"ESC Ecosystems" project aims to improve the quality of ESC volunteering projects across Europe. It seeks to address the need for more efficient and effective administrative and project management processes for coordinators and other stakeholders involved in implementing volunteer projects. By achieving these improvements, the project aims to significantly elevate the quality of volunteering experiences while strengthening the capacity of organizations to offer a greater number of high-quality opportunities for young people.

The “ESC Ecosystems” project focuses on the following activities:

  • Conducting in-depth research and collecting data from approximately 100 experienced NGOs running ESC programs.
  • Creating three common project designs to help NGOs optimize and improve their projects and to guide newcomers in the ESC framework.
  • Developing a project management app for web, Android, and iOS platforms to reduce the logistical, administrative, and operational burden on NGOs.
  • Organizing dissemination and multiplication activities to increase the quantity and quality of ESC opportunities for young people and the partner organizations implementing the project.

This project aims to create meaningful change for ESC organizations and their youngsters by:

  • Increasing the capacity of partner organizations and other ESC stakeholders.
  • Introducing innovative project management software and data-driven practices to improve ESC project quality.
  • Enhancing the recognition of youth work by promoting innovative practices and technologies, which will improve job satisfaction for youth workers and NGOs.
  • Providing higher-quality volunteering opportunities for young people, offering a benchmark for quality projects while reducing the time and energy required per project through optimized administrative processes.

The project is implemented by: NaturKultur E.V. (Germany), Volunteers Centre Skopje (Macedonia), Ocean Znanja (Croatia), Youth Policy Labs (Germany), Ofensiva Tinerilor (Romania).

Project “ESC Ecosystems” is funded with the support of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, through Key Action 2 – KA220-YOU - Cooperation partnerships in youth.

Project No.: 2023-2-DE04-KA220-YOU-000184871