Programmes
ESC Programme
The European Solidarity Programme (ESC) is an EU programme offering young people aged 18–30 the opportunity to volunteer in socially beneficial projects in and outside of Europe. Young people contribute to social solidarity and develop their personal and professional skills by participating in activities in areas such as social inclusion, environment, education, culture, and youth work. ESC volunteering activities are free; the programme covers travel, accommodation, meals, and pocket money. The programme aims to strengthen young people's awareness of active citizenship, enable them to experience different cultures, and learn about European values through experience. To participate in an ESC volunteering project first you need to enroll in the European Youth Portal and then you can find a project suitable to you from the volunteering map. In addition, you can also reach the accredited organisations’ information in EYP.
Other Programmes
Young people in Türkiye can engage in volunteering through a wide range of national public institutions and civil society organisations. Two of the most prominent actors are the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority). The Turkish Red Crescent offers volunteering opportunities in areas such as humanitarian aid, social services, migration support, health and youth activities through its national volunteer system. AFAD, on the other hand, enables young people to volunteer mainly in disaster preparedness, awareness-raising and emergency response support, following registration and training through its official volunteering platform. https://gonulluol.org https://www.kizilay.org.tr https://gonullu.afad.gov.tr https://www.afad.gov.tr Young people can also volunteer at local level, for example through municipalities, youth centres and community-based initiatives. Youth centres affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, local cultural events, social responsibility projects and short-term volunteering activities provide accessible entry points for young people who want to contribute to their communities, gain experience and develop civic engagement within Türkiye.
More information and organisations active in this field
Türk Kızılayı AFAD Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı