International Volunteering with European Solidarity Corps
Context
At a time when European solidarity, social cohesion and youth civic engagement are increasingly urgent priorities, the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) has expanded its youth-focused activities by creating meaningful spaces for learning and participation.
Since 2022, the Youth Hub has become a dynamic meeting point for non-formal education, social inclusion, and democratic participation.
To add an international dimension to these processes and respond to young people’s need for connection around shared values, RAA applied for and was granted the status of host organisation within the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
This programme allows RAA to host international volunteers each year, who actively contribute to youth development initiatives in Romania, particularly in Bucharest, through the Youth Hub.
The ESC is a European Union initiative that gives young people aged 18 to 30 the opportunity to participate in socially impactful volunteering, while developing essential life, career and citizenship skills.
In this framework, RAA offers long-term volunteer placements (2–12 months), with a strong focus on inclusion, education, health and digital literacy.
Objective
Through the ESC programme, RAA aims to strengthen its youth work by directly involving international volunteers in the design and delivery of educational, social and community-based activities. Volunteers help broaden and diversify the Youth Hub’s offer, bringing fresh energy, ideas and intercultural perspectives.
At the same time, the programme provides a structured setting for personal growth and experiential learning, underpinned by civic engagement and reflective practice.
Volunteers become active members of the organisation, working in multidisciplinary teams and being encouraged to initiate their own projects.
ESC promotes European values – solidarity, inclusion and democratic participation – and creates real opportunities for dialogue and cooperation among young people from diverse backgrounds.
The activities directly support the inclusion of vulnerable youth, mental wellbeing and non-formal education.
Moreover, RAA sees ESC as an opportunity for mutual exchange of methods and good practices through collaboration with volunteers and organisations across Europe.
The programme thus supports the professional development of the team and connects local initiatives to a wider European network.
RAA aims to:
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strengthen the organisation’s capacity for youth work by involving volunteers in designing and delivering meaningful educational and social programmes;
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promote solidarity, civic engagement and intercultural cooperation;
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create spaces for learning and personal development for international volunteers, helping them grow into active and empathetic European citizens;
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share and promote good practices in non-formal education and diversify youth work methods in Romania through international collaboration and experience exchange.
Activities
ESC volunteers at RAA are actively involved in delivering Youth Hub activities and promoting the organisation’s mission and values in the public sphere.
They receive ongoing support from the RAA team and benefit from mentoring, professional guidance, training, and reflection sessions. Their work falls under four main areas:
Digital communication and online promotion
Volunteers create visual and written content for social media, contribute to RAA’s awareness and communication campaigns, and help promote youth initiatives at both local and European levels. They are involved in graphic design, managing social media pages, writing posts and impact reports, and developing themed mini-campaigns.
Educational and community event organisation
Volunteers support the organisation of workshops, info sessions, cultural events and civic actions within the Youth Hub and the wider community. They contribute to logistics, space set-up, activity facilitation and interaction with participants. They also help local young people turn their ideas into concrete initiatives.
Outdoor activities, sport and ecology
Volunteers coordinate and facilitate outdoor events for young people: hiking, clean-up actions, environmental workshops, team games and sports events. These initiatives promote healthy lifestyles, group cohesion and environmental responsibility – key aspects of European solidarity.
Non-formal education and learning facilitation
Volunteers help design and deliver non-formal workshops on topics such as mental health, inclusion, migration, empathy, activism, conscious consumption and digital education. They collaborate with RAA trainers and are encouraged to initiate their own activities, based on their interests and the needs identified in the community.
Throughout their experience, volunteers have access to orientation sessions, Romanian language courses, cultural and social events, emotional support, and personalised guidance to build their skills.
Results
Since receiving its ESC Quality Label, RAA’s volunteering programme has:
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involved international volunteers in educational and solidarity activities in Bucharest;
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diversified RAA’s youth work methods through international input and intercultural experiences;
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raised awareness among young audiences on topics such as mental health, non-formal education, civic engagement and environmental sustainability;
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provided real opportunities for learning and personal growth, recognised at the European level;
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created bridges of dialogue between young people in Romania and other European countries, contributing to a more united, empathetic and active community.
Through ESC, RAA reaffirms its commitment to promoting solidarity, inclusion and transformative education, continuing its mission to support young people in discovering their potential and becoming changemakers in their communities.
