Volunteering for peace & human rights around the globe

Последно ажурирана на Вторник, 29/09/2020

Maud Bailly spent the past year as an EU Aid Volunteer in Colombia. Her story is one of many. You too can apply to improve people’s lives around the world – and gain hands-on job experience in peacebuilding and human rights.

Based in the city of Tumaco that has long been in the grip of armed groups, Bailly has worked with the Spanish NGO Movimiento por la Paz on projects to protect local female human rights defenders and strengthen their grassroots organisations.

That includes doing risk assessments, building prevention and protection strategies, and implementing a wide array of actions to assist the women and their communities. These range from well-being, self-care and self-protection workshops to helping set up emergency funds. They can also involve cultural activities for at-risk young people.

‘There are many cases of recruitment of minors by the armed groups,’ the 26-year-old told the European Youth Portal via video from Colombia. ‘The idea is that by offering them such activities, youth are better protected and less vulnerable.’

Bailly, who is from France, said her experience has helped her grow both personally and professionally.

‘I’ve learned a lot about the Colombian context and the challenges for the peacebuilding process,’ she said. ‘I’ve also learned a lot from the human rights defenders themselves and the courage it takes to do the work that they’re doing.’

Feeling inspired? Then check out the EU Aid Volunteers platform to see how you, too, can get involved.

EU Aid Volunteers support humanitarian assistance in countries affected by disasters. Find out how young people are strengthening communities while building the skills they need.

‘Juniors’ can join

In order to apply, you need to be at least 18 years old and either an EU citizen or a long-term resident of an EU country. And although skills are a must, you don’t necessarily need much work experience since ‘junior’ placements are available.

New vacancies are posted on a regular basis and these can last anywhere from a month to 1.5 years. Projects focus on a wide range of issues linked to peacebuilding and human rights but also other areas such relief and development, disaster risk reduction, improving livelihoods and health.

Volunteers are placed in Europe and Central Asia, Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Middle East. However, you won’t ever be sent into a war zone.

Recruitment is done by EU-certified organisations that carry out the projects in the field. Among them is the Estonian NGO Mondo, which deploys its volunteers to small, grassroots organisations in countries such as Ghana and Ukraine.

‘They will be in close contact with the community and understand the problems and needs of the community, as well as the challenges that people face,’ board member Maari Ross said. 

As a volunteer, you’ll also get free coaching and mentoring to help you develop skills and handle any situations that might come up.

Can’t go abroad? Some of the volunteering opportunities are online so you can still donate your time that way.

‘Unique’ 

Nacira Boulehouat, who oversees the EU Aid Volunteers programme at the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, describes the programme as one of a kind. 

‘We think that the EU Aid Volunteers programme is unique,’ she said. ‘It’s the only scheme in the European Union which is offered so that volunteers can provide support around the world.’

The initiative is building a corps of qualified individuals who return from their volunteer experiences to enrich Europe’s humanitarian and development sectors, Boulehouat added.

Bailly, for one, wants to work for an organisation that defends the rights of migrants once she leaves Colombia.

In the coming years, the EU Aid Volunteers programme is expected to become part of the European Solidarity Corps.