ESC Creative Rural Lab – Purchena
AYUNTAMIENTO DE PURCHENA
Purchena, Spain
Description
ESC Creative Rural Lab – Purchena is a 12-month European Solidarity Corps project based in the small Andalusian town of Purchena, in southern Spain. The initiative brings together creativity, culture and community life through the active participation of five young Europeans.
Volunteers will become actively involved in the local community, collaborating with the municipal public library, children’s play centre, primary and secondary schools, early childhood education centre and nursery, small local businesses, music band, reading clubs, the Municipality of Purchena, and local youth and cultural associations. Together with these local actors, they will design and implement workshops, artistic projects, and digital, educational and intercultural activities that foster participation, sustainability and inclusion.
By combining creativity, digital skills and non-formal learning, the project aims to bring new energy to rural life and connect people through culture. Volunteers will use art, communication and innovation to make local life more dynamic and inclusive, while enjoying a genuine intercultural experience — sharing ideas, working as a team, contributing to the local community and growing personally and professionally in southern Spain.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
All main costs are covered by the European Solidarity Corps programme. Volunteers will live in shared accommodation in Purchena with all basic facilities. They will receive a monthly allowance for food and pocket money, and travel costs to and from Spain will be reimbursed according to ESC rules. Health insurance and local transport related to the project are also included, as well as continuous mentorship and language support.
Training during the activity
Training during the opportunity
Volunteers will receive continuous mentorship and support throughout the project, as well as Spanish language classes and language support to help them improve their communication skills and integrate into the local community.
They will also take part in the official ESC training cycle, including on-arrival and mid-term training, as applicable, and will have opportunities to develop their skills through non-formal learning, practical workshops and learning-by-doing.
Throughout the experience, volunteers will reflect on their learning process and achievements using Youthpass, receiving a Youthpass certificate at the end of their volunteering period.
Participant profile
👥 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲
We are looking for five motivated young people (18–30 years old) from different backgrounds who want to live a rural experience and use their creativity, energy and ideas to support local development in Purchena, southern Spain.
All volunteers will work as a team, collaborate across areas and take part in cultural, educational and community activities. The profiles below represent the main areas of involvement, but tasks may overlap depending on the volunteers’ interests, skills and the needs of the local community.
🌻 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
• Motivation to live and work in a small rural community.
• Good English and at least basic/intermediate Spanish, as well as motivation to improve it.
• Interest in creativity, culture, sustainability and youth participation.
• Respect for diversity and openness to intercultural learning.
• Willingness to collaborate, share responsibilities and work as part of an international team.
• Flexibility, initiative and motivation to learn, adapt and contribute with your own ideas.
• Openness to sharing your language and culture with the local community and, if there is interest, organising informal language lessons or conversation sessions in your native language.
🎨 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿
Focus: Visual communication, digital storytelling and online presence.
Main tasks:
- Design posters, flyers and digital materials for community and cultural events.
- Manage social media accounts and create engaging content (photos, videos, podcasts).
- Support website maintenance and digital documentation.
- Collaborate with the team to promote the project’s visibility locally and across Europe.
Skills & qualities:
- Experience or interest in graphic design, photography or video editing.
- Good command of social media and digital tools (Canva, Adobe, etc.).
- Creativity and ability to work autonomously.
- Basic knowledge of web design or digital marketing is an asset.
🧭 2️⃣ 𝗘𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗺𝘂𝘀+ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿
Focus: European projects, cultural management and non-formal education.
Main tasks:
- Support the preparation, implementation and follow-up of Erasmus+ and ESC activities.
- Assist with documentation, reports, participant management and organisational tasks.
- Communicate with international partners and help coordinate mobilities.
- Plan and deliver non-formal learning and cultural workshops.
- Contribute to the development of new European project proposals.
Skills & qualities:
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Knowledge or experience in Erasmus+ or other EU programmes is highly valued.
- Good communication skills and attention to detail.
- Adaptability, initiative and interest in international project management.
🌱 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿
Focus: Community engagement, creative expression and rural life.
Main tasks:
- Help organise community and cultural events with local partners.
- Facilitate creative workshops (music, dance, theatre, yoga, sports or other personal talents).
- Promote local culture, traditions and intercultural dialogue.
- Collaborate with local associations and community spaces.
- Encourage connections between residents and international volunteers.
Skills & qualities:
- Versatile and creative person with experience or interest in arts, movement or community work.
- Sociable, open-minded and proactive attitude.
- Motivation to share talents and develop activities adapted to a rural context.
💻 4️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿
Focus: Local initiatives, digital transformation and community innovation.
Main tasks:
- Collaborate with local actors (businesses, associations, youth centre) to promote digital participation.
- Support local development and community initiatives.
- Create and manage online content, visuals and small websites.
- Contribute to digitalisation processes and innovative local projects.
Skills & qualities:
- Digital literacy and organisational skills.
- Interest in local development, innovation or communication.
- Ability to work independently and propose creative solutions.
- Knowledge of social media, design, web or administrative tools is a plus.
🧩 5️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿
Focus: Youth engagement, non-formal education, language learning and intercultural activities.
Main tasks:
- Support activities at the youth centre, library and other educational and community spaces.
- Design and facilitate non-formal learning activities for local children and young people.
- Organise language lessons, conversation groups and language exchanges, according to local interest and the volunteer’s linguistic skills.
- Facilitate intercultural activities, games, workshops and youth events.
- Support local young people in discovering Erasmus+, ESC and other European opportunities.
- Help create spaces where local and international young people can meet, communicate and learn from each other.
- Develop activities based on the volunteer’s own interests, skills and talents.
Skills & qualities:
- Interest or experience in youth work, education, languages, pedagogy, social work or non-formal learning.
- Comfortable interacting with children, teenagers and young adults.
- Interest in sharing languages and cultures in an informal and engaging way.
- Energetic, approachable and comfortable facilitating groups.
- Creativity and motivation to develop their own activities and initiatives.
Activity dates
From 01/12/2026 to 30/11/2027
Activity location
Plaza Larga, 12, Purchena, Spain
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Türkiye
Activity topics
Citizenship and democratic participation
Education and training
Creativity and culture
Support to local Small and Medium Enterprise
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 15/10/2026 12:00
Project code
2026-1-ES02-ESC51-VTJ-000401357