Recommendations

In 2018, the European Commission launched a new programme targeted at organisations and young people – European Solidarity Corps – which replaced the previous Erasmus+ Volunteering programme (and operated under the name ‘European Voluntary Service’ until 2017). The new initiative helps young people develop professionally and find their place in the labour market. That programme also allows schools and kindergartens to host volunteers, on the same terms as under the Erasmus+ programme, therefore the recommendations formulated below, despite being developed on the basis of research into Erasmus+ Volunteering projects, are equally applicable to European Solidarity Corps projects.

For schools and kindergartens → Precisely define the expectations for volunteers before the start of the project; → Plan activities for volunteers with support from the coordinating organisation; → Participate in the recruitment process conducted by the coordinating organisation; → Treat volunteers as a resource rather than a burden on the institution; → Be open to various volunteer backgrounds, do not limit yourself to hosting people with a degree in education or pedagogy; → Involve volunteers in planning their activities and provide them with space and opportunities to implement their own ideas; → Be aware of the existence of cultural differences and communication difficulties (the volunteer may not speak Polish and the staff may not speak English); → Demonstrate a proactive attitude of the staff in solving problems – the volunteers may not always be willing to discuss their problems or doubts).

For volunteers → Be precise in defining your own expectations of a volunteering project in an educational institution; → Choose a school or a kindergarten in an informed manner, based on your expectations and the needs of the institution; → Be honest during the recruitment process (be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, carefully reflect on what you can give and what you can gain as a volunteer).

Good practices recommended by the National Agency The National Agency recommends that before hosting a long-term volunteer for the first time under the European Solidarity Corps programme, one should contact a similar hosting organisation with experience in implementing this type of projects and make a study visit. It will help verify one’s expectations for future volunteers, take advantage of good practices of an experienced school or kindergarten, and see whether a similar initiative is likely to succeed.

Furthermore, the National Agency has observed that volunteers for long-term projects in schools and kindergartens are recruited in accordance with a pattern resulting from the school year: they are recruited in July/August, start in September when the school year begins, and finish in May/June of the following year. The National Agency recommends to go beyond that pattern and not to align long-term projects, especially in schools, with the school year. A good practice tested in several institutions is to recruit in February/March and have the volunteers arrive in April or May. This way, in June, once the grading is done, there is more space and time to introduce the volunteers to the school’s life as teachers and the coordinator can devote more time to them. During the summer, the volunteers work in the coordinating organisation (or in the school if summer classes are provided), and in September, when the school year begins, they are fully prepared for work, know the staff, and understand the specific nature of the school.