What is humanitarian aid volunteering?
Humanitarian aid volunteering is the part of the European Solidarity Corps that sends young Europeans to support humanitarian projects outside Europe. Its official name is the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Volunteers work with experienced humanitarian organisations in countries affected by natural or man-made disasters, helping communities to recover, to prepare for future crises and to live in dignity.
It is a full-time, unpaid activity of 30 to 38 hours a week. All projects follow the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and the “do no harm” principle: volunteers support local staff and communities, they do not replace them.
What happened to EU Aid Volunteers?
If you have heard of EU Aid Volunteers, this is its successor. The EU Aid Volunteers initiative ran until 2020; since 2021 humanitarian volunteering has been part of the European Solidarity Corps, with its own rules, training and Quality Label for organisations. Old guides and articles about EU Aid Volunteers often quote age limits and procedures that no longer apply.
Who can apply?
According to the European Solidarity Corps Guide 2026, you can take part if you:
- are 18 to 35 on the start date of the activity;
- legally reside in an EU Member State or in a country associated to the programme (in 2026: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia and Türkiye);
- are registered on the European Solidarity Corps Portal and have said you are interested in humanitarian aid volunteering;
- have successfully completed the mandatory training organised by the European Commission.
There are two more limits. You can take part in humanitarian aid individual volunteering only once. And because nobody can volunteer in the Corps for more than 12 months in total, you can start the humanitarian training only if you have not already done more than 6 months of EU volunteering.
As in the rest of the Corps, no degree or professional experience is required by the programme itself. Individual projects may look for specific profiles, for example in logistics, communication or health, when the tasks need it.
What training is mandatory?
Training is what makes this strand different. Before you can apply for a placement you must:
- complete a self-assessment and an online course on the EU Academy platform, followed by an online test;
- if you pass, you may be invited to a 5-day face-to-face training in a training centre in France, Germany, Italy or Spain.
Places in the face-to-face training are limited, so passing the online test does not guarantee an invitation. Access to the online course can also close temporarily when demand is high. Only after the face-to-face training can you apply for humanitarian aid vacancies. Selected volunteers then follow a pre-departure training with a security briefing and have a medical assessment before leaving.
Where do humanitarian volunteers go?
Activities take place in countries outside the EU and the associated countries, and only where two conditions are both met: humanitarian aid operations are running, and there is no ongoing international or non-international armed conflict. Volunteers are not deployed to war zones or to the first emergency phase of a disaster. The host country depends on the projects funded each year and on the partner organisations involved.
What kind of work will you do?
You support the work of your host organisation and its local staff. Projects must contribute to at least one of these goals:
- strengthening the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities;
- disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction;
- linking relief, rehabilitation and development;
- where relevant, the transition from humanitarian response to long-term, inclusive development.
In practice, tasks can involve shelter and housing, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food security and nutrition, health promotion, education in emergencies, the protection of women, children, refugees and displaced people, or support functions such as logistics, communication and project monitoring. Each vacancy describes the tasks in detail.
Projects can also include complementary activities with the local community: workshops with local young people, training courses, coaching and events that raise awareness of volunteering.
How long does it last?
- Individual volunteering: 2 to 12 months, excluding travel time, in a country different from your country of residence.
- Volunteering teams: 5 to 40 volunteers from at least two EU or associated countries, for 2 weeks to 2 months (up to 59 days).
Teams are a good option if you cannot leave for months because of studies or work, or if you prefer a first humanitarian experience in a group.
What is covered?
As in the rest of the Corps, it is free for the volunteer. Your travel to and from the project, accommodation and food are covered, and you receive a small allowance for personal expenses. You are covered by the Corps insurance, and visa, vaccination and medical certificate costs are covered too. Extra support is available if you have specific needs. You also get language support, a mentor, and recognition of your learning through Youthpass and a certificate of participation.
Is it safe?
Safety is built into the programme. Besides the choice of countries without armed conflict, every organisation needs a specific Quality Label for humanitarian aid volunteering, a risk assessment, security procedures and an evacuation plan. Host organisations must have arrangements in place for your safe return in case of a serious security incident before you arrive. You receive a security briefing before departure and are monitored throughout your placement.
How do you apply?
- Register on the European Solidarity Corps Portal and tick your interest in humanitarian aid volunteering.
- Complete the self-assessment, online course and test on the EU Academy.
- Attend the 5-day face-to-face training if you are invited.
- Apply for the humanitarian vacancies that match your profile, including those listed on our opportunities page.
- Go through the selection run by the project, then the pre-departure training and medical assessment.
If you are not eligible yet, or the training is full, you can start with regular volunteering in Europe on topics close to humanitarian work, such as the reception of refugees and migrants. Read our guides to who can join the Corps and to free volunteering in Europe.