Yes, shy people volunteer in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC): one volunteer used to be a shy person and says they still are, one was always a bit of a shy guy, and one was unsure about living with a large group. ESC volunteers work at least 30 and not more than 38 hours a week; the rest of the time is their own. The mentor will give you personal support and will be your main source of counselling. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is explains the programme.
Last updated: November 2026.
Can you do ESC if you are shy?
Yes: these three volunteers went into a project feeling shy or unsure about the group:
🌱 With teenagers: a volunteer who is still a shy person said volunteering with teenagers really pushed that volunteer out of a comfort zone: "If you don't make the first move towards them, they might not make it either".
🌾 Environment and people: a volunteer in Volunteering Teams was always a bit of a shy guy, and the combination of the environment and the people helped that volunteer to become more sociable.
👥 A large group: a volunteer in Volunteering Teams was unsure about living with a large group, and that fear quickly disappeared.
Our guide on the benefits of ESC explains what volunteers gain.
How much time is your own?
ESC volunteers work at least 30 and not more than 38 hours a week; the rest of the time is their own. You have two free days in a row per week, unless you and the organisation agree differently and the volunteering agreement says so, and two days of holiday per month. Our guide on a day in the life of a volunteer shows how the hours look.
Will you share a room or a flat?
Yes, in most cases: ESC volunteers usually live in a shared volunteer flat; sometimes in a dormitory or apartment-style residence, and rarely with a host family. In Erasmus+ youth projects, rooms can be for 2, 4, 6 or 8 people; in short-term volunteering, rooms are usually for 2 to 4 people, in long-term volunteering for 1 or 2 people. Accommodation depends on the host organisation, so clarify it before the project starts. You can ask for a single room but the organisation does not have to give you one; for long-term volunteers organisations usually make the arrangements already, and unless the matter is related to a health condition an exception is rarely made. Our guide on the volunteering agreement explains the practical arrangements in your contract.
Which project type fits a quiet person?
The choice is yours, and each project type has its own format.
Individual Volunteering has a duration of 2 weeks to 12 months. In Volunteering Teams, you carry out the activity in a group, which can be an incentive if you do not feel ready for challenging experiences on your own, and the activity is also shorter. Volunteering Teams are particularly suitable for a first experience in volunteering. Filling in the profile completely and choosing projects that match your own interests makes the difference in your application. Do not look only at the country of the project; look at the topic and the other details. Our guide on Volunteering Teams explains the group format, and our guide on how to choose a project helps you compare.
Who supports you if you feel alone?
The mentor will give you personal support and will be your main source of counselling. Meetings are often planned weekly or every two weeks, but the volunteer and mentor agree on the rhythm. The mentor supports the volunteer in difficult moments such as homesickness or conflicts. Our guide on the ESC mentor explains that role. Our guide on making local friends gives ideas for meeting people, our guide on mental health and wellbeing abroad covers hard days, and our guide on culture shock and homesickness covers settling in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask for a single room?
You can ask for a single room but the organisation does not have to give you one; for long-term volunteers organisations usually make the arrangements already, and unless the matter is related to a health condition an exception is rarely made.
Have other volunteers been afraid of living with a group?
Yes: one volunteer in Volunteering Teams wrote: "Before arriving, I was unsure about living with a large group, but that fear quickly disappeared".
How can I prepare for the interview if I am shy?
Our guide on interview questions shows what you can prepare.
What should you do next?
Our guide on what an ideal ESC volunteer looks like explains what organisations look for.
Youth Works Hub has a Match page that finds projects suited to you: it asks 8 questions and shows the results as a swipeable deck of cards, and using Match requires creating an account on the site.
Related pages: how to choose a project · the ESC mentor · making local friends · what an ideal ESC volunteer looks like · Volunteering Teams
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
