Fly to new experiences with us.

We encourage young people to take active part on their societies. The different programmes provided by our organization are strengthening the possibilities and capacities of the people through non-formal education methods and volunteering activities. Read more about the projects we are working with:

European Solidarity Corps (ESC)

Do you want to volunteer abroad and discover new cultures? Live in an intercultural environment and improve your soft skills? Then, ESC is the project for you! Just pack your bags and enjoy the different opportunities 100% funded by the European Union. Projects go from 2 weeks to 12 months.

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Erasmus+

The EU’s program to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe has a lot of opportunities for you! Through cultural exchanges, Erasmus+ already gave the opportunity to study, to experience youth exchanges and to go to trainings and seminars to young Europeans. 

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That sounds great! But how to apply?

Find your project

Wanna take part in a Training Course or Youth Exchange? Projects with different topics using non-formal education methods.

Maybe longer projects, like volunteering abroad? ESC might be what you are looking for!

Check out the open calls here.

Apply!

1. Fill in the application form in English
2. Attach your CV in English

The applicants will be informed after the deadline when the selection of the participants is final.

Selection process

We will contact you after the application deadline of the project

  • Participants for trainings and youth exchanges will be selected based on the applications
  • Applicants for longer volunteering programmes will be invited for an online interview

Get accepted!

You will be informed as soon as the selection process is final. Till then, fingers crossed!

Get your documents done and bags packed

In general:

  • Search for tickets within the travel budget and inform us before buying. You will get reimbursed with the travel cost after.
  • Check travel insurance for the destination country (in ESC projects insurance is covered)
  • For longer projects we will organize a pre-departure meeting with you to get all things done and help you with all the documents (Visa)

Back your bags, bring some good energy!
ALWAYS keep all the original travel and other documents for reimbursement purposes

Stay in touch

We will communicate during the project how it is going.

Be ready to write a short article(s) about the project. Take nice pictures for dissemination, and enjoy your time!

Share your experience when you come back

We definitely want to hear how the was project for you! Did you learn something new, was it well organized? 

Tell your story about the project. You can also write an article to VOICES magazine and inspire others to go on a project. 

Open calls to projects

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European Solidarity Corps

ESC is a program that creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe.

The projects can last from 2 weeks to 12 months. They will usually be located within the European Union Member States and partner countries, and the voluntary missions vary from many different topics. VCS is a hosting and sending organization, which means we can send people to do their ESC volunteering abroad or host volunteers in Macedonia. The European Solidarity Corps is managed by the European Commission.

Stories from volunteers

Anyone between 18-30 years old and from the countries that participate in the programme! ESC does not require skills or experience in the field that your project will be focusing on

You can register for the European Solidarity Corps when you are 17 years old, but you cannot start a project until you are 18. European Solidarity Corps projects are available for people up to the age of 30 years old.

EU countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Non-EU participating countries
Iceland, Macedonia, Turkey, Liechtenstein, Norway

Partner countries (neighbouring the EU)
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine

There are two opportunities with the ESC programme:
Short term ESC projects last from 2 weeks to 2 months. After participating in a short term project, you can do a long term ESC which usually lasts from 8 – 12 months. Different projects have different lengths. If you do the long term ESC first, you will not be able to do the short term afterwards.

 

There are various platforms to find ESC projects. First thing to do is to register on the European Solidarity Corps portal here. The platform features various projects which you can apply for and your profile will be available for organizations looking for volunteers. The registration is free and will help you to find different projects in Europe.

Many organizations publish open calls to ESC projects in their social media platforms and web pages. There are various Facebook groups to join where these possibilities are announced.

Few examples:
ESC – European Solidarity Corps – EVS – European Voluntary Service 
EVS (European Voluntary Service) and ESC (European Solidarity Corps)
EVS & ESC vacancies 

You can also contact organizations directly. You can google organizations in your country and they will help you to get started and to find a project. If you have found an interesting organization abroad where you would like to do your ESC project, don’t hesitate to contact them and get things started!

ESC projects vary in a wide range of fields – youth work, education and training, citizenship and democratic participation, environment and natural protection, migration, culture, media related and artistic topics… And many others. As there are various organizations throughout Europe realizing ESC projects, you will for sure find something that will fit your interests and strengthen your capacities.

European Solidarity Corps is funded by the Erasmus+ programme which provides for the participant:

– Travel money
– Food & Pocket money
– Insurance in the target country
– Accommodation
– Necessary documents (eg. Visa for some countries)

The amount of travel funding, food and pocket money depends on the target country.

You can check out the OPEN CALLS, and apply to a project by sending us a CV + motivation letter in English to vcs_contact@yahoo.com

If you have a project in mind already and you need a sending organization, you can contact us as well at vcs_contact@yahoo.com

Guide to apply here.

Sources

“Volunteering in Macedonia brought me even more fun in life, but also allowed me to develop my interests.”

– Anna from Poland, 9 months ESC in Macedonia

"Cross the borders of not only other countries, but also your own. I believe that the most intolerant and closed minded are locked in their comfort zone and do not travel."

– Kacper from Poland, 9 months ESC in Macedonia

"VCS opened the wonderful world of international friends and meaningful volunteering for me."

– Clarissa from Germany, 12 months ESC in Macedonia

Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the EU's program to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.

It provides opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, and gain experience abroad. Erasmus+ has opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organizations in different countries.

Erasmus+ is open to many individuals and organizations, although eligibility varies from one action to another and from one country to another. Individuals can take part in many of the opportunities funded by Erasmus+, although most will have to do so through an organization taking part in the program. The eligibility of individuals and organizations also depends on the country in which they are based.

Program countries are EU countries + Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.

Read more here.

Stories from projects

Training Courses and Seminars

Projects for young people from different countries to join for a project in their home country or abroad, usually lasting from 6 – 10 days. The Trainings and Seminars consist of different topics through non-formal education methods, providing new knowledge for the participants, and allowing them to meet people from different countries and to learn about new cultures.

In general, Erasmus+ focuses on providing opportunities for young people all around Europe and in partner countries, and offers chances for people with fever opportunities as well. In most projects, there is no certain background or skills required from the participants applying to the project.

Each project has a certain age limit and project partners from different countries. Check the eligible countries and age limit in each individual project before applying.

The age limits vary individually by project, but in general the projects are eligible for people over 18 years old. Check the age limit in each individual project before applying. 

There are various organizations all around Europe and in the neighboring countries realizing projects with different topics. You can contact organizations, like us, in your country and check out their open calls. 

There is also many Facebook groups where organizations are announcing project, few examples:

Erasmus+ Macedonia
Erasmus+ Projects & Partner Search 
Erasmus Plus Projects 
Erasmus Plus Projects 
Erasmus+ projects 

You can check out the OPEN CALLS, and apply to a project by sending us a CV + motivation letter in English to vcs_contact@yahoo.com

If you have a project in mind already and you need a sending organization, you can contact us as well at vcs_contact@yahoo.com

Guide to apply here.

The programs are funded by Erasmus+ which provides for the participant:
– Travel money
– Accommodation and food

The amount of travel funding depends on the target country.

Sometimes there is a participation fee in an individual project.

Sources

Youth Exchanges

Projects for young people from different countries to meet and live together for 5 to 21 days. The exchanges are kept in your home country or another country inside of Europe. You will participate in activities such as workshops, exercises, debates, role-plays, outdoor activities, etc. They are a cool way to learn from different topics, meet new people and experience other cultures.

In general, Erasmus+ focuses on providing opportunities for young people all around Europe and in partner countries, and offers chances for people with fever opportunities as well. In most projects, there is no certain background or skills required from the participants applying to the project.

Each project has a certain age limit and project partners from different countries. Check the eligible countries and age limit in each individual project before applying.

Youth exchanges are open to people between the ages of 13 and 30. To be a group leader in a youth exchange, you must be at least 18 years-old

There are various organizations all around Europe and in the neighboring countries realizing projects with different topics. You can contact organizations, like us, in your country and check out their open calls. 

There is also many Facebook groups where organizations are announcing project, few examples:

Erasmus+ Macedonia
Erasmus+ Projects & Partner Search 
Erasmus Plus Projects 
Erasmus Plus Projects 
Erasmus+ projects 

You can check out the OPEN CALLS, and apply to a project by sending us a CV + motivation letter in English to vcs_contact@yahoo.com

If you have a project in mind already and you need a sending organization, you can contact us as well at vcs_contact@yahoo.com

Guide to apply here.

The programs are funded by Erasmus+ which provides for the participant:
– Travel money
– Accommodation and food

The amount of travel funding depends on the target country. 

Sometimes there is a participation fee in an individual project

Sources

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VET

Vocational Education And Training Mobility

VET is a part of Erasmus+ that provides mobility and practical internships for young students in foreign companies related to their profession. With an opportunity to work in an international and multicultural environment, to compare and exchange best practices, the VET program aims to strengthen the practical knowledge and skills of the students through performing activities in companies, institutions or private businesses that are interested in developing the future career of young people.

Since 2018, Volunteers Centre Skopje has been actively working with VET students, providing them with valuable opportunities. We have had the pleasure of hosting students from Spain, Portugal and Italy, enabling them to gain hands-on experience in various Macedonian industries like administration, IT-related companies, automotive, nursing homes and health care for elderly people, renewable energy sources, tourism, professional cosmetics and beauty and others, providing all the necessary logistical support.

Stories from our VET students