Below I have gathered 5 reasons why you should embark on this experience

1. Self-knowledge

Gap Year gives you the opportunity to take a year to focus on your personal development. You will have time to discover your skills, to reflect on your life goals and until you have light on which career to choose in the future.

2. Meeting people

Volunteering can help you meet different types of people and make new friends from different countries. You will have a chance to develop your intercultural communication skills through contacts with people from various cultures and educational backgrounds.

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3. Master new skills

It will help to develop or enhance life-skills through the practical work and allow you to take those abilities and knowledge into other areas of your life.

The EVS will also help you to make a progress in soft skills. If you have never heard of soft skills before, know that is has to do to with our attitudes and our intuitions, which are less referable to our qualifications and more personality driven. When we apply for a job, soft skills are the most important when selecting employees.

In addition, soft skills are the competences that make us know how to communicate correctly, manage a group of people, solve a conflict between colleagues, or know how to motivate and listen to those around us. These are all skills that will be useful in your personal, academic and professional life.

4. Learn languages

The project itself is a perfect opportunity to practice languages you already know or learn a new one. Actually, you will have the chance to take language classes on the country you chose to do your EVS, so you can manage to better communicate on your everyday life.

5. Gain confidence

Participating in such project can help you boost confidence by giving you the venture to try something new, expand your comfort zone and build a sense of pride when looking at the progress you have made from day one till the end of the adventure.

6. Have fun!

Great majority of volunteers has good time discovering themselves, new environments, countries and cultures. Use that time to relax, enjoy life and do what truly makes you happy.

To finish here’s a list I’ve made of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS that are often asked when I tell my experience to people.

I hope it is useful to you!

What do you mean, the EVS is free of charge?

Since the EVS consists of working for free in another country, the program offers a lot of benefits. As a volunteer you are entitled to tutoring, travel, health insurance, accommodation and food, language training, pre-departure and arrival training and monthly pocket money. This value depends on the country you’re going to.

I repeat that participation in the EVS program is FREE.

In some cases, however, a contribution from the volunteer to the travel costs may be necessary. Please not that this contribution only applies if the price of the trip exceeds the maximum amount guaranteed by the Erasmus+ program. This will depend on the location of the project and the distance calculation is done through a distance calculator indicated by the European Commission.

How can I apply?

Once the decision is made, the first step is to choose a Sending Organization (SO), the organization in your country which will accompany you throughout the entire process. This decision should not be taken lightly, as it may be decisive in your participation and in the success of your EVS activity.

Do you know how you can find the perfect Sending Organization? A simple Google search will give you several options. Click here to have access to the SO that accompanied me on my journey and which I strongly recommend.

You can also sign up for the European Youth Portal — the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) — which functions almost like a Tinder of projects where you have access to hundreds of EVS’s and where you can clarify other doubts you have. Sign up for some very useful information.

What is the application procedure?

If you encounter a spot of interest on the ESC Portal, you can apply for it using the data present in your online profile. To do this, it is important that you fill in these data in the best possible way. All details must be filled in with time and care so that nothing escapes the application. You can also attach your CV and your Motivation Letter to this application.

Another way to apply might be by sending an email with the CV and Motivation Letter directly to the Host Organization (the organization that will welcome you in the destination country of your project). In some cases, in addition to the CV and the Motivation Letter, it may be necessary to fill out some of the organization’s own questionnaire.

Who can participate in it?

Young people between the ages of 17 and 30 with legal residence in the sending country may participate in the EVS. It is also important to note that volunteers are chosen regardless of their origin or context.

Additionally, volunteers who have participated in an EVS activity lasting less than 2 months may participate in more than one EVS activity provided that the total duration of the periods of service does not exceed 12 months.

How to select a volunteering opportunity that suits me?

In this case, the key to success is to choose a volunteering opportunity that matches your skills, interests and availability. You must choose something that you like! Consequently, once you decide to volunteer, there’s a few questions you need to ask yourself:

What are my goals and expectations?
How much time do I want to invest?
What kind of tasks would I like to assume?
Which skills can I offer?

The type of project you participate in is up to you. You should keep in mind that there are thousands of volunteer positions available not only in Europe but also Asia, Africa and South America.