Hosting volunteers as an organisation

Would your organisation like to host European volunteers to contribute to your non-profit projects and facilitate enriching intercultural exchanges? With European Volunteering, you even receive financial support for it.

Next steps

Accreditation

Accreditation

Overview

For whom

  • Organisations in Switzerland: NGOs, public institutions, social enterprises and companies with social responsibility

Duration of the Volunteering

  • 2 to 12 months

Where

  • In Switzerland

What we fund

  • Financial support for organisation and accommodation 

What to do

  • Have your organisation accredited and then submit applications for financial support

Deadlines

  • Accreditation: At any time
  • Application deadline: March and October 2025. Project start dates: 1 June and 1 December 2025
  • Project start dates: 1 June and 1 December 2024

Next steps

Accreditation

In detail

As an organisation in Switzerland, you can host European volunteers aged 18 to 30, engaging them in a non-profit project for two to twelve months. 

European Volunteering is funded by the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+ and is the Swiss equivalent of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

What Volunteers do

Volunteering is open to everyone, regardless of their education and professional skills. These young adults come from Europe or neighbouring partner countries, all motivated to learn new things in an international environment while making a positive contribution to society. Hosting a volunteer not only supports your project, but also enriches your everyday work with valuable intercultural exchanges.

The tasks you assign to the volunteers should be as varied and diverse as possible. The weekly working hours vary between 30 and a maximum of 38 hours. Volunteers are entitled to two consecutive days off per week and two days of vacation per month. When planning the assignment, make sure that volunteers do not replace paid staff, but rather complement your existing staff. 

Your organisations responsabilities

As a host organisation, you will manage the entire stay of young volunteers in Switzerland from A-Z. This includes

  • Administrative support before and during their stay
  • Providing accommodation and healthy meals (or a meal allowance)
  • Arranging or finding a language course 
  • Payment of the monthly pocket money

Additionally, you will also assign a mentor within your organisation who will guide and support the volunteers individually. Volunteers should be given the opportunity to carry out their own ideas and personal projects within your organisation. 

Not only do we provide financial support, but we also help you find suitable volunteers through our match&move volunteer placement platform. We accompany you throughout the entire process and also offer trainings to the volunteers before sand during their stay in Switzerland.

How to become a host organisation

In order to host volunteers as a Swiss host organisation, you must obtain a one-time accreditation. This ensures that your organisation can provide good conditions for the young adults, guaranteeing a high-quality Volunteering programme. As a host organisation, you can either welcome volunteers yourself or coordinate several partner organisations, (e.g. as a consortium), allowing  you to streamline your administrative tasks. We would be happy to advise you on the options available.

Please note that only Swiss organisations can be accredited as host organisations. European organisations interested in hosting Swiss volunteers can find all the relevant information on this page (link follows).

Added value

  • Volunteers from different countries and cultures bring a breath of fresh perspective to the organisation and enrich the work environment.
  • Existing employees benefit from intercultural exchange and the new ideas brought by the volunteers.
  • You receive support with your daily work.
  • Your organisation expands its international network.
  • You provide young people with a unique, life-changing experience.

Requirements

  • You are an institution or organisation based in Switzerland:
    • Non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
    • Public entities operating at local, regional or national level;
    • Social enterprises;
    • Umbrella organisations, regional networks;
    • Companies actively engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
  • To obtain accreditation, your organisation must meet the European Volunteering’s quality criteria: These include guidelines related to volunteer tasks, mentorship and support throughout the learning process.

Funding amounts

  • Organisation fee: 200 CHF (per person)
  • For subsistence: 29 CHF (per person and per day)
  • Insurance and any visa fees are covered by the host organisations.

Details of the programme and the various lump-sumscan be found in the programme guide.

Procedure

For host organisations abroad:

Please note that only Swiss organisations are accredited as host organisations. European organisations wishing to host Swiss volunteers can find all the information they need on this page: (link follows).

For host organisations in Switzerland:

Follow these steps to host volunteers in your organisation:

  1. 1

    1. Accreditation

    • To become a host organisation, you must first get accredited. This ensures that all organisations meet the European Volunteering quality standards. Once accredited, you commit to these standards and can submit funding applications. All criteria are listed in our programme guidelines. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
    • To apply for accreditation, please complete the following online form:

    The accreditation process takes about 8 weeks in total. We will review your application and then conduct one or two interviews with your organisation’s representatives.  

  2. 2

    2. Submit funding application

    • Once accredited, you can submit funding applications twice a year. Please note the Deadlines in March and October.
    • Plan how you will involve the volunteers during the project period. Allow for sufficient resources to support the volunteers. 
    • The following information is required: accreditation number, number and duration of mobilities, bank details.
  3. 3

    3. Financial support decision and payment

    • We will inform you of the financial support decision approximately two months after you submit your application and send you a contract. 
    • The contract has a term of 24 months. It specifies the amounts granted and sets out the obligations of both parties in the implementation of the mobility project.
    • A first payment of 40 % of the contributions is paid out after the contract is signed. The remaining payments (40 % and a maximum of 20 %) are paid out during the project and at the end of the project. 
  4. 4

    4. Finding volunteers

    • To find volunteers, register your organisation on our match&move volunteering platform and post your volunteer opportunities. 
    • Additionally, promote your volunteering positions through your organisation's international networks. 
    • You can also participate in European training activities for youth workers to facilitate contact with European organisations. These organisations can support you in finding volunteers.
    • Interested volunteers can apply directly to you. You carry out the application process independently. 
    • You will issue a contract and have it signed by the volunteer. We will provide you with a template for this purpose.
    • As soon as the volunteers have been selected, register them with us.
  5. 5

    5. Preparing and hosting volunteers

    • Assist the volunteers in planning their stay.
    • If necessary, apply for a residence permit and help the volunteer in other administrative matters. We will provide you with an information kit containing the most important information for the administrative process before and during the volunteering period.
    • Plan the volunteers’ schedule according to the guidelines of the European Volunteering programme. Welcome the volunteers, explain their tasks to them, help them integrate into the local community and accompany and support them in their learning process.
    • Pay the funding amounts received for the volunteers (pocket money) to the volunteers on a monthly basis.
  6. 6

    6. Fill in interim and final report

    • During the project, complete an online interim and a final report. Once you have used 70 % of the first payment, you can request the next 40 %. The remaining amount will be calculated after the final report has been submitted.
    • In the final weeks of the volunteer placement, conduct an evaluation interview with the volunteers and issue them a certificate that verifies their work and the skills they’ve acquired. 
  7. 7

    7. Spread the word

    • Share information about the volunteers’ through your organisations channels. Other organisations will benefit from these experiences.
    • Contact us to enhance your visibility, e.g. by publishing a magazine article on our website.

Q & A

Through our platform match&move volunteering, organisations can post volunteer opportunities and volunteers can apply directly. We promote the platform in Switzerland and Europe. However, it is important that your organisation uses its own communication channels to advertise your offers.  

European Volunteering is funded by the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+, while the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is funded by the EU. The two programmes have certain similarities, but operate separately. For example, the Swiss programme only provides funding for individual international volunteering placements, while the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme also provides funding for other forms of mobility (team volunteering placements, solidarity projects, etc.).

Similar funding opportunities

  • Volunteering

    Young adults can actively support a non-profit project in a field of their choice, in Switzerland or Europe.

  • International cooperation for collaboration and innovation