Volunteering experience: Find your perfect match!

Content

There is an endless amount of volunteering opportunities out there waiting just to be found by you! But there are some more suitable to you than others. Take your time to find just the right one! This activity will help you knowing what you need to look for. 
“The key to success is to choose a volunteering opportunity that matches your skills, interests and availability. Once this is clear, you can start your search for a quality volunteering opportunity.”
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Side note: In this activity we want to focus on the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) funded by the European Commission. But there are other private organizations also organizing volunteering services. Find more information at the end of the text. 
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Set your goals: Try to answer the following questions: 
1 How much time do I have?
2 weeks to 2 Months: then a team ESC would be the right thing to consider.
2 to 12 Months: an individual volunteering opportunity would be wise to chose.
2. What fields would you like to work in?
Would you like to make an impact against climate change or express your feminist side with the right organization?
Who would you like to work with? Are you good with children, other rather elderly people? Would you like to help refugees or people with disabilities…
3. What are you skilled in?
Are you an expert in organizing small events and doing administrative tasks? Are you a social butterfly, who enjoys playing around with children? Or do you rather use your hands helping at an organic farm?
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If you are not sure what you are looking for you can take the European Solidarity Corps quiz!
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Where to find an opportunity: 
The European youth portal offers a database with organizations looking for volunteers. There you find information on how to contact them. You can also explore the endless list of ESC opportunities and apply directly through the youth portal once you signed up in the youth portal. 
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As already mentioned above, there are other private organizations organizing volunteering services. 
Eurodesk has set up an online quiz to help you find the most suitable volunteering opportunity for you. At the end, some programmes and organizations are introduced to you. 
Here are some interesting organizations and databases with information and offers for volunteering besides the ESC: 
﻿Service Civil International: volunteering for peace 
﻿WWOOF: a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers
﻿Eurodesk: the website provides general information about volunteering and helps to find the right opportunity﻿﻿
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Resources

European Youth Portal: How to choose a good volunteering opportunity

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Volunteering experience: Match finder! Get this badge

Earners of this badge reflected, what kind of volunteering they are looking for and what they expect. They explored the opportunities given through the ESK program and decided what they want to apply for. 

You have to finish all tasks to get the badge

Tasks

Task no.1

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Think about the questions from the activity description. How would you answer them? Write us your answers here using key words. 

Task no.2

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Now find your perfect match: sign in on the European solidarity Corps platform and explore the website of the ESC. Look for opportunities, that you can imagine yourself doing and you are exited to participate in. Tell us which ones you want to apply for (e. g. title and art of volunteering).
This may take a while, but don´t rush and take your time. This might have a big impact on how you will spend your future and decide how much you can enjoy your volunteering experience!
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Skills

ESCO

#inform volunteers

ESCO

#encourage volunteers

Career and job readiness

Added to playlist (1)

Time to complete: 20 minutes

Organisers

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

Used in playlists

My pathway to a volunteering experience

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

Badgecraft hosts this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@badgecraft.eu.