📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
FPD was founded in 2009, thanks the Regional Governament which granted its foundation on the basis of the activities planned for the social development of the regional rural areas. It is a non-profit regional civil organization, made by young and senior people. It's mission is to promote and facilitate the development of rural areas of the Puglia Region, thanks to the implementation of projects concerning volunteering, youth, social inclusion, environment protection, sustainable development, promotion of the importance of biodiversity, organic farming, nature and sport and outdoor activities. FPD focuses its attention on European mobility, both for the personal development of its single members and for the growth of local partner organizations at International level. The main target group is youth under 35 y.o., but the organization also works with senior people. Both the categories have in common the fact they are made of disadvantaged people from rural areas. The young people are mainly NEET, which means FPD offers them several opportunities to learn, be trained and educated at local and European level in order to enrich their curricula and get more chances for their job-placement or self-employment. FPD cooperates with several Public and Private entities at all levels, such as: a) Municipality of Taurisano (IT) - FPD cooperates in the organization of local events in several fields (waste collection, Music festivals, youth participation in decision making processes, cultural activities, music events, photo exhibitions....); b) Province of Lecce (IT) – FPD had a project concerning young people's involvement in local initiatives concerning ecology and biological food, re-use of different materials and recycle of waste; c) Region of Puglia (IT) – FPD cooperates with its Region on projects concerning promotion of natural resources of rural areas; d) Several EU NGOs are partners in the implementation of Youth Exchanges, Youth and Democracy projects, Training Courses, seminars, workshops, volunteering activties in different fields. What is more, FPD is member of numerous European Networks financed by the Europe for Citizens Programme, for the valorization of the EU Cultural Heritage (tangible, intangible, digital and natural), the promotion of Youth Mobility for learning, training, working, studying and volunteering abroad, the active participation (mainly digital participation) at EU level of youth and seniors.
💼 What the programme involves
Most ESC volunteers end up feeling like guests. Left out of planning, given leftover tasks, checked out by month three. COSI was designed to avoid that.
You'll be in the team from day one: brainstorming, planning, running events. Work rotates across two teams: online (social media, content creation, digital campaigns) and offline (events, workshops, logistics, partner relations), three months each.
The work is real: awareness campaigns on discrimination, active citizenship and youth rights; humanitarian aid in Bucharest and Ilfov; Erasmus+ projects.
You leave with a Youthpass certificate and practical knowledge of how EU-funded projects work from the inside.
Bucharest is affordable, livelier than expected, transport covered. This is 6.5 hours/day, 4 days/week. Some months calm, some intense. We need people who show up for both.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Everything is covered so you can focus on the experience, not the logistics. COSI provides: comfortable shared accommodation in Bucharest (2 apartments, all bills included), full international and local transport, international health insurance, visa support if needed, and a pocket + food allowance of €270/month. You'll also under the support of the volunteer coordinator and the mentor throughout your stay.
🎒 Leisure activities
Before you arrive, we'll go through a preparation phase together. Once in Bucharest, you'll take part in an official online onboarding provided by the Romanian National Agency, followed by an in-person introductory training with our team. Throughout the project, ongoing support comes from your coordinator and mentors. At the midpoint, you'll join a face-to-face Mid-Term Evaluation, a chance to reflect, connect with other ESC volunteers, and course-correct if needed.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: You're between 18 and 30, currently not in employment or formal education, and you've been looking for something that actually moves you forward rather than just fills time.
You care about at least one of these things for real: discrimination and how it works in practice, what active citizenship actually looks like, or why so many young people struggle to find a foothold. Not because it looks good on paper, but because you'd bring it up unprompted.
You're comfortable in English, can work independently when nobody gives you a step-by-step, and don't fall apart when plans change last minute (they will).
We're not selecting for the most impressive CV. We're looking for someone who will still be genuinely engaged in month five, not just month one. If your main reason for applying is to spend six months in a new country and the work is secondary, this will frustrate both of us.
Deadline: 19/07/2026 23:23
ℹ️ Additional information
The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (
https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project
- Health insurance during your project
- round-trip travel reimbursement
- accommodation and food
- pocket money
- language course
- Return Week-end
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (
https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.