European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
This is an EU Youth Program aiming at fostering solidarity and tolerance among the youth, by working as a volunteer in a European Union country or a country participating the Program, for the duration of 2-12 months, for the youth between the ages of 18-30.
The single technical condition to apply for the program is to be between the ages of 18-30. However, the foreign language proficiency, previous work experience, the experience of being abroad or the such - can help the volunteer in the application process.
If you get approval for your application, your suspending the school or the military status should not pose obstacle. You have to solve this situation, by yourself. If you request, you may be given an official written text indicating your condition of acceptance. But this text is not binding.
Which expenses of the volunteer are covered?
The volunteer pays no money for the application. The person accepted as a volunteer – will not get a salary payment. But he will be paid money to cover his travel, accommodation, food, visa and insurance expenses; and the volunteers also get some pocket money, but this money amount changes from country to country.
What is the duration of a project? How many times can it be done?
Between 2-12 months, the volunteer service can be done. The Program can be availed only for once.
You can do Volunteer Service, for the short time, on the condition of not exceeding 60 days. But for the short-term projects; priorities are given the persons with limited means such as: the people from low socio-economic, cultural or geographical layers or those young people requiring special care.
After application is done, it takes approximately 3-4 months to start your Volunteering. For example, if you apply for 1st February Era, and if you get accepted; you can start your project around the middle of May or the beginning of June.
Can I get education during my Volunteering? Can I attend a language course?
You cannot benefit from formal education. You cannot attend University education, Master's or Doctoral education programs.
The Project comprises of weekly language education of 4-5 hours, free of charge.
European Solidarity Corps
It is a website which you must be a member to indicate that you confirm that you participate the volunteering project with your own consent, and that you indicate your commitment to the values of European Union. It helps the communication between the Institute which accepts the Volunteer and the Volunteer himself; and it enables us to form our profile and we can apply the projects from there. Please read it carefully, before you become a member. The website wants you to enter your personal information, and it contains information regarding current Volunteering Projects.
Step-by-step ESC Application
https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en
1. By clicking “Join the corps” text, when you enter the website, you can go the screen of “sign up”.
2. After you enter your required information, the system will direct you to the main screen; where all projects are listed.
3. You can start to search the Projects right away, but first you should enter your profile, and should complete all the data which were not asked you previously during “sign up”. Your reason to be on the website will be what is stated on your profile. So, you should read them carefully and fill them with utmost care. You can upload CV and Motivation Letter to the system.
4. There are titles to be filled for all projects such as your personal information, the information to be filled in only for Volunteering Projects and additional information to be filled for paid jobs. After you become a member, the system gives you a registration number. This number is your ESC [European Solidarity Corps] member number.
We help you as the Sending Organisation [for the students or graduates of Mersin University], after you and the Host Organisation contacted and if the application is approved.
Whom will I contact during the project? Will there be a person to take care of me?
When you start the Volunteering, there will be 3 persons in the Host organisation (where you will do your Volunteering) that you will be especially in contact with.
1. The Mentor: The person who will serve like a bridge with you and the Host organisation; to take care of your problems and to adapt you to and the society of the place where the activity will be done.
2. The Tutor: The responsible person of the project who will guide you regarding the activities you should do during your Volunteering Process.
3. Legal representative: This person is generally the president of the organisations or the experts in National Agency of the country where volunteer will go.
After your Volunteering, you will be given the Europass Certificate which concretises the performance and experience you have shown.
It is advised that you investigate the links below in the National Agency website for more information regarding ESC.
https://www.ua.gov.tr/programlar_/avrupa-dayanisma-programi-esc/
For communication: Instructor N. Ezel ŞAHİN
E-mail: youth@mersin.edu.tr
Yenişehir Kampusu Dış İlişkiler ve Projeler Koordinatörlüğü, Erasmus Birimi Tel: 0324 341 28 15 - 12277
The days and hours for student visits:
Our students and graduates must ask for an appointment for visiting, by sending an e-mail to the e-mail below:
HOW MUST THE MOTIVATION LETTER BE WRITTEN?
A well-written motivation letter is very crucial when you contact a Host Organisation. It must contain important information regarding yourself, your personality, experiences and expectations. According to a good Motivation Letter; the Host Organisation can decide whether they can offer you an activity, which you may be interested and be sure that the volunteer they seek is you.
It is very important that the motivation letter be written by only you (not by any other persons) and the text should not contain any nonfactual information. Avoid giving a false impression. Although it appears not to be appropriate, write everything correct. Do not forget that Host Organisation will know only what you stated in the letter. So you should describe yourself very carefully and in a detailed manner. You should give a vivid and correct profile. A good motivation letter will facilitate the decision of Host Organisation to prefer you instead of others.
The Motivation Letter should answer the following (in the case that you consider important for your life):
· Who are you? What is your family details?
· What is your current job? What occupation are you working at now?
· Your education and qualifications
· Do you have an “official” work experience?
· What are the fields that interest you? What do you do in your leisure time?
· What are your strong and weak traits?
· Do you have a Volunteering experience? If any, explain.
· Are there social activities or the clubs/associations that you are a member of? If yes, explain.
· Have you ever had any experience of staying abroad or meeting with foreigners (people from other countries)?
· What are your expectations from European Solidarity Corps? What kind of new information or experience do you want to gain?
· Why ESC and this Project’s activities interested you?
· In what way can you add contribution to ESC and for your life and working? What kinds of skills and experiences do you have that you and ESC can avail, during Volunteering?
· What are your plans for future? How do you intend to integrate your ESC Volunteering Service with your plans of future?
Generally, it is important to write a motivation letter because you and your Sending Organisation (SO) will get in contact with more than one Host Organisation, at a time. In the first section of this letter, you can tell about yourself and your previous experiences, in principles. The second section, if the Host Organisation in question and the project is related, should be written as a separate Motivation Letter and should be sent for every Host Organisation.
Although the questions above are too long, the motivation letter should not exceed two A4 pages. It is advised that you answer all questions in the list. But it is not compulsory. Within the scope of Volunteer Service, tell every information you wish to share about yourself. The motivation letter writing is not an exercise to move your fingers. Sit on your chair comfortably for a few minutes and try to answer all of these questions. It is important to be aware of your reasons of going abroad and your motives which you attach to, in all unexpected conditions; in the territory of the GREAT UNKNOWN.
MOTIVATION LETTER
The letters here are just samples for what can be written in a Motivation Letter. By looking this example, you must form your motivation letter. Please do not “Copy + Paste”, because it would be easily recognisable. Write your own letter with your sentences.
Even though you have low proficiency in the foreign language, write your letter by yourself. Don’t resort the help of others, in order to write a good letter. Do not forget that your English level is not a criterion to be chosen for ESC. However, the representing your language level in the real manner – will be a criterion of your honesty, to the Host Organisation.
*****
First of all l want to tell about myself,
l was born in .................. ,Turkey on ....nd of ................ , in 19...... l completed ...... primary school education in my town. Then I went to high school for 3 years in ............... and finally now I am studying in ......................... University, department of .......................
I have some working experience. I have worked in ..........................., as ......................... My task was .................................... I worked there for ........ years.
I also volunteered for ........................
Volunteering for me is ......................
As European Solidarity Service Corps applicant, l would like to take part in art, culture, sport, European Projects and European awareness related projects. I am sure that being an ESC will give me the chance of ..........................................
l am always curious about exploring new countries, languages and cultures. Therefore beside my work l participated in many youth activities that were held by Clubs.
I am interested in .......
Sincerely,
Name, Surname
Related Links:
Database for Accredited Organisations
E-mail:youth@mersin.edu.tr