There are several ways to become a volunteer. For example:

Volunteering with children

Teaching children is one of the areas where volunteers can help in providing assistance and support to local youth clubs, or to spend time working with children with special needs.

Volunteering for community development

This can be in support of a community center or a youth club in your area to help in the development of the community by building homes for people in need.

Voluntary teaching

Local, national or even international teachers are always needed, whether helping at primary or secondary level.

Volunteering in environmental protection

Support campaigns for environmental protection.

Volunteering in sport

This may include coaching activities and any activity in sports administration or judging.

Volunteering with a European dimension and European Voluntary Service (EVS)

A way to learn more about these and other specific forms of volunteering and how to participate in them is the European Voluntary Service. The last is part of the "Youth in Action” program and it provides opportunity for young Europeans to make a real difference in the world and their own lives. EVS covers a wide range of areas such as culture, youth, sports, social care, cultural heritage, arts, civil protection, environment, development cooperation, etc.

EVS gives the European youth a unique chance to express their personal commitment through unpaid full time volunteering in a foreign country within or outside the EU. It was established to develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people, contributing to the strengthening of social cohesion in the European Union and to promote active citizenship of young people.

EVS is open to all young people aged 18 to 30 years. It is a real "learning by doing". Besides the benefit to the local communities, involved in volunteering, volunteers can develop new skills and improve their personal, educational and professional development. They have the chance to be trained throughout the activity and agree in advance with the host organization for the expected learning outcomes, processes and methods. Their experience is officially recognized by Youthpass - a new European certificate (like a diploma), which is used in "Youth in Action" international projects. EVS can be done individually or in groups. Up to 30 volunteers are now able to participate in the same EVS project! A successful EVS project requires close cooperation between at least three key players: sending (coordinating) organization, host organization and one or more volunteers. Partner organizations in the projects are non-profit entities registered in a program, local or regional authorities, other relevant organizations or international organizations. Each participating organization must be accredited to gain the right to participate in an EVS project.

Volunteers are selected without discrimination on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political views, etc.. Prior qualifications, educational level, specific experience or more than basic language knowledge should not be required. More specific profile of a volunteer can be drawn if it is justified by the nature of volunteering tasks or project context but even in this case selection on the basis of professional or educational qualifications is excluded.

The first step is to find what projects are proposed in the country or activity that interests you.

Participation is free for volunteers (except for a possible contribution of up to 10% of travel costs). The program ensures food, pocket money, accommodation, insurance and training for the duration of the project. Special conditions apply to promote the participation of young people with disabilities. For example, they may participate at the age of 16. Detailed information can be found in the Guide for "Youth in Action 2007 - 2013" applicants or at the program site http://ec.europa.eu/youth/youth-in-action-programme/european-voluntary -service_en.htm and the site of the National Centre "European Youth Programmes and Initiatives" http://www.youthbg.info.

f you do not know where to start, the first thing you need to know is that you are not alone. There are many young people with ideas who seek assistance in their implementation. To facilitate the process of implementing the ideas we have created the largest database of active youth structures and ideas.

http://www.youthforeurope.eu

YOUTHFOREUROPE.EU was designed to respond to the growing interest of young people, youth groups and organizations for active participation in international projects on European level. It is a platform based on the expected evolution of the European Youth policy with regards on young people's own European experience and the "Youth in action" programme (2007-2013).

The platform serves free of charge all individuals, groups and organizations, active at international level. By becoming a site member you and your colleagues will be able to benefit from a multitude of free services aimed at bringing quality and European added value in your initiatives as well as a variety of cooperation opportunities.

What is different from the other similar platforms?

- It covers all of topics and project types in the framework of the "Youth in Action" programme.
- It delivers you the latest news, related to the youth sector.
- It gives you the opportunity to meet the people on its Facebook page and get to know them before you start working with them.
- It tells you what the other people think of your potential partners with the organizations' ratings. You can also vote for your partners and tell the others how you rate working with them.