
EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY PROGRAM (ESC)
(0 312) 458 90 23
Ziya Gökalp Caddesi No:11 Kat 12 Kızılay Ankara
esc@cankaya.bel.tr
Çankaya in Brief
Çankaya is the central district of Ankara. It hosts the administrative organs of the legislative, executive and judiciary, as well as economic and diplomatic institutions. Çankaya, which is also the center of the main cultural and artistic activities of the capital; Çankaya has a texture that reflects the modernization of Turkey and the history of the Republic.
Our municipality offers service to a population of 921.999 (according to 2017 census) of which increases to 2 million population during the day; there are approximately 100 thousand students at 4 state universities and 7 private universities within its borders. Çankaya is like the capital within the capital and the center of education. In addition to educational institutions such as Military Academy, Police Academy, Gülhane Medical Academy, TODAIE, the National Library and TÜBITAK are also within our service boundaries.
Our municipality adopts an understanding that is transparent, accountable, based on participation and citizen satisfaction, taking into consideration public interest and benefit. In addition, Çankaya Municipality carries the mission of increasing the welfare and quality of life of Çankaya residents by providing municipal services within the framework of a friendly and solution-oriented service approach and protects the rights of its employees.
Çankaya Municipality has set the target of effective, widespread and qualified implementation of services for young people within the scope of the Strategic Plan. For this, it has adopted the strategies of opening a Youth Center, establishing a Youth Counseling Unit, organizing cultural events with young people, and cooperating with universities and non-governmental organizations.
Mayor Alper Taşdelen attaches special importance to both youth and EU projects in the New Generation Municipalism Program and encourages local studies in the field of intercultural interaction, international cooperation and EU citizenship.
We support the development of a culture of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among European youth and their active role in shaping the future of Europe by enabling volunteering, solidarity and networking activities within the scope of European Union projects. We empower young people by supporting mobility, non-formal education and intercultural dialogue between European countries. Thus, we aim to contribute to the development of a social capital among young people and to encourage their participation in democratic life locally and throughout Europe in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty.
The priorities adopted by the Commission, such as combating youth unemployment, EU citizenship and active participation in policy making, are also in line of effective, widespread and qualified implementation of services for young people included in the Strategic Plan of our Municipality.
Our expectation from the European Solidarity Program (ESC) and Erasmus+ youth projects in general is to help us improve the quality of the services we provide to the people of Çankaya. Recognition of transnational cultures will contribute to the establishment of a culture of peace and tolerance in the society and will provide children, young people and adults with the ability to communicate in a foreign language and with people from other cultures.
The presence of volunteers of Çankaya through these projects will set a precedent for the promotion and dissemination of volunteer work among young people both in our Municipality, Çankaya and in our country. It will encourage volunteer work among young people from Çankaya. In addition to establishing a transnational network of cooperation based on cooperation with European institutions and NGOs, the ESC will also serve to improve our institutional capacity.
In 2015, our Municipality was accredited by the Turkish National Agency as the host, sending and coordinating organization in European Voluntary Service projects, and our first project, the Volunteer Youth Bridge from Europe to Çankaya, was found eligible for a grant. Within the scope of the projects, volunteers from France and Italy have been hosted by Çankaya.
As a result of the projects we have partnered and accepted so far, many of our volunteers have been selected by our project partners to do voluntary service abroad.
As of the end of 2018, the European Voluntary Service (EVS) has been removed from the Erasmus + program and the European Solidarity Program (ESC) has become the main program offering volunteering opportunities for young people within the EU program.
What is the European Solidarity Program (ESC)?
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a part of the ERASMUS+ Program, supported by the European Union and aimed at youth mobility through international projects. ESC brings together young people and institutions to develop solidarity among the European Communities. In this context, it offers young people volunteering, internship and job opportunities and/or the opportunity to run their own projects.
ESC provides opportunities for volunteering, solidarity and networking activities in projects that benefit society. It enables young people to engage in voluntary activities in NGOs or public institutions in different countries. Thanks to the intercultural dimension and informal approach, ESC is a unique opportunity to touch different cultures.
Within the framework of partnership consisting of a volunteer, sending organization and host organization; ESC, which is a commitment contract for a certain period of time, is not an internship program or employment of vocational training, youth employment, language course, study abroad, tourism activity or cheap labor.
ESC is free. Travel expenses, accommodation, food, health insurance and monthly allowance are covered. At the end of the relevant period, ESC volunteers receive a certificate called Youthpass.
Çankaya Municipality has been accredited as a coordinator, sending and host organization with a quality certificate in ESC services.
ESC 11(NATIONAL) | ESC 11(INTERNATIONAL) | ESC 31 | |
MAIN GOAL |
VOLUNTEERING There are two types of activities: individual volunteering and volunteer teams. |
VOLUNTEERING They are free events that allow young people (18-30 years old) to help organizations in their day-to-day work. |
SOLIDARITY It is a domestic solidarity activity and projects developed and implemented by at least five young people who want to create positive change in local level. |
CONTENT |
Young people can be a volunteer in projects involving social inclusion, environment, culture and other issues in their home country. |
Young people can be volunteer in projects involving social inclusion, environment, culture and other issues in program countries or neighboring partner countries. |
The project should have a clear topic that the group of young people would like to explore together and that the project could include daily activities and should involve all participants. Solidarity Projects should address the main challenges within communities, but also clearly highlight the European added value. |
PERIOD |
The activity period is between 2 months and 12 months. The duration of the activity can start from 2 weeks in projects where young people with limited opportunities participate. The activity period for volunteer teams is between 2 weeks and 2 months. |
The activity period is between 2 months and 12 months. The duration of the activity can start from 2 weeks in projects where young people with limited opportunities participate. The activity period for volunteer teams is between 2 weeks and 2 months. |
Needs to be initiated, developed and implemented between 2 and 12 months. |
What Topics Does It Include?
The European Solidarity Corps gives the applicants the opportunity to progress in different subjects in NGOs or public institutions.
We can offer a wide range of activities for young volunteers between the ages of 18-30;
Who Can Apply for ESC?
To apply for the ESC, the following conditions must be met:
Which Countries?
The list of countries running the ESC Project is as follows:
Countries Included in the Program: 27 EU countries and the United Kingdom, countries included in the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, North Macedonia, Liechtenstein) and Turkey.
Partner countries neighboring Europe: South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia), Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine).
Partner countries around the Mediterranean: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia.
How to Apply?
Necessary documents
- ERASMUS+ Program guide
- Europass CV
CV preparation instructions:
https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv
-CIGNA Health Insurance:
CIGNA is currently the insurance company that provides health care and insurance to ESC volunteers.
CIGNA website: https://www.cignahealthbenefits.com/en
- ERASMUS+ Online Language Help : http://erasmusplusols.eu/
- Youthpass
Youthpass step by step: https://www.youthpass.eu/en/publications
News about ESC in Çankaya
-Carla's arrival! First volunteer in Çankaya, 3 November 2015
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/2986/Avrupalı-Gencler-Cankayayi-Sevdi/
-EVS and AISEC Cappadocia Cultural Trip, 27 November 2015
Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LTfWjP45kM
http://www.baskentgazete.com.tr/pdf/baskentgazetesi.pdf
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/3431/Cankayali-Gonulluler-Cappadocia
-EVS Information Meeting with System and Generation Association, Çankaya Municipality, 21 January 2016
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/3418/Cankaya-Belediyesi-Genclerin-Avrupa-Koprusu/
-European Youth Loved Çankaya, 03 November 2015
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/2986/Avrupalı-Gencler-Cankayayi-Sevdi/
- European Traveller, 16 March 2016
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/3642/Avrupa-Yolcusu-Kalmasin/
-Looking for Volunteers to Go to Europe, 08 January 2016
http://www.cankaya.bel.tr/news/3291/Avrupaya-Gidecek-Gonullu-Araniyor/
For more information
- National Agencies promote and implement national level programmes.
They are intermediaries between European commissions and young people and organizations participating in projects.
- Eurodesk:
Eurodesk Europe: https://eurodesk.eu/
Eurodesk Turkey: http://eurodesk.ua.gov.tr/
- European Youth Portal: Here you can find accredited ESC organizations and ESC opportunities. https://europa.eu/youth/EU_en
Contact
Çankaya Municipality
Directorate of Foreign Affairs - ESC Unit
Address: Ziya Gökalp Caddesi A2 Blok KAT 12 No: 11 Kızılay/ANKARA
Postcode: 06420
Tel: +90 312 458 90 23
Fax: +90 312 458 90 81
E-mail: esc@cankaya.bel.tr