Erasmus+ Volunteering projects allow young people aged 17-30 to take part in unpaid and Full-Time Volunteering activities for up to 12 months in another country within or outside the European Union.
‘My name is Yacine, I’m 23 years old and I’m from Paris, France. Before I started my volunteering, I took a gap year since September 2018 for to do new things. I wanted to take a break from my studies to do new and different things. As part of my personality I like to help people, and I quickly found EVS European Voluntary Service (recently became ESC European Solidarity Corps).
I found Volunteering Matters after some research on the internet, and I liked the sound of their volunteering projects, so I applied with the help of my sending organisation.
I love a challenge, for me to go to abroad for 6 months in a country where I didn’t know the culture, language or people was a very big challenge!
The project I volunteer for supports people with disabilities, enabling them to be more independent and sociable. For example, I support people whilst they volunteer in a charity or coffee shop doing various tasks. I also accompany others while they spend time in the garden, at singing groups or social centre. During these different activities I try my best to help the service users.
During my first days I had difficulty talking and understanding others, but after a couple of weeks I was doing much better.
I’ve found the volunteering very interesting because during this project I’ve met new people, improved my communications skills and improved my English. But also with this project, I have became more patience and tolerant.
That’s why, if you like to meet new people, to discover a new country and to help people while developing your skills then become a volunteer!!’
Yacine’s placement in the UK was made possible through Erasmus+ Volunteering Projects funding, often referred to as EVS (European Voluntary Service).
