NextGen Volunteers: Shaping Europe's Future Together. Echoing volunteer's voices

Aims & objectives

This activity is taking place within the framework of a strategic partnership (SNAC) between 15 National Agencies and 3 SALTOs Resource Centres accross the EU who are implementing a constellation of activities aiming at advocating for and creating better conditions for EU Youth Volunteering in Europe and beyond.

It was designed to bring former ESC and non-ESC volunteers together to explore the potential of a strong European Volunteering Scheme, such as the European Solidarity Corps through the sharing of experience perspectives and training sessions.

Exchange experiences with peers from different volunteering schemes

Get to know and contribute to the work of organisations, National Agencies and ​​SALTOs

Co-create concrete ideas and outputs ​to enhance the potential of the European Solidarity Corps in the future ​

Explore how to make the volunteering journey last—personally and socially

Learn new methods and tools to enhance volunteers’impact

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

This activity gathered 30 participants:

Aged from 18  to 30 years  

Based either in one programme or partner country of the European solidarity corps programme

Who completed a volunteering activity (both short and long term) within a volunteering scheme between 2018 and 2024 (EVS, ESC, French Service civique, Belgian Service Citoyen; Freiwilliges Umweltjahr, Italian Servizio Civile Nazionale etc.). 

Who are curious about how to increase the impact of their volunteering experience as well as volunteering as such and passionate about making a difference.   

Who want to contribute with insights, be open to learn from others and are ready to co-create something meaningful.  

Training methods used & main activities

To make sure that the participants get the best out this experience, this activity brought together two main components:

Consultation & Co-Creation:

The activity was designed to enable participants to engage in interactive sessions with their peers as well as Nas, SALTOs’, COM EU and EU Parliament representatives where they have been be invited to give feedback, exchange insights with peers, and contribute with ideas to enhance and evolve ​the ​​​volunteering schemes in their countries and at european scale, especially in view of the current negotiations around the next MFF 2027-2034.

The outcomes of this consultation has been shared with relevant stakeholders (European Commission and Parliament, National Agencies and SALTOs Resource Centres, ESC organisations, volunteering networks etc.)

The activity aimed at offering to the participants hands-on inspiration by:

Connecting with local organizations during field visits, gain inside knowledge on how European institutions work

Opportunities for participants to conduct workshops and activities with peers to further develop their competencies, e.g.advocacy, networking, communication, social entrepreneurship, active citizenship…

Outcomes of the activity

List of recommendations based on volunteers' experience to be addressed to :
- LEAD/Support/Hosting organisations
- NAs and SALTOs
- EU Commission

In order to make E.S.C more inclusive.

Sharing experiences from volunteers' with guests :

Beatriz RODRIGUES CABRAL from European Commission
Gabriella CIVICO from Centre for European Volunteering (CEV)
Katarina BRAJDIC and Maja LAY from European Commission
Member of European Parliament Mrs Lena SCHILLINGS

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Senior Trainer - co-responsible for the overall designing and delivering of the activity.

I worked on this training for 4 days as a full time trainer.