Solidarity Projects

Empowering young people

Solidarity Projects offer a way for young people with initiative to run their own project in their home country. The conditions are straightforward: 

• at least 5 young people must be involved
• the project should last 2-12 months
• all participants must be registered in the European Solidarity Corps’ portal. 
• the project can be full-time or part-time.

How can your organisation help?

If you know a group of young people keen to work within their own community for a cause that matters to them, why not tell them about Solidarity Projects and encourage them to apply?

The funding can help them tackle problems in their communities, target a specific group or develop local opportunities. At the same time, running their own project is a valuable learning experience.

Support for young project initiators

To be successful in their application, the group taking the initiative must have a clearly defined topic that they want to explore together. The project must benefit the local community and involve all the participants in daily activities, which must be specified.

The group can ask for outside help. For instance, they can choose to work with an established organisation, which can apply for funding on their behalf and provide guidance on administrative and financial matters. A coach (someone with youth work experience, for example) can also help facilitate the learning process. 

If an established organisation provides help, this should focus mainly on supporting participants with the administrative and financial tasks arising during the project’s life-cycle. However, it can also offer support and guidance with identifying and documenting learning outcomes.

Funding

The European Solidarity Corps can help groups of young people with the costs of project management like preparation, implementation of activities, evaluation, dissemination and follow-up activities and can provide up to €500 a month. Costs linked to the involvement of a coach in the project can be covered too. Exceptional costs to support young people with fewer opportunities can equally be claimed.

Application

Applying for Solidarity Projects is a straightforward process – no need for partners abroad or the possession of a Quality Label. The application form asks questions such as why they want to carry out this project, the benefits to the community, and what activities they will be carrying out. Any public or private organisation can apply on behalf of a group of young people (please note this is a youth-led activity) via application forms. This action is open to programme countries only.