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YOUTH programme
Action 2 European Voluntary Service
Rights and Responsibilities
of
EVS Volunteers
February 2004
"Rights and Responsibilities of Host Organisations, Sending Organisations and Mentors" is available for download in the
Volunteer Helpdesk section at http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth
Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000 published in OJ L117, 18.5.2000
For links to National Agencies and National Coordinators please consult the Contact List at http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth
February 2004
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See the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union published in the OJ C 364/01, 18.12.2000 available for
download at http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/unit/charte/index_en.html
February 2004
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The volunteer has the right to have free board and lodging. His/her accommodation remains available for
him/her throughout the entire service period including holidays.
The volunteer has the right to live in a safe and clean accommodation, and to eat sufficient and healthy
food.
The volunteer has the right to have two consecutive days free per week and of two days of holiday per
month. Vacation periods as well as weekly rest days have to be agreed between the host organisation and
the volunteer.
Regardless of vacation or volunteering period, the volunteer has the right to receive monthly or weekly
allowance (pocket money) from the host organisation, corresponding to the amounts stated in the contract.
In case the volunteer has transport expenses for attending her/his project activities, such costs are to be
covered by the host organisation and will be given to the volunteer, monthly or weekly, in addition to the
allowance.
Support, training and meetings
The volunteer has the right to participate in the on-arrival training upon arrival in the host country.
The volunteer has the right to adequate support and guidance to enable her/him to carry out the agreed
tasks.
The volunteer has the right to receive language training for free, provided or organised by the host
organisation. The type of training can be formal or informal. Format, duration and frequency of such training
may vary, depending on the needs and abilities of the volunteer, his/her task in the host project, and the
host organisations possibilities.
The volunteer has the right to participate in the mid-term meeting in the host country.
The volunteer has the right to receive ongoing support from the sending organisation throughout the
voluntary service period.
The volunteer has the right to have a mentor, with whom s/he will have regular meetings throughout the
voluntary service period. The mentor should be appointed by the host organisation, but not be the
volunteers supervisor or otherwise directly involved in the volunteers daily activities.
The mentor is responsible for the personal support of the volunteer. The volunteer has the right to get
support from the mentor to be integrated in the organisation, in the project, in the country. The mentor
should act as the contact person between the volunteer and the local community. The volunteer has the
right to be assisted by the mentor in administrative issues, if necessary.
Tasks of the volunteer
The volunteer has the right to working conditions that respect her/his personal health, safety and dignity.
The volunteer must not be forced to participate in activities not previously agreed, against her/his personal
convictions or belief.
The volunteer has the right to a full-time service occupation. Her/his project activities (including language
and other training related to the project) should take up at least 30 and not more than 35 hours per week.
The volunteer must not carry out routine tasks or particular professional tasks, with which the volunteer
would replace paid employees.
The volunteer must not carry out tasks alone or unsupervised, if they require high responsibility.
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The volunteer should not be solely responsible for the individual care of vulnerable persons (babies,
children, the ill, elderly, disabled people, etc.) on a day-to-day basis.
The volunteer has the right to contribute with own ideas, creativity and experiences to develop his/her own
projects related to the work of the host organisation.
The volunteer has the right to agree with the host organisation on changes in the project, the profile of
tasks, areas of responsibility, support and training. Any changes should however remain in line with the
general set-up of the agreed and approved project.
In case of a serious incident or conflict situation
In case of a conflict situation the volunteer has the right to be supported by the host organisation and the
sending organisation.
In the case of a conflict situation, the volunteer has the right to involve her/his mentor to facilitate the
communication between volunteer and host organisation. The mentor should be able to provide the partners
involved with independent monitoring and evaluation.
In the case of a conflict situation between the volunteer and the mentor, the volunteer has the right to get
another person appointed as her/his mentor.
In case of a serious incident, the volunteer can expect the mentor to establish and maintain proper contact
to the sending organisation, the parents of the volunteer, if required or requested, and the insurance
company, if necessary.
Whenever the volunteer needs advice and support, s/he has the right to contact the relevant National
Agencies / National Coordinators7 and/or the SOS Volunteer Helpdesk (Email: volunteers@socleoyouth.be,
phone +32 (0)2 233.02.99)
The volunteer has the right to leave the project in case of serious incident or conflict situation that cannot be
solved in other ways. Early leaving of the project should always be the last option.
For links to National Agencies and National Coordinators please consult the Contact List at http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth
Future Capital enables ex-volunteers to pass on the experience and skills acquired during their European Voluntary Service to
the local community and other young people. It also provides opportunities for supporting an ex-volunteers professional and
personal development. Information on the support of Future Capital projects as part of Action 3 of the YOUTH programme is
available in the Volunteer Helpdesk section at http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth
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The Partnership Agreement is signed between the volunteer, the sending organisation, the host organisation and, where
involved in a project, the coordinating organisation.
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The volunteer must attend the regular meetings organised by the mentor.
In case of a problem, the volunteer should seek guidance and support by the mentor and the person
responsible for her/his EVS project in the host organisation.
The volunteer must keep the host organisation informed about his/her whereabouts during the EVS period.
The volunteer has the responsibility to take good care of the accommodation that has been provided for
her/him.
The volunteer should give the sending organisation regular feedback on his/her experience.
The volunteer has to evaluate the overall project together with the sending organisation.
In case of a serious incident or conflict situation
In case of a conflict situation, the volunteer should co-operate actively with the sending organisation, the
host organisation and the mentor to avoid communication problems.
In the case the volunteer wants to leave the project, he/she should firstly consult the sending and the host
organisations. Early leaving of the project should always be the last option.
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