All young people going abroad as part of Erasmus+ volunteering projects in 2019 and 2020 will receive a free European Youth Card to help them make the most of their experience.

EYCA and the European Commission have been working together to provide young volunteers with the European Youth Card since 1999. In its 20 years, the programme ensured over 120,000 young volunteers got to enjoy all the benefits of the card.

In addition, since 2016, the programme also features the Erasmus+ Volunteering Awards – an annual video competition aiming to give volunteers the opportunity to share their experience with their peers and win amazing city breaks in various European countries, courtesy of EYCA member organisation. In the 2018 edition, the ten winners also attended the European Youth Event in Strasbourg as part of their prize. The 2019 edition of the Awards will continue on this line and offer winners the chance to attend the European Youth Week in Brussels.

Manel Sanchez, EYCA Director, welcomed the agreement, stating:

“Travelling, volunteering, meeting new people, learning and helping others are fantastic experiences to have as a young person and we could not be happier to support a new generation of volunteers. The programme has grown tremendously in its 20 years and we plan to mark this special anniversary with an amazing edition of the Erasmus+ Volunteering Awards.”