European Voluntary Service (EVS)
UILDM Lazio promotes international mobility of young people through volunteering experiences abroad by applying for Erasmus+ Programme funds. Erasmus+: Youth in Action is the non-formal education programme financed by the European Commission which aims to promote individual and group European projects for intercultural learning of young people. Among the many activities that young people realise within this programme, UILDM is particularly focused on European Voluntary Service.
A European Voluntary Service project allows a young person –from 18 to 30 years old- to realise a voluntary service in another country for a certain period of time starting from 2 weeks up to 12 months. An EVS activity can be on environmental protection, arts and culture, education of children, working with young people or elderly, on outdoors and sport education, on free time activities or civil protection. The volunteers dedicate their time and energy to a project that benefits local comunities. In return for their volunteering work, they develop new competences, improve their cultural and social understanding and develop their future life projects. The funds of Erasmus+ Programme covers the board and lodging, health insurance, travel costs and a small pocket money. Moreover volunteers participate in various trainings before and during their project.
All organisations that want to send or receive EVS volunteers should be accreditated by National Agencies in their own countries. UILDM Lazio is accredited as a sending, receiving and coordinating EVS organisation by Italian National Agency.
Sending Italian volunteers abroad
Are you a young person between 18 and 30 years old? Would you like to have a volunteering experience abroad? If yes, then European Voluntary Service could be exactly what you need! UILDM Lazio would search for volunteering organizations that could host you for a project of 2 weeks to 12 months, take care of all organisational tasks and offer you preparation training; plus, if you are a young person with disabilities, it will support you with needed assistance during your experience.
Moreover, you will receive mentoring and linguistic support, and financement for your travel, boarding and lodging costs and a pocket money.
Receiving European volunteers in Italy
Since 2004, each year UILDM Lazio hosts 6 EVS volunteers from other European countries for 12 months.
The hosted volunteers offer social assistance to people with disabilities (both children and adults), organize diversity education and intercultural learning promotion events in the territory, work with editorial staff and web radio of Finestra Aperta Communication Department of the organization.