This Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) dictionary explains the terms you meet in calls, info packs and applications. Each term starts with a short definition and links to the Youth Works Hub page that explains the term in full. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is explains that programme, and what Erasmus+ is does the same for Erasmus+.
Last updated: November 2026.
EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme
In Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), if you are legally based in an EU Member State or a third country associated to the Programme, you can participate fully in all the Actions. The third countries associated to Erasmus+ are Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Türkiye and the Republic of Serbia. Our guide on which countries can apply to Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps lists every country.
Third countries not associated to the Programme
Some Actions of the European Solidarity Corps are open for participation of third countries not associated to the Programme. Young people from third countries not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4) can apply to the European Solidarity Corps and the Erasmus+ youth projects, but there are fewer places and more competition. Young people from countries that are not EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4) cannot take part in the European Solidarity Corps or in the Erasmus+ youth projects (Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers, Youth participation activities); for them, Erasmus+ higher education mobility, Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges (Region 9 only) and Erasmus Mundus are open. Our guide on opportunities for young people from outside the EU explains which projects are open to them.
Support Organisation (Sending Organisation)
In a cross-border ESC volunteering project, the support organisation (often called the sending organisation) is in the volunteer's own country. The support role entails supporting, preparing and/or training participants before departure. The support role also entails a mediation between participants and their host organisations and/or providing support to participants upon return from their activity. The name can mislead: the support organisation does not choose or send you; the host organisation selects you. Our guide on the supporting organisation explains the role in full.
Host Organisation
In a cross-border ESC volunteering project, the host organisation is in the country where the volunteer goes. The host role covers the full range of activities related to hosting a participant. The host role includes the development of a programme of the young person's activities and providing guidance and support to the participant during all the phases. In the European Solidarity Corps, the organisation usually provides the accommodation and gives food money, so the volunteer can cook at home or eat out; the details are set out in the info pack. Our guide on the ESC volunteer mentor explains the person who supports you during the activity.
Coordinating Organisation
In the European Solidarity Corps, the lead role is for organisations who apply for grants, manage and coordinate Volunteering Projects. Our guide on the supporting organisation explains how the lead role relates to the host and support roles.
Info Pack
The info pack is shared at the application stage, so you already know all the conditions. A good info pack includes:
🎯 Topic: project topic and objectives.
📅 Dates: dates and city/country.
🧩 Activities: activities and methods.
✈️ Travel: travel budget, reimbursement rules and when travel costs are reimbursed.
🏠 Accommodation and meals: accommodation and meal details.
👥 Participant profile: age, country and skills.
📝 Application steps: application steps and deadline.
If any of these are missing, ask for clarification before applying. When travel costs are reimbursed differs from project to project; it should be written in the info pack, and if it is not, you must clarify it with the organisation before the project. Our guide on how to apply for Erasmus+ or ESC walks through the application steps.
Motivation Letter
A strong motivation letter for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) has three paragraphs: your volunteering experience and personal motivation, why you want to join the ESC, and why this project and this organisation. A motivation letter applies to both ESC and Erasmus+ youth projects, but in Erasmus+ youth projects it is rarely asked for; most Erasmus+ calls use an application form instead. Keep the motivation letter to one page in 12-point type and a classic font, write a new motivation letter for each project, and use images only when they fit the purpose. Two big mistakes in ESC applications are copying a motivation letter found online or sent by a friend, and applying without real motivation, only for a free trip abroad, travel or language learning. Give at least half of the letter to what you can do, concretely. Our guide on how to write an ESC motivation letter goes through each paragraph.
Europass CV
A Europass CV is a CV that you create with the free online tools of Europass. Organisations know the English Europass CV and read it quickly. Save the CV as a PDF so it is ready to share. Our guide on how to make a Europass CV explains what to put in each section.
Call for Participants
For Youth Exchanges, Volunteering Teams, training courses, seminars and study visits, young people apply to the call itself; the call may ask you to apply directly, or it may name a sending organisation in your country through which you have to apply, so you must read the details of each call. Erasmus+ youth projects have no standard application format; each call explains how to apply. There is no limit on the number of applications: you can apply to every project that suits you. Our guide on how to spot fake Erasmus+ offers lists the warning signs of a fake call.
Deadline
A deadline is the final time your application must be submitted; it sometimes includes an exact hour and time zone, late applications are usually not accepted, and you should always assume the deadline is strict. Our guide on how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects explains where to look for open calls.
Youthpass
Youthpass is a European recognition instrument for identifying and documenting learning outcomes. Youthpass certificates are available for projects under Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, for all project types except the general DiscoverEU action. Youthpass is not a diploma or a professional qualification and does not bring a job or recognition on its own; its value is that it makes your learning structured and easy to explain. Our guide on what Youthpass is explains the certificate and the process.
Learning Outcomes and Competences
In the European Solidarity Corps, competences are a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes, and they are the non-formal and informal learning outcomes gained in the solidarity activities. Youthpass uses the revised framework of Key Competences for Lifelong Learning as the reference framework to describe learning outcomes of young participants in Erasmus+ (such as in Youth Exchanges, Youth Participation Activities) and in European Solidarity Corps (such as in Volunteering and Solidarity projects). The eight key competences are:
🗣️ Multilingual competence
🧠 Personal, social and learning to learn competence
🏛️ Citizenship competence
💼 Entrepreneurship competence
🎨 Cultural awareness and expression competence
💻 Digital competence
🔬 Mathematical competence and competence in science, technology and engineering
📚 Literacy competence
Our guide on getting your learning recognised (ECTS and Youthpass) explains how the competences are recognised.
Non-Formal Education
Non-formal learning is learning which takes place outside formal education and training through learning activities and with some form of learning support. Non-formal learning has a participative and learner-centred approach. Non-formal learning is carried out by learners on a voluntary basis and is therefore closely linked to young people's needs, aspirations and interests. Our guide on what non-formal education is gives examples of the methods.
Fewer Opportunities and Inclusion
Young people with fewer opportunities are young people who are at a disadvantage compared to their peers because they face one or more exclusion factors and obstacles. The list of barriers below is not exhaustive. The barriers are:
♿ Disabilities: physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments.
🩺 Health problems: severe illnesses, chronic diseases or any other physical or mental health-related situation that prevents someone from participating in the programme.
🎓 Education and training systems: individuals struggling to perform in education and training systems for various reasons, early school-leavers, NEETs (people not in education, employment or training) and low-skilled adults may face barriers.
🌐 Cultural differences: cultural differences may represent significant barriers to learning, all the more for people with a migrant or refugee background.
🤝 Social barriers: social adjustment difficulties or family circumstances, such as being a single parent, a caregiver or an orphan.
📉 Economic barriers: economic disadvantage, for instance a low living standard, low income, long-term unemployment, poverty or being homeless.
⚖️ Discrimination: discrimination linked to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or intersectional factors.
🏝️ Geographical barriers: living in, for example, remote or rural areas, on small islands, in peripheral or outermost regions, in urban suburbs, in less serviced areas or in less developed areas.
Organisations arrange the support process for young people with fewer opportunities; depending on the participant's situation, supporting documents such as health reports may be requested. Our guide on inclusion support in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps explains the extra help available.
Green Travel
Green travel is travel that uses low-emissions means of transport for at least half of the round trip, such as bus, train, bike or car-pooling. Green travel must be agreed with the organisation before you buy tickets. Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the extra support for green travel.
Participation Fee
In the European Solidarity Corps, participation in volunteering activities must be free of charge for the volunteer. No fee is ever asked for applying, in ESC or Erasmus+ youth projects; nobody should pay anything at the application stage. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, training courses, seminars and study visits, about one in ten calls asks participants for a participation fee; Youth Works Hub does not support this practice. The participation fee is not a payment made in advance: the participation fee is usually deducted from the travel reimbursement. If an organisation asks you to pay at the application stage, report it to the National Agency or the European Commission and let us know, so we can report it too. Our guide on what ESC volunteering covers lists what is paid for you, and hidden costs in fully funded projects covers what you still pay.
Youth Exchange
Youth Exchanges are meetings of groups of young people from at least two different countries who gather for a short period to implement jointly a non-formal learning programme (a mix of workshops, exercises, debates, role-plays, simulations, outdoor activities, etc.) on a topic of their interest. In Youth Exchanges, food and accommodation are fully covered for participants; this is mandatory, not an exception. Our guide on what a Youth Exchange is explains the format.
Training Course
A training course is one of the forms that Professional Development Activities can take, and Professional Development Activities are transnational or international learning mobility activities supporting the professional development of youth workers. Training courses support the development of competences to implement quality youth work practices or address and test innovative methods. Our guide on what a training course is explains who can join.
Individual Volunteering
Individual Volunteering in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a solidarity activity of a duration of 2 weeks to 12 months, excluding travel time. Our guide on ESC project lengths compares the durations of each format.
Volunteering Teams
Volunteering teams are solidarity activities that allow teams of participants coming from at least two different countries to volunteer together for a period between 2 weeks and 2 months. Volunteering Teams last from 2 weeks to 2 months, excluding travel time, and up to 59 days, excluding travel days. Our guide on what ESC Volunteering Teams are explains the format.
Solidarity Project
A Solidarity Project is a non-profit solidarity activity initiated, developed and implemented by young people themselves for a period from 2 to 12 months. A Solidarity Project gives a group of minimum five young persons the chance to express solidarity by taking responsibility and committing themselves to bring positive change in their local community. Our guide on ESC Solidarity Projects explains how a group starts one.
Humanitarian Aid Volunteering
Humanitarian Aid Volunteering in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) takes place in third countries where there are ongoing humanitarian aid operations. Humanitarian Aid Volunteering gives the opportunity to young people aged 18 to 35 years old to contribute to society by short-term or long-term volunteering activities aimed at improving living conditions of people in need. Our guide on what Humanitarian Aid Volunteering is explains the strand.
National Agency
In each EU Member State and third country associated to the Programme, one or more National Agencies are appointed to promote and implement Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps at the national level. Our guide on National Agencies explains what a National Agency does.
European Solidarity Corps Portal
Young people express their willingness to participate in the European Solidarity Corps by registering on the European Solidarity Corps Portal. In the European Solidarity Corps, young people registered on the European Solidarity Corps Portal apply to the opportunities themselves; organisations do not usually send offers first. Our guide on how to register on the ESC Portal walks through the registration.
Quality Label
The Quality Label is a process that certifies that an organisation is able and willing to carry out high quality solidarity activities in compliance with the principles, objectives and quality standards of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). Our guide on what the ESC Quality Label is explains the label.
Organisation ID (OID)
An Organisation ID (OID) is the code an organisation or group obtains once the registration is completed, if applications are submitted to the National Agency. If applications are submitted to the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the organisation or group obtains a participant identification code (PIC). The code is an identifier and is necessary for the submission of applications. Our guide on what an OID is explains the registration.
Pocket Money
Pocket money is the contribution to additional personal expenses you get as a participant in Volunteering Projects of the European Solidarity Corps. Pocket money is paid weekly or monthly, in cash against a signed receipt or by bank transfer, depending on the organisation. Our guide on ESC pocket money lists the amount for each country.
Volunteering Agreement (Activity Agreement)
The ESC volunteering agreement is signed before the activity, once the volunteer's selection is confirmed. The volunteering agreement (formerly called the activity agreement) is signed by the volunteer, the host organisation, the support organisation and, if there is one, the lead organisation. Our guide on the ESC volunteering agreement explains what the agreement covers.
Mentor
Mentoring consists of regular meetings between the mentor appointed by the host or support organisation and the participant, within as well as outside the place where the activity takes place. Personal support through mentoring should be provided to all participants in volunteering activities. Our guide on the ESC volunteer mentor explains what the mentor does.
Online Language Support (OLS)
Language learning support is available for participants carrying out a solidarity activity in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. Depending on the Action, language learning support takes the form either of a grant of 150 EUR linguistic support or of an online course via the Online Language Support (OLS). The 150 EUR linguistic support is only for activities lasting 60 days or more, and for cross-border activities only for languages and levels not offered by the Online Language Support. Our guide on Online Language Support explains how to use the course.
Insurance
As a volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps, you benefit from a medical and non-medical insurance scheme. The insurance scheme is provided free of charge to you during the entire period of your mobility. You will receive Henner's guide in the welcome email sent by Henner indicating that you are registered and covered by the insurance. Our guide on ESC insurance explains the cover.
Travel Distance Bands
In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects the contribution to the travel costs of participants, from their place of origin to the venue of the activity and return, is based on the travel distance per participant. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the contribution to travel is based on the travel distance. If the ticket costs more than the travel distance band amount, the participant pays the difference; if it costs less, the remaining amount stays with the organisation. Our guide on how travel distance bands work sets out the amount for each distance.
Eurodesk
Eurodesk is a European youth information network created in 1990 to help young people experience the world and become active citizens. Eurodesk is free of charge, which is one of its 10 key principles. Our guide on what Eurodesk is explains how to contact the network.
DiscoverEU
DiscoverEU is an action of the Erasmus+ programme that offers you the opportunity to travel and explore Europe's diversity, learn about its cultural heritage and history, and connect with people from all over the continent. DiscoverEU offers 18-year-olds the opportunity to have a short-term individual or group travel experience throughout Europe. Our guide on what DiscoverEU is explains how to apply.
Match
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 saved projects stay on your profile page. Using Match requires creating an account on the site; signing up with Google is available but not required. Match does not filter directly by country. Our guide on how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects covers the other ways to find a project.
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay anything to apply for Erasmus+ or ESC projects?
No: no fee is ever asked for applying, in ESC or Erasmus+ youth projects; nobody should pay anything at the application stage.
Is ESC volunteering free of charge?
Yes: participation in volunteering activities must be free of charge for the volunteer. ESC volunteering is fully funded: technically you pay nothing, although you sometimes pay costs such as tickets and visas first and are reimbursed afterwards.
Where can you find Erasmus+ and ESC projects?
Opportunities on the Youth Works Hub site are grouped in seven categories: Erasmus+ projects, ESC projects, internships, jobs, scholarships, fellowships and others.
Next: use the terms
The Youth Works Hub pages below explain the most common terms in full.
Related pages: what the European Solidarity Corps is · what Erasmus+ is · how to apply for Erasmus+ or ESC · what Youthpass is · how to spot fake Erasmus+ offers
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
