The “V4Volunteers” project was implemented under Key Action 3 of the Erasmus+ programme (Social Inclusion through Education, Training and Youth), coordinated by United Societies of Balkans. The project lasted 36 months (January 2019 – January 2022) and focused on strengthening the role of volunteering as a tool for social inclusion, participation, and youth empowerment across Europe.
The main objective of the project was to empower youth workers and professionals active in the field of volunteering by enhancing their knowledge and competences related to the design, implementation, and integration of volunteering activities. At the same time, the project highlighted the importance of volunteering in decision-making processes and policy development affecting young people, promoting cooperation with local, regional, and European authorities.
The project was structured into three main phases. During the first phase, participants approached volunteering from a holistic perspective, exploring its role as a means of civic engagement and youth development. In the second phase, a space for exchange and evaluation was created, where partners shared their experiences, identified good and bad practices, and developed innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies for volunteering activities.
In the third phase, participants engaged in open dialogue processes to develop policy recommendations related to the volunteering framework. These recommendations were presented to decision-makers at local, regional, and European levels, aiming to improve policies and strengthen sustainable connections between programmes such as the European Voluntary Service and the European Solidarity Corps.
The project significantly contributed to enhancing the quality and recognition of volunteering in Europe, empowering both professionals and young people, and promoting their active participation in society.