European Solidarity Corps: Youth in Action for Health!
"Solidarity is the glue that keeps our Union together" - President Jean-Claude Juncker (14 September 2016)
Editorial by Vytenis Andriukaitis,
European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
The European Union has always encouraged young people to be actively engaged and involved in helping others. Now, through the European Solidarity Corps, it offers young Europeans from 18 to 30 years old the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives.
On 7 December 2016, the Commission adopted a Communication on the European Solidarity Corps. Since then, more than 25,000 young people have registered and the first placements are already taking place.
With the ambitious target of 100,000 placements by 2020, we need to reach out and involve many NGOs, Member State authorities and other actors to offer quality placements for volunteering, traineeships or jobs. We are encouraging a new generation to enhance their skills and foster solidarity across Europe in a safe and supervised environment.
At the same time, it is important to ensure that this initiative stresses inclusivity and provides activities accessible to young people from all backgrounds and skills, reaching out to disadvantaged young people.
Health is an integral part of this initiative. There are many ways young people could play a part in health projects, making use of their skills be it language, communication, IT or medical skills. If you have ideas and projects which you think could provide young people from the Solidarity Corps with opportunities to learn and demonstrate solidarity, we would be interested to hear from you.
In this first phase, programmes and instruments from across the Commission are contributing: Erasmus+, Employment and Social Innovation; Environment programme (LIFE); Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, Europe for Citizens Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, European Regional Development Fund and the Health Programme. For the second phase, a separate legal base is being prepared.
Helping the European Solidarity Corps get off the ground and out into communities across the EU is something we can all take pride in. As a reflection of our common values and principles, as living proof of the solidarity and compassion Europe stands for, the European Solidarity Corps will be a hallmark of the European Union. Join us!
Activities at EU level
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European Youth Portal |
News
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Get the answers to your questions about the European Solidarity Corps Who can join and what happens after you register for the Core? Get the answers to these and other frequently asked questions here. |
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European Solidarity Corps: How to take part as an organisation? Organisations play a vital role in the European Solidarity Corps by offering placements to young people registered for the Corps. Organisations willing to participate can apply for funding through existing EU funding programmes. |