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European Solidarity Corps

The power of together

Solidarity Projects

What is a Solidarity Project?

A Solidarity Project is an activity that a young person can carry out in a group of five people or more to help to bring positive change to the local community. It is set up and implemented by young people themselves in a place where they live.

Think about challenges in your neighbourhood and the causes that matter to you. The project should be devoted to challenges within your community, but it can also help to tackle regional or even national issues. Together with addressing the local challenges, a Solidarity Project should also demonstrate European value by taking priorities identified at European level such as, for instance, inclusion, climate change, democratic engagement, citizenship or gender equality.

The project can last from 2 to 12 months and it is mainly part-time. So you can do it in your free time.

Who can take part?

Anyone between 18 and 30 years old residing in any of the European Solidarity Corps participating country (all European Union countries, Iceland, Turkey and North Macedonia). Minimum 5 people from one and the same country should form a group. There is no maximum number of participants in the group.

What financial support do I get?

You can expect 500€ per month to support your project and these are costs that are linked to the management and implementation of the project. We will also cover costs linked to the involvement of a coach in the project if needed.

How to apply?

Applying for Solidarity Projects is a straightforward process and is done via web forms. Your application will be assessed by the National Agency of the country you are residing in. You can do it yourself or if you’d like, you could choose to work with an experienced organisation when applying for funding.

In the application form, you will be asked questions such as why you want to carry out this project, how it will benefit the community, and which activities you are planning to run during the preparation and implementation of the idea.

Before you apply…

  1. Create your group: call other young people from your community and bring together your group with a common idea or topic.
  2. Get everyone registered: all members of the group should join the European Solidarity Corps Portal.
  3. Have an Organisation ID: one member of the group takes the role of ‘group leader’ and registers on the Organisation Registration System to obtain an Organisation ID (OID). To register, you will be asked to create an EU Login Account. Don’t forget that you can identify an organisation that is willing to apply on your behalf (either they already are registered on the Participant Portal and have an OID, or they will obtain one). It is important to note that you can proceed to the next steps as soon as you have registered and obtained your OID, even before it has been approved.
  4. Do your homework: Read the specific guidance - the European Solidarity Corps Guide (page 52-57) and information on the websites of your National Agency. Should you need further information, you may contact your National Agency to ask for help. The National Agency will guide you and help to prepare you for successful application! Check out this copy of the webform to know what to expect when filling the form.
  5. Create your project: structure your ideas - think about objectives of your project, who will be in your group, what outcomes do you expect to achieve, how much budget will your project need and what activities will be carried out and fill the application webform in.

..and finally...

     6. Submit your application: Apply online via ESC31 Solidarity Projects web form. Upcoming deadline is on 7 May 2020 12:00 Brussels time and 1 October 12:00 Brussels time. Don’t miss the deadline, and good luck!


Paranduskohvik – a repair café in Estonia

The main purpose for the repair café is to make people aware of the negative environmental impacts of the consumer society and to encourage them to maintain the environment. It takes place in a community based makerspace (an open workshop) that provides all neccesary tools that may be needed for fixing all sorts of appliances. People are invited to bring their broken things and together with volunteers try to fix them.

The Room: Community Drama in Ireland

The project was born as a response to social exclusion of Newbridge asylum seekers in Kildare County. Its aim is to create and implement an applied theatre program with involvement of asylum seekers that would consists of drama workshops and result in participatory performance at the final theatre event for local community.

Skate park in Belgium

The idea of the project is to create an infrastructure for skateboard and BMX in the local neighbourhood. It will be not only the place to practice sport activities, available for all, but also a place to meet other like-minded young people.

Brīvbode in Latvia

The project is being carried out as a follow-up to the Brīvbode ( 'free shop' in English), initiative launched by volunteers, where once a week people are invited to take part in the happening – bringing the unnecessary and finding what is needed, such as clothing, books, and household goods.

Inviting more people to volunteer in animal shelters in Lithuania

The project aims to promote volunteering in animal shelters and helping to upgrade three animal shelters in Klaipeda. It also strives to enable foreign students to engage in voluntary activities outside school.

Organic farming in Poland

Project “Sferyczny ogród badawczy” aims to change the unhealthy eating habits of young people and encourages to set up own organic farming. As part of the project, an innovative plantation of cultivated crops will be created under a spherical shaped greenhouse available for local young people to attend and take part in all the processes of cultivation and finally harvesting.

Recovering coastline in Italy

The main objective of the project “Mare d'Inverno” is to recover a natural coastal area nearby the urban centres of Trani and Barletta. The project plans to improve and raise awareness about environmental protection which includes placing pathways for cyclists and pedestrians, cleaning the beaches and replanting the native tree species.