ESC: “Rural Youth for the Future”

Name: ESC: “Rural Youth for the Future”
Start: 2026-04-01
End: 2026-08-01
Location: Salzedas, Portugal

Code: 48690695bb7aee0274 Copied

Portugal Environment European Voluntary Service Social work Environment European Voluntary Service +1 Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Inovterra is a non-profit youth association, based in Vila Pouca de Salzedas/Tarouca, born from the need to reverse the trend of rural areas abandonment, attracting the young population, and valuing the Earth's resources. Main activities: -Promote repopulation and settlement of peasant populations. -Foster sustainable development and socio-economic dynamism through job creation. -Revitalize and promote local heritage/activities. -Provide useful services for the community, including technical and consultancy assistance. On four fronts: i. Youth - activities that bring added value to young people as citizens, such as training, workshops, leisure activities and international mobilities. ii. Agriculture - consulting service to aid the creation and elaboration of projects to get subsidies and other applications for support, scientific research, specific training for young people and adults (like Bioconstruction and Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Permaculture), workshops to attract people to more rural areas, and dynamization of the Land Bank. iii. Tourism - promotion of Green Tourism or Ecotourism, via the dissemination and implementation of activities such as bird watching, hiking trails and mountain biking tours. iv. Commerce/Internationalisation - acting as a business incubator, creating SMEs, valuing regional products through boosting the sale of local products and encouraging networking.

💼 What the programme involves

This project aims to empower young people in rural areas, giving them the tools to create opportunities, fight depopulation, and revitalize their communities. It promotes active participation, values local talent, and strengthens the connection to cultural and environmental heritage. Through European mobility and intercultural exchange, young people gain a global vision and become leaders of change, building more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable rural communities.

🏠 Accommodation on site

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements are all included.

🎒 Leisure activities

Development of learning and skills: d) Communication in the mother tongue; e) Communication in foreign languages; f) Mathematical competence and basic science and technology skills; g) Digital competence; h) Learning to learn; i)Social and civic skills; j)Entrepreneurship skills; k)Cultural sensitivity and creativity.

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: Profile: a) Ages between 18 and 30 years old; b) Demonstrates genuine motivation for volunteering; c) Commitment to European values; d) Team spirit; e) Communication skills; f) Dynamic, proactive and responsible personality; g) No previous experience in volunteering promoted by CES; h) Preferably with Fewer Opportunities (geographic, cultural, economic, etc.).
Deadline: 28/02/2026 12:00

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.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.