FAQ for ESC volunteering

We are very happy, you are interested in volunteering in the Czech Republic. Please before you apply to one of our ESC Volunteering Teams, read the following questions and rules carefully.

What is an ESC Volunteering Team?

An ESC Volunteering Team is an activity carried out within the programme European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

Volunteering Teams are usually similar to traditional workcamps. They have a minimum duration of 2 weeks and involve a group of at least 5 volunteers. There are two basic conditions to participate:

age limit of 18 to 30 years
legal residence in a programme country or in a neighbouring partner country (see here)

For your commitment through the ESC, your travel expenses will be reimbursed and you will receive some pocket money.

How many times can I participate?

You can participate in a European Solidarity Corps – Volunteering Teams project multiple times as long as you are an eligible participant based on your age (18-30) and legal address of residence.

A volunteer can take part in:

a single individual cross-border volunteering activity longer than 2 months. A second individual cross-border volunteering activity longer than 2 months is allowed only for young people with fewer opportunities or in duly justified cases determined by the National Agency.
multiple individual cross-border volunteering activities lasting up to 2 months;
multiple volunteering teams activities;
multiple in-country volunteering activities.

The total amount of time spent by a young person in European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities must not exceed 12 months and the activities carried out must not overlap. Activities carried out under Erasmus+ volunteering/European Voluntary Service will count towards the total of 12 months allowed.

Note: It is not possible to be at two ESC projects at the same time!!! If you are currently on your ESC long-term project, you cannot apply to an ESC Volunteering Team at the same time.

How will I get my travel reimbursement?

You are responsible for arranging and buying your own travel tickets. Your travel costs will be reimbursed directly by INEX-SDA after the activity after having filled in required documents (mainly sworn statement about the travel). Your travel reimbursement will be done between your home country and the Czech Republic, where the project takes place. Only in duly justified cases, you are allowed to travel from or return to another country than your home country – to know if such a trip is eligible, please ask your sending organization or contact us on email incoming@inexsda.cz before you buy any tickets.You must keep and provide all your travel documents: tickets, invoices, receipts, boarding passes. The travel tickets must be eligible for reimbursement:

Dates: The eligible dates are dates of the Volunteering Team. In justified cases, you can use one travel day before the activity and one travel day after the activity. (Example: The Volunteering Team takes place 10.8.-24.8.2024. Eligible tickets are from 9.8., 10.8., 24.8. and 25.8.). (In case you use only green travel such as train or bus, you might use up to 3 travel days before and 3 travel daysafter the activity).
Place: Travel reimbursement will be done only for direct trips between your home country and location of the activity. If you have a serious reason why you need to travel from another country than your home country or return to another country than your home country, please contact us by email incoming@inexsda.cz to check if such a trip is eligible before buying any tickets. Mean of transport: It is not possible to reimburse first-class tickets, Uber, taxi or similar services. Please use public transport instead.

You will be reimbursed for your travel costs up to the given limit after you have completed the project and administrative duties. If you cannot find tickets that fit into this maximum limit, please contact us as soon as possible on the email incoming@inexsda.cz so that we can find a solution. DO NOT buy tickets by yourself without consultation with INEX-SDA. The maximum limit – based on one way distance from your home to the location of workcamp. The distance is calculated by official distance calculator:

Distance:	Green travel	Not green travel
10-99 km	56 EUR	28 EUR
100-499 km	285 EUR	211 EUR
500-1999 km	417 EUR	309 EUR
2000-2999 km	535 EUR	395 EUR

You are only eligible for Green travel if you use environmentally friendly means of transport for the main part of the travel. One way trip by bus and the other way by airplane is NOT considered as green travel.

What if I arrive earlier to the project?

If you want to arrive in the Czech Republic a few days earlier (or come back home a few days later), it is possible, but in that case you won’t receive your travel reimbursement. Outside of the Volunteering Team dates you will have to arrange and pay for your food and accommodation.
Note: It is required to stay for the whole duration of the Volunteering Team! You cannot come later or leave earlier.

What if I travel from/to a different country

Your travel reimbursement will be done between your home country and the country where the project takes place – the Czech Republic. In a justified situation it is possible to travel from another country. In this case always check with your sending organisation and/or with us on email incoming@inexsda.cz if your travel is eligible to be reimbursed. You will have to provide official documents explaining your reasons. Please, bear in mind that ESC does not pay for your holidays!

How and when do I get the pocket money?

Volunteers get pocket money after arrival on the Volunteering Team. The pocket money is paid in cash in CZK (equivalent to 7 EUR/day). If you must leave the activity earlier (for example if you get sick), you will have to return the corresponding amount back. You can use this pocket money to cover expenses during your free time (for example trips or excursions). You will also get the pocket money for your eligible travel days before/after the project but you have to inform us in advance when you plan to arrive and leave so that we can plan how much money to prepare.

What is a sending/supporting organisation and how do I get one?

A sending (or supporting) organisation is based in your home country and will be responsible for your preparation before the activity. They will provide all the necessary support you need. When you are accepted to our ESC Volunteering Team, we will recommend you a sending organisation, which you should contact.

In case you have any health issues or you are facing any type of obstacles (economic, educational etc.), please inform your sending organisation as soon as possible. You should also mention in it the application, so we are informed about your special needs in advance.

Which documents do I need?

Volunteering Agreement: After your acceptance you will be asked to sign the Volunteering Agreement. It´s a basic document, which explains rights and responsibilities of all parties involved.
Certificate of Good Conduct and Medical Form: For some projects (for example work with children) you will be asked to send Certificate of Good Conduct and Medical Form. Those are required by law, so without them it is not possible to join the workcamp!
ID/passport
EHIC – European Health Insurance Card
Cover letter – please let us know your motivation for the specific project

Will I get travel insurance?

Yes, Henner is an additional insurance you receive when you participate in a European Solidarity Corps project. You will be enrolled for the insurance by your hosting organisation INEX-SDA once you are accepted to the workcamp. It complements your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

In case an insurance event happens which is not covered by your EHIC, first you have to pay for the services on-spot and then you can claim your costs from Henner providing the necessary documents.

If you don´t have EHIC card, please check here how to apply for it: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=563&langId=en

If you are not eligible to hold EHIC, please inform your sending organisation!