Your European Solidarity Corps story could take you to Brussels

You didn’t just volunteer abroad with the European Solidarity Corps. You lived it.

New places, new people, new routines, and at some point, what once felt unfamiliar slowly started to feel like everyday life. The challenges, the cultural shocks, the random meals, the friendships that appeared out of nowhere… all of it becomes part of a story that is uniquely yours. The European Solidarity Corps Participation Awards 2026 are all about real stories from real volunteers. All you need to do is turn your experience into a short video. One minute. That’s it.

The submissions open on 13 April 2026 and close on 18 May 2026 at 23:59 CEST. After that, a jury made up of representatives from the European Commission, EYCA, and the EYCA Youth Panel will select the winners, announced during the week of 15 June 2026.

They will be looking for stories that feel real and engaging. Creativity, message, and impact all matter; and how you tell your story is just as important as what you show. If you share your video, engagement (views and likes) can also play a role.

If you are selected, you will join nine other winners for a fully covered trip to Brussels from 23 to 27 September 2026. Travel, accommodation, meals, local transport, and a full programme of activities are all included. But the real value is not the logisticts, it’s meeting other young people who understand your journey because they’ve lived something similar.

In Brussels, you’ll step into the wider European story behind your volunteering experience. You’ll visit EU institutions, explore the city and the Parlamentarium, and take part in cultural activities. Just as important are the moments in between, the conversations, shared reflections, and connections that often last long after the trip ends.

So this is your moment. Find all the details, rules, and submission steps in the link below and start preparing your camera to apply: https://volunteer-awards.eyca.org