The actions supported by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) are expected to bring positive and long-lasting effects on the participants and participating organisations involved, as well as on the communities in which these actions take place. Volunteering Projects offer opportunities for young people to take part in solidarity activities contributing to the daily work of participating organisations, to the ultimate benefit of the communities within which the activities are carried out. 85% of organisations say that the European Solidarity Corps met important community needs. Of the participants, 91% felt more capable of making meaningful social change. Youth Works Hub goes through what changes for the volunteer and what changes in the place where the volunteering happens. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is explains the programme, and the complete guide to ESC volunteering lists every part of it.
Last updated: October 2026.
What changes in the community where volunteers work?
In the communities where the supported solidarity activities are implemented, the expected outcomes are an increased ability to address societal challenges, and greater understanding and responsiveness to diversity (social, linguistic, cultural, gender and ethnic diversity, disabilities etc.). Volunteering addresses identified needs within local communities and contributes to overcoming important societal challenges on the ground. The European Solidarity Corps helps communities by supporting local projects. The European Solidarity Corps also supports national and local actors, in their efforts to cope with different societal challenges and crises. Our guide on how Erasmus+ youth projects make a real impact on communities looks at the same question from the Erasmus+ side.
What changes in the young person who volunteers?
As regards participants, the main outcomes include better awareness of the European project and the EU common values, and increased motivation for further engagement in solidarity activities. Volunteers gain intercultural competence from sharing a home and work with volunteers from other countries. Many volunteers organise their own small activity, a workshop, a show or a campaign, so volunteers also gain project and organisation skills. Volunteers also gain self-knowledge: what you like, what you cannot do, how you act under pressure. The value and benefits of European Solidarity Corps volunteering should be recognised for volunteers, through identification and documentation of learning outcomes, preferably through Youthpass. 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. Youthpass and ECTS are recognised in practice by employers and universities. Our guide on how ESC changes lives goes through the gains one by one, how volunteers turn ESC into a professional career follows the career side, and getting your learning recognised explains Youthpass and ECTS.
Which problems does the volunteering work address?
The European Solidarity Corps opens more and better opportunities covering a broad range of areas, such as integration of migrants, environmental challenges, prevention of natural disasters, education and youth activities, preservation of cultural heritage and humanitarian aid. The European Solidarity Corps tackles big issues like climate change and social inclusion. The European Solidarity Corps also helps during crises, with relief to people fleeing natural or man-made disasters. By extending its scope to cover volunteering activities in support of humanitarian aid operations, the European Solidarity Corps provides needs-based emergency aid and helps to deliver assistance, relief and protection where most needed. Our guide on what Humanitarian Aid Volunteering is covers that strand.
Can a short activity have a real impact?
Yes: in volunteering teams, European Solidarity Corps volunteers carry out tasks for a project over a short period of time, and despite their shorter duration these activities are valuable both for the individuals and for the communities in which the volunteering takes place. Examples of the valuable work that can be accomplished even over a short period of time include restoring cultural heritage damaged by natural or man-made disaster, catering for species threatened by extinction, and organising educational activities in refugee camps. Volunteering teams activities can bring a significant contribution to the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in the European Solidarity Corps. Our guide on what ESC Volunteering Teams are explains how a team works together, and inclusion support in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the extra support for young people with fewer opportunities.
How do volunteers become part of the local community?
Learning at least enough of the local language to manage at the local market or greengrocer pays off. Our guide on culture shock and homesickness abroad covers the first weeks, and how to make local friends on a project covers the rest.
Does the impact reach young people with fewer opportunities?
Yes: the European Solidarity Corps seeks to promote social inclusion, tolerance, human rights and the value of differences and diversity of all kinds and to provide all young people equal access to opportunities across all its actions. 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 European Solidarity Corps provides accessible and flexible formats of activities, additional financial support as well as a range of support measures to encourage the participation of young people with fewer opportunities and better cater for their specific needs. In the 2021-2027 programme, 40% of volunteers have fewer opportunities. Our guide on inclusion support in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the extra support, and first generation or low income speaks to readers who think this is not for them.
Frequently asked questions
Do the organisations change too?
Over 3 000 organisations have benefited from the programme. Our guide on what the ESC Quality Label is explains how organisations join.
Can young people run a project in their own community?
Yes: a Solidarity Project should be directly linked to the local community they live in, although some of them can also tackle regional or even national issues. A Solidarity Project should have an impact on the local community by addressing local issues, targeting a specific group or developing local opportunities, particularly in communities located in rural, isolated, marginalised or cross-border areas, but also through involving different actors and developing new partnerships. Our guide on what ESC Solidarity Projects are explains how a group starts one.
Does the impact last beyond the project?
In the long run, the combined effect of supported solidarity activities is expected to have a positive impact on a large number of stakeholders in EU Member States and third countries. Our guide on which countries can apply explains where you can apply from.
Does a volunteer need experience to make a difference?
Being active in a youth organisation is important but not required; young people who understand how these projects work and cooperate with local organisations have a clear advantage. Your level of education is not a barrier: someone who has only finished middle school can also take part in the projects. Our guide on who can apply sets out the conditions.
What is expected from an ESC volunteer?
An ESC volunteer remembers that they are a volunteer, values intercultural learning, wants to grow personally, represents their country well, and tells others about these opportunities after returning home. Our guide on what makes an ideal volunteer goes through each quality.
Pick a need, not a destination
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. The Youth Works Hub pages below cover the next steps.
Related pages: what the European Solidarity Corps is · what ESC volunteering means for the person who does it · how Erasmus+ youth projects make a real impact on communities · projects young people run themselves · how to find Erasmus+ and ESC projects
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
