Non-formal educaiton and communication
Universitair Centrum voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking vzw
Elsene, Belgium
Description
Are you fascinated by international solidarity, global citizenship, and how higher education can contribute to a more just world? Would you like to help shape training, communication, and dialogue around decolonisation, interculturality, and global justice? As a volunteer in UCOS's educational team, you'll help shape how Flemish higher education engages with global citizenship, decolonisation, and international solidarity. You'll support the team in developing tools, training sessions, and materials that help students, researchers, and lecturers think critically about global inequality, neo-colonial dynamics, and equal partnership. A central part of your placement is contributing to a project on decolonising research: helping write a resource guide and co-organising a colloquium that brings decolonisation debates to life.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
UCOS will support the volunteer in finding safe and suitable accommodation in Brussels or nearby. The volunteer will have a private bedroom, access to shared kitchen and bathroom, heating, Wi-Fi and good public transport connections. UCOS provides a monthly food allowance, respecting dietary, allergy or cultural needs. Local public transport for volunteering activities will be fully covered. UCOS also supports arrival guidance, registration, insurance activation and access to healthcare services.
Training during the activity
During the opportunity, the volunteer receives support from three levels. The UCOS supervisor guides tasks, work planning, feedback, workload and learning goals. The mentor supports wellbeing, integration, reflection, conflict prevention and Youthpass. The programme provides an on-arrival briefing, UCOS workshops, team meetings, thematic learning tracks, JINT on-arrival and mid-term trainings, General Online Training, OLS and Dutch practice. UCOS may support Dutch lessons at CVO Semper if the volunteer successfully completes each module.
Participant profile
Profile - Strong interest in and/or experience with decolonisation, global citizenship, and global justice. - You communicate well, work independently, and take initiative. - Good written and spoken English; Dutch is an asset - As this role is embedded in a European Solidarity Corps volunteering placement, you need to meet ESC eligibility criteria (age and residency requirements) Responsibilities - Help organise a colloquium on decolonising research and international cooperation within higher education institutions. And contribute to writing a resource guide on decolonising research. This is part of your personal project, under the supervision of experienced colleagues. - Help develop and improve UCOS's online learning platform for students. - Support the development of educational materials on global citizenship, decolonisation, interculturality, and international solidarity. - Support workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and awareness campaigns, including logistics, facilitation, and participant engagement. - Co-create communication content (visuals, social media, video, podcasts, interviews) and help draft accessible texts on global citizenship from a youth perspective. - Help organise inter-university events and support outreach and documentation. - Depending on your interests, tasks can expand to include research, communication, or other thematic projects. We offer - An inspiring workplace within a small, dynamic team, with guidance from experienced staff. - The chance to contribute to projects on international solidarity, global justice, and critical global citizenship. - Room to develop your own ideas and gradually take on more responsibility. - Flexible working hours and the possibility of remote work. - A designated mentor, regular check-ins, and a supportive, safe learning environment. - Skill-building across facilitation, intercultural communication, project coordination, digital/creative work, and reflective practice, recognised through - Youthpass. - All costs related to your volunteering (accommodation, commuting, living expenses, etc.) are reimbursed according to European Solidarity Corps guidelines (maximum 1,500 euros per month, with the possibility of additional Dutch language lessons). Interested? Send your CV and cover letter to applications@ucos.be with the subject: “ESC communication and education”. Otherwise your email will not be received. Deadline: 19 July 2026, 11.59 PM. Interviews will take place in the week of July 27. The volunteer will start between September 1 and October 1. UCOS is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages everyone to apply.
Activity dates
A total of 52 week(s) during the period 01/09/2026 to 01/10/2026
Activity location
Pleinlaan 5, Elsene, Belgium
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Aruba, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba, Curaçao, France, Germany, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Palestine
Activity topics
Social challenges
Citizenship and democratic participation
Education and training
Working against discrimination (including gender discrimination)
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 19/07/2026 23:59
Project code
2026-1-BE05-ESC51-VTJ-000403875