ESC Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, formally the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (EVHAC), is the European Union programme that funds young people aged 18 to 35 to support humanitarian aid operations in countries outside the EU. It is part of the wider European Solidarity Corps (2021 to 2027, budget around €1 billion), but it works differently from regular ESC volunteering, most notably through a mandatory two-stage training you must complete before you can apply to any project.
This guide covers who can join, what the work involves, what is covered, and, in detail, the training that so many people ask about.
How Is It Different from Regular ESC Volunteering? 🔎
Humanitarian Aid Volunteering stands apart in several ways:
🌍 It takes place in third countries outside the EU where humanitarian needs exist (never in areas of active armed conflict)
🎂 It has a higher age limit, 18 to 35 rather than 18 to 30 (see our age limits guide)
🎓 It requires a mandatory two-stage training before deployment
⚖️ It follows strict humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence and "do no harm"
New to the wider programme? Read ESC vs Erasmus+ and who can apply.
Who Can Participate? 🙌
To be eligible as a volunteer you must:
🔹 Be 18 to 35 at the start date of the activity (not at application or registration)
🔹 Legally reside in an EU Member State or an ESC associated country
🔹 Be registered on the European Solidarity Corps Portal, see how to register
🔹 Have completed the mandatory two-stage training (online plus face-to-face)
🔹 Not have taken part in individual Humanitarian Aid Volunteering before (you get one chance)
🔹 Not exceed the 12-month lifetime cap on combined EU volunteering
Eligible countries include all 27 EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway and Türkiye. Türkiye is fully associated, so residents of Türkiye take part on equal terms, including in the humanitarian aid strand. See the full eligibility list.
What Kind of Work Does It Involve? 🌍
Projects run only in third countries where humanitarian operations are underway, never in zones of active armed conflict. Volunteering is full-time and non-remunerated (30 to 38 hours a week), with all living and logistical costs covered.
The thematic scope is broad. Examples include:
🚨 Disaster preparedness and post-disaster relief
🛡️ Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities
🤝 Protection of refugees, internally displaced people and undocumented migrants
👩 Gender equality and protection of women and children
🌱 Climate change mitigation and food security
🏘️ Improving living conditions in crisis-affected regions
🔄 Helping the transition from humanitarian response to long-term development
Individual assignments last 2 to 12 months. Group volunteering teams (a larger group of volunteers) run 2 weeks to 2 months on time-limited interventions. The 12-month lifetime cap applies to all combined EU volunteering.
The Mandatory Training: A Two-Stage Process (In Detail) 🎓
This is where Humanitarian Aid Volunteering fundamentally differs from every other ESC activity. Completing the training is non-negotiable: you cannot apply to any humanitarian aid project without it.
The programme is delivered by a consortium led by Lattanzio KIBS, with PuntoSud Academy, Bioforce, IECAH and IFHV, commissioned by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). It is a four-year programme aiming to train 4,000 young people from all eligible countries.
Stage 1: Online Training (EU Academy) 💻
Once you have registered on the portal and ticked your interest in Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, the online course becomes available in your ESC account under the "Online Training" tab, where you select "Humanitarian aid training". It is hosted on the official EU Academy platform: Online Training for EVHAC candidates.
It runs in three parts:
1️⃣ Self-Assessment Questionnaire — Before the course formally begins, you complete a self-assessment that gives you a realistic picture of what field volunteering in humanitarian contexts involves. It is a reflective tool, not a pass or fail gate.
2️⃣ E-Learning Modules (20 to 25 hours) — Several modules covering:
🔹 The legal and ethical framework of humanitarian and development aid
🔹 Humanitarian crosscutting issues (gender, protection, accountability)
🔹 The roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the aid system
🔹 The main functions and roles within aid organisations
🔹 Humanitarian principles in practice
3️⃣ Online Test — The course ends with a mandatory online test. You must pass it to move on. Those who do not pass cannot proceed to the face-to-face stage.
Stage 2: Face-to-Face Training (5 Days) 🤝
Candidates who pass the online test indicate their availability through a scheduling tool on EU Academy. The consortium then contacts you, usually within 1 to 2 months, to assign a slot.
The face-to-face training is an intensive 5-day residential programme in groups of around 25 candidates, giving hands-on, scenario-based preparation for deployment. Sessions have been held in Milan, Madrid, Lyon and Bochum.
It runs in three rounds per year:
📅 Round 1: February to March
📅 Round 2: May to June
📅 Round 3: September to October
⚠️ Demand is very high, so face-to-face slots fill up fast and waiting times can be significant. Complete the online stage as early as possible to widen your choice of dates and projects.
Once you finish both stages, you enter a pool of certified, deployment-ready volunteers that host organisations recruit from.
Step by Step: How to Apply as a Volunteer 🧭
Step 1 — Register on the ESC Portal. Create your ESC profile. You can register from 17 but cannot start until you are 18. Registration is free. See how to register on the ESC Portal.
Step 2 — Express interest in Humanitarian Aid. In your profile, go to your Humanitarian Aid Volunteering settings and select that you want to be considered, then complete and save your profile.
Step 3 — Complete the online training. Work through the self-assessment, the 20 to 25 hours of modules, and pass the online test.
Step 4 — Book and attend the face-to-face training. Indicate your availability, wait for the consortium to contact you, and attend the 5-day session.
Step 5 — Apply for project vacancies. Once trained, browse open humanitarian aid placements on Youth Works Hub. Each host runs its own selection, usually a CV, a motivation letter and one or more interviews. Have a clean Europass CVready.
What Is Covered? 💶
You never pay out of pocket. Through the project grant you receive:
✈️ Travel to and from the deployment country (reimbursed within EU distance bands)
🏠 Accommodation arranged by the host organisation
🍽️ A food allowance throughout the assignment
🛡️ Health, accident and sickness insurance for the full duration
💶 Pocket money for personal expenses (the amount varies by country)
🗣️ Online Language Support for assignments of 2 months or longer
🧑🏫 On-site mentoring during the assignment
🎓 A Youthpass certificate at the end
⚠️ Honest note: travel is reimbursed within distance bands, so on very long trips it may not cover the full ticket. For the wider ESC funding picture, see is ESC fully funded.
What You Gain 🌟
Beyond the field experience itself:
🎓 A Youthpass certificate recognised by employers and universities
🛠️ Practical humanitarian field skills: project management, logistics, administration, communication
🌍 Intercultural competence and real understanding of the global humanitarian system
💼 A strong foundation for careers in international development, NGOs, diplomacy and public policy
2026 Priorities and Key Dates 📅
The 2026 call emphasises three cross-cutting priorities: preparedness and relief for people affected by conflict or disaster, positive learning for young people with fewer opportunities, and intergenerational fairness and solidarity.
A note on deadlines: the dates published for the 2026 ESC call (for example the Humanitarian Aid Volunteering grant round in April 2026) are for organisations applying for funding, not individual volunteers. Volunteer vacancies appear after organisations are approved, so as a volunteer your job is to register and finish training early, then apply when positions open.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Do I have to do the training before applying?
Yes. The two-stage training (online plus a 5-day face-to-face) is mandatory. You cannot apply to any humanitarian aid project without completing it.
How long does the training take?
The online part is 20 to 25 hours, followed by a 5-day residential course. Because of high demand, expect a wait of 1 to 2 months (often more) for a face-to-face slot, so start early.
What is the age limit for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering?
18 to 35, measured at the start date of the activity. You can register on the portal from 17.
Can I do it more than once?
No. Each person can take part in individual Humanitarian Aid Volunteering only once, so make it count.
Where do the projects take place?
Only in third countries outside the EU facing humanitarian needs, and never in areas of active armed conflict.
In Short 💙
ESC Humanitarian Aid Volunteering sends young people aged 18 to 35 to support humanitarian work abroad, with costs covered and a Youthpass at the end. The one big difference is the mandatory two-stage training, so register, start the online course early, pass the test, complete the 5-day session, and you are ready to apply.
👉 Browse open humanitarian aid placements: Youth Works Hub