First European Voluntary Service projects launched
The European Commission has approved an initial series of projects to be funded under the pilot European Voluntary Service programme, launched in early 1996 by Mrs. Edith Cresson, Commissioner responsible for research, education, training and youth. The pilot programme has a budget of ECU 15 million for 1996, which will provide places for some 2,500 young people. The initial set of projects, to be launched in August 1996, will enable around 200 young people to travel to another Member State to perform tasks of benefit to the community. Participants will receive training in their own country before leaving to undertake the project, both in the work to be carried out and in the language of the destination country. They will spend between six months and a year in the host country. Examples of projects selected include providing assistance for socially disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland, training in nature conservation in Spain, and assistance for the elderly and disabled, educational support and literacy courses. The Commission has also established a group to assist it in developing the concept of voluntary service and to publicize the concept in both national and local bodies.