Education & youth
Inspire the next generation — in classrooms, youth clubs and beyond the system.
Education is the key to everything else. In this area, ESC volunteers work with children and young people in formal and informal settings — in schools, youth organisations, libraries and on the street. It is not about replacing teachers, but about adding what time and human resources make possible: individual attention, creative methods and genuine engagement.
What do you do as a volunteer?
What might it look like?
Morning in the classroom
You sit beside a 9-year-old struggling with maths. The teacher can't always get there. You do — and you watch understanding light up in her eyes.
Media literacy workshop
You have prepared an exercise on spotting fake news with a group of 15-year-olds. The discussion explodes. They have so much to say — they just needed to be asked.
Youth leadership training
You facilitate a full day with young leaders from five countries. You work on conflict resolution, decision-making and how to run projects. You learn just as much as they do.
Skills you develop
Pedagogical methods and learning psychology
Group facilitation and workshop leadership
Working with young people in vulnerable situations
Non-formal education methods (experiential learning, peer education)
Project management and programme planning for youth work
Example projects in Europe
These are examples of real types of ESC projects. Current vacancies can be found on the European Youth Portal.
Associação Júnior
English project in rural Portugal — teaching English and creative thinking at a school with limited resources in the north of the country.
Centrum Wolontariatu
Non-formal education for young people in Warsaw: drama, debate and EU awareness. Working with young people aged 14–25 for 6 months.
Youth Can
Educational support and mentoring in a small town with high youth unemployment. Focus on life skills and career preparation.
Does this sound like you?
Search for projects in education & youth directly on the European Youth Portal.