingcourse
🔗 Official Link
https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/training/volunteering-forum.15185/
⚖️ 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
🎂 What are the age limits for Erasmus+ and ESC? Youth Exchanges are 13–30, ESC volunteering is 18–30 (35 for humanitarian aid), and training, youth worker mobility and study/traineeships have no upper age limit. This guide breaks down every activity and how age is counted (at the start date). 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/erasmus-age-limits
💶 What costs does Erasmus+ cover? For youth activities (KA152–154) it covers travel by distance band, individual support, organisational support, preparation, inclusion support up to 100% and exceptional costs. This 2026 guide details each item and what Erasmus+ does not cover. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/what-erasmus-covers
