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Italy: An Erasmus for volunteers
European Voluntary Service offers young people in Europe the opportunity to volunteer in another European country for up to a year, Anna Caldera
di Staff
European Voluntary Service (EVS) offers young people in Europe the opportunity to volunteer in another European country for up to a year. Drawing upon the Erasmus experience that has become popular in Universities across Europe, the EVS allows people who want to partake in the experience of volunteering abroad the opportunity to do so by formalising the partnership between volunteer, sending country and host organisation.
Maurizio Ampollini is the director of the the Cesvov in Varese, first centre in Italy to open its doors to EVS volunteers 2 years ago. The Cesvov is Varese?s Centre for volunteer services, a nationwide association of volunteer associations. Maurizio Ampollini says that ?Volunteer for volunteers: promote solidarity among young people is the project that Cesvov has been promoting for two years now that has given young people abroad the opportunity to visit us here and learn about a culture and language different to their own through the experience of volunteering?.
Any one between the age of 18 and 30 in Europe can participate. ?It is not a substitute for study abroad programmes? highlights Ampollini ? but a solidarity enhancing project aimed at young people who seek to expand their experiences and knowledge?.
The length of the placements varies between 2 and 12 months, although at least 6 month long placements are usually encouraged. As to where these can be carried out, there is a range of opportunities considering that 27 have offered to welcome EVS participants, including Turkey which is not even an official EU country yet.
Volunteers who travel with EVS will not have their expenses covered by the project ? these include transport costs, room and board and insurance. A small monthly allowance will also be agreed upon according to the host country.
Elena Calatti is a 25 year old Educational Sciences student and the first EVS volunteer from Varese. In 2006 she travelled to Portugal to work on a development project in Moura. ?The project I worked on ? explained Elena ? involved the environment and aimed to raise awareness towards environmental issues at local schools?.
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