What Is the European Solidarity Corps (ESC)? How Can Young People Bring Their Own Projects to Life?

The text below was prepared in accordance with your request, drawing on official documents from the Turkish National Agency, using an energetic tone aimed at young people, and enriched with concrete analyses from the previously uploaded “Community of Visually Impaired Youth” project.

Do you want to make a difference in your community but aren’t sure where to start, how to find funding, or who to partner with? You’re not alone! The European Union offers an amazing program for young people just like you—full of energy and eager to make a difference at the local level: the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

This program isn’t just about traveling abroad. The heart of ESC beats through the Solidarity Projects (ESC30 Solidarity Projects) that you launch in your own neighborhood, in your own city, with your own peers.

Come, let’s take a closer look at the details of this program, the financial support it offers, and how young people like you have come together to make huge strides.

1. What Is the European Solidarity Corps (ESC)?

The European Solidarity Program is an EU initiative that enables young people to volunteer or develop their own solidarity projects with the aim of helping them build a more inclusive, fairer, and more sustainable society.

“The program’s goal is to encourage young people to participate in community service activities, thereby helping them address social issues, develop their skills, and become active citizens.”

— [cite: Turkish National Agency – ESC Page]

The institution responsible for implementing this program in Turkey is the Turkish National Agency. The program is open to all young people between the ages of 18 and 30, and its guiding principle is the spirit of “solidarity.”

The Two Pillars of the ESC:

• Volunteering (ESC51): An opportunity to work as a full-time volunteer within an organization, either abroad or in your own country.
• Solidarity Projects (ESC30): Projects initiated, managed, and implemented by young people to address an issue in their local communities. This is exactly where our focus lies!

2. ESC30 Solidarity Projects: You Can Start the Change Locally!

Solidarity Projects are initiatives developed by groups of at least five young people (ages 18–30) who come together to make a difference in their local communities. In these projects, the young people are the sole leaders; you manage every stage of the project, from the initial idea to the final report.

What Are the Key Features of These Projects?

1. Youth-Led: The young people themselves submit the application and implement the project (an NGO, municipality, or school provides administrative assistance to you solely as a “supporting organization”).
2. Locally Focused: The project aims to find a solution to a specific problem in the city or region where you live.
3. It is inclusive: It encourages the participation of young people from diverse backgrounds and aims to benefit disadvantaged groups in society.
4. It Embodies the Spirit of Solidarity: At the heart of the project lies the idea of contributing to society without expecting anything in return and the belief that “unity is strength.”

3. Budget and Support Mechanisms: The EU Won’t Leave You in the Lurch!

If you’re thinking, “We have a great idea but no money,” then ESC is perfect for you. ESC30 Solidarity Projects are heavily funded by the EU. This funding covers nearly all the basic costs needed to implement your project professionally.

What Do Budget Line Items Cover?

Budget support provided by the EU generally consists of the following items (figures may vary depending on the project duration and funding period; you should check the official guidelines):

• Project Management Support (Per Diem): A fixed monthly amount to cover basic expenses incurred during the implementation of the project (stationery, meeting refreshments, local transportation, promotional materials, etc.). For example, support averaging approximately 500–700 euros per month (multiplied by the project duration).
• Coaching Expenses: You may request additional funding to hire a professional coach (mentor) to guide you throughout the project. Coaching support enhances the quality of your project and helps structure your learning processes.
• Extraordinary Expenses: Special equipment required to ensure the participation of disadvantaged youth in the project (e.g., screen-reader software for a visually impaired youth) or related expenses may be covered under this category.

“Solidarity Projects provide a financial safety net to help young people develop their initiative, project management, and leadership skills.”

— [cite: ESC Program Guide – Summary Analysis]

4. A Perfect Example: Analysis of the “Community of Visually Impaired Youth” Project

Let’s set the theoretical knowledge aside for a moment and analyze that amazing project you submitted (Community for Visually Impaired Youth) within the framework of ESC30. This project is practically a textbook example of what an ESC Solidarity Project should be like.

Why Is This Project an Excellent Example of ESC30?

1. Focusing on a Local Issue: The project identified that public buildings, parks, and sidewalks in the provinces of Burdur, Antalya, and Isparta are not accessible to young people with visual impairments. This fully meets the ESC’s criterion for a “concrete local issue.”
2. Youth Leadership: The project team consists entirely of young people who are visually impaired. Those who experience the problem firsthand are also the ones who develop the solution themselves. ESC supports and champions this approach, which is based on the principle that “nothing about us without us.”
3. Inclusive and Educational Activities: The project does not merely inspect buildings; it also provides training to visually impaired youth on “Advocacy,” “Accessibility Standards,” and “The Right to Petition.” This demonstrates that the project is focused on “learning” and “skill development.”
4. Solidarity and Making a Difference: By submitting official reports to public institutions based on the data they have collected, these young people are demonstrating the most powerful example of civic engagement. This initiative benefits not only the project team but also all visually impaired individuals in the region, taking the spirit of “solidarity” to new heights.

Analysis Result: If this project team had applied for the ESC30 grant, the EU could have covered the costs of printing the reports they submitted to public institutions, refreshments during training sessions, intercity transportation expenses, and even the coaching fee for an accessibility expert to guide them.

5. 5 Steps to Bringing Your Own Project to Life

If you’d like to start a community project in your neighborhood, school, or city, here’s a roadmap for you:

1. Gather Your Team: Find at least 5 crazy friends (ages 18–30).
2. Identify the Problem: Identify a problem in your community that bothers you and for which you want to find a solution (e.g., digital accessibility, the climate crisis, stray animals, youth civic engagement).
3. Develop Your Idea: Plan how you will solve this problem. What are your goals? What activities will you carry out? How will you benefit the community?
4. Official Registration: Each team member must register on the European Youth Portaland obtain a PRN number. [cite: [Youth Portal Registration]]
5. Fill Out the Application Form: Keep track of the application periods announced by the Turkish National Agency. Fill out the form describing your project idea, budget request, and your team’s motivation, and upload it to the system.

It's Your Turn to Take Action!

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC30) is not just a source of funding; it’s your way of saying “I’m here too” in civil society. It’s up to you to take bold steps—like the “Community of Young People with Visual Impairments” project—to defend your rights and contribute to Europe’s future through the change you initiate at the local level.

The EU is providing you with a budget, support, and resources. Now all that’s needed is for you and your team to take action.

REFERENCES:

1. Turkish National Agency. European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Page and Participant Guides. URL: ua.gov.tr
2. European Commission. European Solidarity Corps Program Guide. Brussels. Available at: youth.europa.eu
3. European Youth Portal. ESC Solidarity Projects Introduction Section. URL: youth.europa.eu